Bump steer and wandering

[Jonathan_Cole]

I do have the 5/8 ubolts with the thick plates. The instructions have a pretty wide range of torque from 112-180 I think it was.

It is possible that the stabilizer is binding up. It's at a pretty weird angle.

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[DirtDonk]

It doesn't look too bad. Going to be totally out of whack though, after (and if) you add a dropped pitman arm and trackbar bracket.
But you definitely have at least one custom mount for it. The frame end there at the crossmember is normally the same as the bracket on the draglink. Other than for the way it's mounted, it's shaped the same.
Early Broncos used two u-bolts to mount the draglink end, and two bolts to mount the frame end. For the F150 and then after '78 for the Broncos, both mounts were identical and they added a pad with two threaded holes to mount to the draglink.
Early draglinks had a brace/bracket/stop/thingy welded to them to keep the stabilizer bracket from walking along the rod.

Got a pic of your mount behind the driver's side end of the shock? Or now that it's off, just a shot of the bracket and the draglink?
Hopefully whoever welded on the frame-side bracket put it at the correct location.

Paul

 

[danroot]

I know this is an older thread, but has some good information in it. Our 72' has.....had the wondering issue. Checked a lot of things and wound up taking to a shop to have tie rod ends, ball joints and left wheel bearing replaced. It's SO much better, but still noticing play in the steering box. It's as tight as it'll go.

Anyone have a source on a quality steering box for our Bronco's? I don't want to buy junk or something that will have excessive play that can't be adjusted out.

 

[DirtDonk]

It's SO much better, but still noticing play in the steering box. It's as tight as it'll go.

What do you mean by it’s as tight as it can go? Have you messed with the preload adjustment screw already?
Also, all of these old type of gear boxes have some play in the middle. They were never perfectly tight, but they were tight enough for the times.
Is yours looser than it should be?

 

[ntsqd]

It is never going to be rack & pinion steering, just not possible. It can be very good though.
I use Lee Power Steering for all of my PS steering box and pump rebuilds.

 

[danroot]

PS converted, assuming a factory box? I should get a picture up for review.

Owning a few newer 4X4 with steering boxes, know you can't adjust out a worn out box. My procedure is usually wheels off ground on suspension, turn wheel 90 degrees and adjust the nut. Never adjust where there's resistance against the steering wheel. Works like a charm on my old Bugs, my 96' 4X4 Ranger, 2WD Ranger etc.

Put a chunk of change into the front end now, if I can make it better, now is the time I figure.