Bronco sagging in the rear???

[langester]

I would call it an afternoon refueling, makes it sound more important!

 

[DirtDonk]

Sorry for the delay Aaron and everyone. Other duties called...
This time they came through no problem.







Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Looks like the stock (heavy duty option) leaf springs that have sagged down on top of the overload springs. Usually there is a pretty good gap between the tips of the lowest leaf and the next one up.

Front springs it's hard to say. Almost looks thicker wire than stock, but they are linear and could very well be stock springs.

Shocks are a real throwback! The front ones appear to be possibly painted Gabriel Baja Riders from the seventies!
I had a set myself. Very heavy duty, but horrible street ride.

Thanks for the pics. Makes a big diff.
Post up, or send more any time you want. We can start a new thread with shots of your Bronco in it and any questions you might have.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Oh, and I forgot to ask what year Bronco?
Looks like you have Ford disc brakes from what little I can see, which means you have a Dana 44 front end (stock from '71.5 to '77) and polyurethane C-bushings of, at this time, unknown offset.

Pretty much everything looks to have been on there awhile too. So sky's the limit for what you can, or might want to do to your rig.

Paul

 

[aaronnandi]

It's a 74. Yes it has front disc brakes, but I don't know if they were stock or a conversion. Lots of stuff I want to do! My teenaged sons want me to start with getting the body cleaned up and repainted so it looks cool, but I want to start with the foundation, if you will, and get the suspension and steering shored up. It's a bit of a wanderer so the steering is important for me to tighten up a bit. I have 35's under it, so the left front tire rubs a little on tight turns, which is why I want to get the suspension fixed. Hard to believe that is stock suspension, because of the 35's and because I measured 8" on the back that I think you said should measure 6". I'll try to figure out how to upload a picture and attach it like you did so you can see.

 

[DirtDonk]

It's a 74. Yes it has front disc brakes, but I don't know if they were stock or a conversion.

Even if "stock Ford" they were still a conversion since all '74's had drums on the front. Only '76 and '77 EB's had disc front brakes and a proportioning valve. Along with bigger rear drum brakes.

My teenaged sons want me to start with getting the body cleaned up and repainted so it looks cool, but I want to start with the foundation, if you will, and get the suspension and steering shored up.

Yours is the "right way" but theirs is the "let's drive it to school soon!" way.

It's a bit of a wanderer so the steering is important for me to tighten up a bit.

Let's get some pics of the front steering linkage then. And tires.
Some detailed pics, but at least one showing the entire linkage from end-to-end.

I have 35's under it, so the left front tire rubs a little on tight turns, which is why I want to get the suspension fixed.

Even 31's can rub on the radius arms. And if the body was not trimmed enough, 33's can rub on quite a few things. With 35's, the sky's the limit on what could rub!
But yeah, that's pushing it. Been a LONG time since I've seen a stock height with 35's on it.

Regarding the wandering, tires and wheels have a ton to do with that too.
Older tires (check the date codes) or worn tires (is the tread uneven?) or mud tires (except when new), or improperly inflated tires (what's your psi?) can cause this.

Hard to believe that is stock suspension, because of the 35's and because I measured 8" on the back that I think you said should measure 6".

Could still be lift springs. Tom's had a stock looking set that were lifted. Also plenty of people used to re-arch stock springs.
But yeah, with that lower leaf being up against it, maybe I was wrong and the installer removed the stock overload leaf and installed a thick add-a-leaf in it's place. Been done plenty of times too.
Maybe we can compare some known-stock overloads to yours.

I'll try to figure out how to upload a picture and attach it like you did so you can see.[/QUOTE]

Sounds good. In the meantime if you want to get some up quickly you can still send them to me.

Paul

 

[aaronnandi]

 

[DirtDonk]

I saw the links in my e-mail, but not here. Apparently you can't link directly to the garage, but that's ok. Just let us know they're there and we can click on it under your name.

Now let's see if they showed up there!

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Worked for me! I see three pics. Is that correct?

Nice rig by the way!
And yes, those 35's are squeezed in tight, so I have little doubt you could still be near stock height or just slightly lifted.
What about a body lift?

Check your body mount insulators and if they are rubber and 3/4" tall (or squished down with age) then it's stock. Polyurethane of the same 3/4" height and they're just aftermarket replacements.
Anything over 3/4 inches is a body lift.

Paul

 

[aaronnandi]

No body lift. It has the stock 3/4" rubber insulators. Closer to 1/2" now. As for the pictures, it only allowed me to put 3 in the main picture section, so I have one more detailed picture in the drivetrain section.

 

[76YETI]

Looks like a great candidate for the 1.5 WH Lift! Love the stuffed look.