terrible handling
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
terrible handling
OKAY I now the brncos front ends arn't knon for handling but Mines pretty bad. Ihave a 3.5 inch Jeffs Bronco Graveyard suspension lift and procomp es3000 shocks when I down shift or any time the motor holds me back hard it pulls to the right like crazy pulling me off the road. Would daul shocks help ??????? I replaced all the bushings and I have a sterring stabilizer
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,594
Likes: 2
From: Southern Oregon USA
Do you have any steering correction in the front end? Such as a drop pitman arm, drop track bar bracket, adjustable drag link, etc? Is the front end centered under the Bronco?
With soft rate coils, it is somewhat normal to have a little bit of pull under hard braking or acceleration. This is due to the suspension design. Specifically how the track bar is mounted. The track bar moves the front axle in an arc. As the suspension cycles, the front end will move left or right. This causes the dynamic wheel alignment to be off, causing the pull. Because of the increased movement with soft springs, the problem is magnified. Can also be classified as bump steer. Adding dual shocks may help, but you may just be masking a real problem.
Another problem that can happen is torque steer. If you have a locker or a strong limited slip in the rear, or even a low tire it can happen on accel or decel.
If the steering and suspension geometry is correct, your Bronco should track straight and drive like new. I have built several lifted Broncos that drove as well as any new 4wd, stock or lifted.
Jason
With soft rate coils, it is somewhat normal to have a little bit of pull under hard braking or acceleration. This is due to the suspension design. Specifically how the track bar is mounted. The track bar moves the front axle in an arc. As the suspension cycles, the front end will move left or right. This causes the dynamic wheel alignment to be off, causing the pull. Because of the increased movement with soft springs, the problem is magnified. Can also be classified as bump steer. Adding dual shocks may help, but you may just be masking a real problem.
Another problem that can happen is torque steer. If you have a locker or a strong limited slip in the rear, or even a low tire it can happen on accel or decel.
If the steering and suspension geometry is correct, your Bronco should track straight and drive like new. I have built several lifted Broncos that drove as well as any new 4wd, stock or lifted.
Jason
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
It has a drop pitman arm, and a drop track bar bracket ha I wish it drove like new. It has track locks front and rear???????? It also wont straighten its self out ????? any other segestions on what it may be???????????
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,594
Likes: 2
From: Southern Oregon USA
Since the steering won't return to center, I suspect your caster may be off. Did you install the correct degree'd C bushings the right way?
Is the track bar and the draglink running parallel to each other?
Jason
Is the track bar and the draglink running parallel to each other?
Jason
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Well I installed 4 degree ones wich are for a 2.5" lift, would it change that much? Could it be the power sterring box?
Trending Topics
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,594
Likes: 2
From: Southern Oregon USA
The 3 degree difference between the ones you have in there and what it should be is quite a bit when it comes to caster. That would be the first place I would start.
With a worn or out of adjustment steering box, it will have a tendency to wander. And excessive play between steering input and where the pitman arm moves. The problem is that when you lift a Bronco, not only does the front end move over, but the drag link pulls the steering box out of its center (tightest tolerance in the steering box). This will give a loose feel, even if the box is good. An adjustable drag link will take care of this. If you want to adjust the steering box, you want to make sure that the steering box is centered or you can cause damage to the worm and sector gears.
Jason
With a worn or out of adjustment steering box, it will have a tendency to wander. And excessive play between steering input and where the pitman arm moves. The problem is that when you lift a Bronco, not only does the front end move over, but the drag link pulls the steering box out of its center (tightest tolerance in the steering box). This will give a loose feel, even if the box is good. An adjustable drag link will take care of this. If you want to adjust the steering box, you want to make sure that the steering box is centered or you can cause damage to the worm and sector gears.
Jason
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Too much caster is not a bad thing, it will help handling and not hurt. On my 73 Bronco i had leaf springs up front but had cut, turned and welded the housing to tip the pinion up for less driveshaft angle (7" lift and 39" tires). It was turned too far and to keep the pinion from being too high and the U joint angle from going past center i tipped the caster back around 15 degrees. It steered like a road grader or dragster basically flopping the tires over to the side. It handled great at high speeds and went exactly where pointed. It had a secondary benefit off road in that if i was stuck i could steer and it would rock the whole truck side to side and "unstick" me.
I think Jason hit on the problem, the steering box not centered. Other than that or zero caster i can't imagine what else it would be.
I think Jason hit on the problem, the steering box not centered. Other than that or zero caster i can't imagine what else it would be.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
I set the front end to 1/4 inch toe in I t help greatly in deccel and accel it does not wonder there but it still does not return to center U guys sound like ur right but how do you get it centered
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,594
Likes: 2
From: Southern Oregon USA
Disconnect the pitman arm from the drag link. Go all the way to the left to lock. Count the turns to the right. Half of that should be the center of the steering box. At this point your drag link should not reach the pitman arm or it may be too long. You need an adjustable draglink to make it work.
Jason
Jason
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,594
Likes: 2
From: Southern Oregon USA
You can't move the pitman arm on the shaft. It has a master spline which will only allow it to go on one way. An adjustable draglink can be shortened or lengthened to hook up to the pitman arm. Does that make sense?
The adjustment we are referring to is on the top of the steering box. If you have a little bit of play in the box, this is where you adjust it. Assuming that the steering box is in good shape.
Jason
The adjustment we are referring to is on the top of the steering box. If you have a little bit of play in the box, this is where you adjust it. Assuming that the steering box is in good shape.
Jason