Drag link hitting pitman arm attachment ?

[77bronk]

When I turn to the left and say go into a drive way I will here a pop . I was like wtf! Never heard this. Before . I just got threw changing out the old shocks springs bushings and ball joints . But now it's hitting where the paint had rubbed off. I went from a 3in lift. Guessing from measuring from frame to axle to now a 2.5 in springs from wild horses . I'm not expert . And had a buddy help me with install because it was my first time tackling a job like this. Any insight on what I can do or buy to fix this ?

 

[langester]

What steering box are you running?

 

[77bronk]

Stock steering box from what's know . Which mounting bracket? Sorry still a newbie

 

[SHX669]

You said you went from a 3.5" lift to a 2.5" ? { is your Bronco a '76 or '77?}
You might have to get a different pitman arm with less drop or install a bumpstop to limit the suspension travel. I just went and looked at our '76 with 3 1/2" lift and we have more clearance than yours - and haven't hit there in the 12 years it's been installed.

 

[77bronk]

It's a 77 . With a drop pitman .

 

[Whoaa]

I think I can see the issues in the last pic. Obvious stock style 76/77' Y tie-rod setup and stock style sway bar.

Are you running a trac bar drop bracket on the frame side?, AND the drop pitman arm?

 

[garberz]

Go back to a stock Pittman arm. The 4" drop is too much.

 

[77bronk]

Does this help ?

 

[Whoaa]

^...great picture. And as I thought you're running both, a drop trac bar mount AND the drop pitman arm. You need one or the other, however the drop trac bar is the better setup. Plus its already welded in place and doing a good job.

Here's a good article to read http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/bronco_front_suspension_tech

Take off the drop pitman Arm and replace it w/ a stock one, simple fix!

 

[77bronk]

Awesome ! Thanks .. I'm new to suspension so I'm still learning . Thanks for all the help.

 

[DirtDonk]

Your trackbar bracket looks like the stock one to me. The '77 and '76 were much larger than the earlier ones, and while yours does look massive in the pics, it sure looks stock to me.
Maybe someone can post up a comparison pic for reference.

I disagree that you only want one or the other, but Whoaa actually owns and has built the crap out of a '77 too, so he knows a lot about this stuff specifically.
The only time I recommend just a pitman arm and not a drop bracket, is when changing from your style "Inverted-Y" steering linkage to the earlier "Inverted-T" style linkage.
But otherwise, if you don't have one, you don't want the other.

I'm actually a fan of using drops even with 2.5" of lift, which is generally considered under the threshold of needing it. It all depends on the individual vehicle and owner.

In your case though, since it's hitting, it's a no-go and you definitely want it outta there. Strange it's doing that, but it does happen now and then.
Do you know the brand of the pitman arm? Was it one of ours? I don't recognize the casting numbers, but that's not an accurate method in this case.

Let us know how it works out.

Paul

 

[77bronk]

Ok that's what I will do. When I go back to stock pitman arm , will that change my alignment ?

 

[surfer-b]

Yes it will change the alignment. I'm not 100% sure but if I remember correct the driver side tie rod should be on the outside of the passenger side drag link/tierod.

 

[77bronk]

Here's how it looked from po. I replaced all the old rancho lift

 

[Whoaa]

Your trackbar bracket looks like the stock one to me. The '77 and '76 were much larger than the earlier ones, and while yours does look massive in the pics, it sure looks stock to me.
Maybe someone can post up a comparison pic for reference.

I disagree that you only want one or the other, but Whoaa actually owns and has built the crap out of a '77 too, so he knows a lot about this stuff specifically.

Paul

^...My DirtDonk is correct again. I stand corrected, my statement concerning the drop trac bar bracket was wrong. Sorry for the mistake.

I have tried to position my camera so its about about the same angle and view as your pic. Notice the lenght of my stock trac bar mount appears about the same as yours, also a 77' model. Mine has a small doubler plate welded to the side but that didn't change the lenght, the doubler is just for strenght. I changed from the Y style tie rod setup to the "modified" T style, but getting ready to change it again.
Anyway, ck out this pic, and the stock style pitman arm...which I think will solve your issues.

 

[77bronk]

Thanks guys that helps seeing another 77. Time to find me a stock pitman arm

 

[DirtDonk]

As said, it will change at your toe-in. Should increase it, but by exactly how much I'm not sure. Easy to change and correct though, so drive it as-is once you have your new shallower pitman arm installed to see how it feels. Might be a bit darty with more toe-in.
If so, loosen the adjusting sleeve on the driver's side rod end, and turn it whichever direction lengthens it. Start with 1/8 of a turn or so at a time, until you get it where you like it.
Alternately you could make points-of-reference on your tires and actually measure the toe-in, but either way can work well.

If you are able to measure it prior to the change, you could then correct it back to match. That assumes of course, that it's the correct toe-in for your rig right now. I've always experimented with tiny adjustments each time I changed tires anyway, just to see how it feels.

Paul

 

[77bronk]

will do.. do i need a 76-77 stock pitman arm? do any other years fit? mines a 77 with power steering,

 

[DirtDonk]

Yeah, has to be either a '76 or '77 to have the correct size tapered hole for the rod end, or, if you can't find one, let's see if others know whether or not the tapered sleeves would do the job.
Usually the sleeves (like we sell) are to bring an F150 size hole down to a '66-75 rod end size hole. Not all the way to the '76/'77 size. But someone may know if it will still work, or if there is an alternate.

Paul