When I first bought my bronco there was a normal abount of play in the steering wheel. Over a couple of years the steering got progressivly worse. Now, the steering wheel will turn 180 degrees ( or like 4-5") before the wheels start turning. Also just before the wheels do finally start turning the whole frame shifts about an inch to one side or the other, depending on which way you turn the wheel. When looking at the front end components while the steering is being turned, it looks at if the play is in the track bar bushings. When driving over about 30 mph, if i don't keep the play slack out of the wheel by constantly turning from right to left, the front end will start violently shacking causing you to have to slam on the breaks and **** the wheel back and forth untill it stops shacking. I changed the track bar bushings before and it made a big difference and I thought my proble was solved, but soon the play came back and I was back to square one. Anyone know where to start?
79 bronco front end problems
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muddinlate86
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see if those bolts(three i think)came loose agin i had the same problem before and thats what it was.being that its a diff front end i would still check every bolt .as for the play,have you replaced the gear box and or the rag joint those will over time need some tlc.my gear box is shot and doese the same thing im just lazy and dont feal like messing with it.
good luck keep us posted
good luck keep us posted
What three bolts are you taling about? Before, when I replaced the track bar bushings it seemed that the play in the steering wheel was directly related to the bushings. Meaning, when the bushings were bad there was more play in the wheel and when I replaced the bushings the play and the shaking went away. But i'm kinda confused because now the bushings are good but the shaking and play are back. Does this seem like somthing the gear box would cause? If so, is there a way to test the gear box instead of just going out and buying one?
Just to keep everyone posted on this topic, I ended up changing the bushings in my track bar and installing a new steering stablizer and that helped solve the problem of the frame sliding from side to side when the wheel is turned. Also the play in the steering whell has gone from 4 or 5" to about an inch or 2. I have only drivin it a few times since I have made the adjustments but so far the wheels don't seem to be shaking violently when I hit little bumps as they did before. Although, when looking undernieth at the front end while someone else turns the wheel back and forth, there still seems to be some slack in the new track bar bushings. All bolts are tight and the holes for the bolts are not missed shaped or out of wack. If anyone knows any other reason why this would happen please inform...
Check that axle hole good where the track bar mounts. You might want to consider putting the tapered bolt in the axle as well as it takes out all possibilities of movement. You have tilt wheel? Does the steering shaft from column to gear box stay in one spot and the steering wheel move 2" or does the steering shaft move right away while turning the wheel?
Here is a pic of the tapered track bar bolt fix.
Here is a pic of the tapered track bar bolt fix.
"PROBLEM NOT FIXED"Check that axle hole good where the track bar mounts. You might want to consider putting the tapered bolt in the axle as well as it takes out all possibilities of movement. You have tilt wheel? Does the steering shaft from column to gear box stay in one spot and the steering wheel move 2" or does the steering shaft move right away while turning the wheel?
Here is a pic of the tapered track bar bolt fix.
Thanks for the pic. I was wrong, my wheels still shake very bad when I get on the street at speeds over 35 or 40.The axle hole doesn't seem to be worn or out of wack. When turning the wheel the slack and movement looks like it is all in the bushing on the drivers side. For instance, when I turn the wheel the frame shifts about a half inch or so from side to side depending on which way I turn the wheel, and as I watch it, the bushing is giving slightly( i guess cuz its rubber?) but only on the drivers side. But all other front end components seem to be all tight and in good shape. I do have one question though. My track bar has a slight bend in it by the front differential. Is it supposed to be that way or not? Currently I have a solid track bar. Do you think if I got an adjustable track bar that would make a difference? Please help...
I thought you just replaced those bushings? The body should not move at all when turning the wheel. Replace those bushings with some good ones and it should clear up your problem. I would also double check the axle mount end to for any play. Another problem is frame cracking where the gear box mounts. It is a little rarer on most but does happen. The track bar does have a slight bend from the factory and that is normal. An adjustable track bar won't solve your problem.
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Fordskinhead
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I like the poly trac bar bushings & c bushings on contol arms . The rag joint on the steering shaft is junk save your money & get a needle bearing shaft from I guess im not allowed to say the companies name here. but there are 2 that i now of. Also double check your ball joints. I just replaced mine on a 79 F150 it made a world of difference.
LMC Truck? It's OK to post the names of any company that sells parts for the Bronco or F-150. Both my 78 Bronco and 79 F-150 used to have body lifts, and the rag joints are toast. Also picked up a used steering gearbox for the 78. I haven't made it to the trackbar bushings yet... JSM84
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