excessive play in steering

[Bluntman]

I'm a friend of bluntman and drove his 73 Bronco and have some concerns on it's safety. It seems that the car floats. If he was in a situation where he would need to make a quick lane change I think he may have an issue with control. Any thoughts?

 

[TexasBronco]

How bad? Mine has about a 1/2 wheel turn each direction. WHICH IS REALLY BAD....but fun too : hahha

All that could really be done Is to rebuild the steering box, or upgrade to power is it is a manual. Then check all you steering bars. And fix if needed.

The problem with mine is 2 broke brease boots, a bent bolt, and wore steering box.

 

[jeff68]

I have a new manual steering box, new front end, new drag link, new tie-rod and ends all new bushings and I still can't change lane in a hurry and expect it to be very stable!
But it has improved lot from what it was like before changing everything!
Just have to drive only as fast as you can handle it!

 

[blu72]

could be anything in the steering set up
could be tie rod ends are loose or worn
the steering box could be loose from the frame or worse yet the frame could be cracked where the box mounts
rag joint could be worn
too much to list

 

[Yellow75]

You have to have someone in the truck and have them turn the wheel. Watch the steering shaft turn, the pitman arm should turn with it. If it does watch your drag link. My steering box was shelled so I got that fixed.. Helped some, had my wife get in and help on night and found my draglink turned the whole tie-rod about 1/2 turn before pulling the wheels to the drivers side and it had to swivel that far again the other direction to get them to go right.. New tie-rods and it drives like a dream now.

 

[jcmessing]

I read somewhere that bad bearings could cause this too. What about suspension?

 

[Skuzzlebutt]

[quote author=Bluntman link=board=5;threadid=20206;start=0#msg155282 date=1058563846]
I'm a friend of bluntman and drove his 73 Bronco and have some concerns on it's safety. It seems that the car floats. If he was in a situation where he would need to make a quick lane change I think he may have an issue with control. Any thoughts?
[/quote]

Are you sure you're not Bluntman's mother? (jk)
All of the above, especially the track bar bushings.
Some often overlooked causes are: the radius arm bushings at the frame, rear axle u-bolts loose, broken leaves in the leaf spring packs.
If it has a drop track bar bracket, it may come loose or cause cracks in the welds of the stock bracket to the frame. Frames can develope cracks around the steering box. That one is not common on a Bronco, it is common on jeeps or chevies tho. Someone else mentioned loose bolts holding the steering box to the frame, it happens.
Keep in mind that thirty years ago brand new steering was not as steady or responsive as it is today. Not to say it was dangerous, just that confidence comes with familiarity.

 

[swood]

The idea of having someone watch everything turn is a good start. Just start at the top and work your way down. You should be able to find the area where the slop starts. Could be the column, then rag joint, then box, then ball joints on the linkages, and downward.

Good luck.

 

[72bronco]

My manual steering used to have a lot of play. Driving it was kind of like in those old films where they are fake driving in front of a screen and moving the wheel back and forth, even if they are going in a straight line.

When I upgraded to power steering and replaced my steering box and steering column everything tightened up.

 

[jcmessing]

I have the same problem in mine.
I have been looking around for some good diagrams to try and figure out whats what, but most of them are fragmented. Anybody have a good diagram of the steering system and linkage?

 

[swood]

factory shop manuals.

 

[HotWheels]

Let's start from the beginning. Jack it up and see if anything wobbles. When were the track bar bushings replaced? Front end alignment. Keep it easy and make a list of what you check and the out come. Les Scwabs will give you a reading for $7 that would be a good start. Ant REPUTABLE shop can help with thi s if no Les Scwabs in your area.