Rear end tracking - '86 EB
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Senior User
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From: Spokane, Wa.
Rear end tracking - '86 EB
The other night I had my first chance to take my Bronco out in a little snow. Now I just picked this one up in July, and my last Bronco was about 10 years before that, filled with pickups in between. I was curious how the knobby mud tires I had would handle the snow, and while intentionally goosing the throttle trying to break the tires loose, I noticed that even tho I clearly was spinning the wheels, I was still moving in straight line. I'd really expected the rear end to walk around, but I couldn't get it to do it. Is this average for a Bronco ? I know the rear end has been swapped out and I believe it's a 9" rear end. I didn't find a tag in a cursory check, but I did note the tubes were welded, and diff had those tell tale junkyard paint pen markings on it.
Any thoughts ?
Thanks
-Scott
Any thoughts ?
Thanks
-Scott
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From: SE Texas
The rearend of the Bronco WILL walk around on you if any of the suspension parts are worn out. I made a post about 4 years ago when I was having trouble with my 84 Bronco. I could not, could not drive a straight line thru mud. Following other pick-up drivers straight tire tracks, it ws downright embarrassing for me. I called it "snaky wheeling", cause the rearend would track just like a sidewinder. Wornout bushings on the frontend were the culpirt, and it all went well after installing new bushings and a 6" lift kit. The rear 9" had the factory L/S, which i replaced with a min-spool a couple years after the lift. JSM84
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From: Broken Arrow
Like aurgathor said the broncos have more weight in the rear and tend to track well, but if you have a different rear end it might be locked or L.S. how does the truck take sharp turns (smooth or does it jump and/or chirp)?
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From: Spokane, Wa.
I get what I think is a mild front end bounce on tight turns at speed ( not the kind you get when the front end's locked in though... ) but generally when I'm cornering I tend to go pretty slow since we live in a kid-dense neighborhood. Never did find the cause of the bounce.
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my bronco has an 8.8 open diff and i can do donuts in the snow no problem. but getting it to step out when accelerating doesnt really happen. Looking at the pics of your truck, the front end is much lower then the rear. Do you know if the front has been modified as well as the rear?
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From: Spokane, Wa.
Actually I think that's a trick of the picture. It sits pretty level. I don't know if the PO swapped out the front end or not. Seems like as much as ppl hate automatic hubs he would have swapped them out as well if he was doing front end work. It does have a 6" suspension lift that included new radius arms. I don't know the manufacturer of the lift, but the radius arms look like ladders and have about a 15 degree bend in them to accommodate larger tires. I've only had it since July, and I've been more focused on electrical issues than parts identification, but I make notes here and there as I find stuff.
Thanks !
-Scott
Thanks !
-Scott
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From: Spokane, Wa.
I should add, I wasn't trying to do doughnuts, I was just curious how the back end tracked, so I came to a complete stop, and then romped on it. The back end definitely broke loose, but rather than walk one way or the other ( which is what I expected ) it just plowed forward.
-Scott
-Scott
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6" lift? what size tires do you have on there? it didnt look that tall.
I have found that of all the vehicles i have owned/driven that ones with LS rear ends step out easier. my truck with an ls rear doesnt step out but there really isnt any weight over the axles either.
just out of curiosity, does your 9" have discs on the rear? welded tubes maybe they got it from a mark 5, that would be nice.
I have found that of all the vehicles i have owned/driven that ones with LS rear ends step out easier. my truck with an ls rear doesnt step out but there really isnt any weight over the axles either.
just out of curiosity, does your 9" have discs on the rear? welded tubes maybe they got it from a mark 5, that would be nice.
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From: Cameron, OK
My bronco's have never walked the way my pick-ups did... I'm with aurgathor on the short wheelbase/weight distribution theory. I can go places in mud and snow in my Bronco in 2wd that gives my buddies extended cab Z71 a workout in 4wd.
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From: Chicagoland
Originally Posted by Johnboy_BoomerSooner
My bronco's have never walked the way my pick-ups did... I'm with aurgathor on the short wheelbase/weight distribution theory. I can go places in mud and snow in my Bronco in 2wd that gives my buddies extended cab Z71 a workout in 4wd.
On the other hand, I had my Bronco out in the snow last night here in the Chicago burbs and it never gave me any trouble even with its mostly worn street tires. Comparing the Bronco to a pickup isn't really fair.
Calvin
