Front End Bushings w/ New Stock Suspension

[syndicate1]

I'm getting ready to install my new WH stock suspension and I've been reading here a lot about caster (mostly from 2.5" to 5.5" lifts) but not much about stock suspension caster. The stock suspension comes with 2* degree bushings. The truck is mainly driven weekends on the street and the occasional fire road. At the same time, I would like to drive it more often as a daily driver and also take it on 3-4 hour road trips.

What are the pros/cons I installed 4* degree bushings to the new stock suspension?

Thanks!!

 

[surfer-b]

The 1st thing you should ask yourself is "how does it drive now", if it drives good then the 2* will be ok however a little more caster wont be a bad thing. You just have to be careful and not get too much or it will cause the Bronco to over-steer in the turns, you will find yourself making mid-turn corrections. However you could have 10 diff Broncos and none of them may drive the same, I have found that most have their own personality when it come to handling, so you will have to decide and maybe do a little trial and error when it comes to fine tuning the handling on yours

Pros: little more caster with 4* wont be a bad thing

Cons: the front pinion will be angled down more

 

[syndicate1]

The 1st thing you should ask yourself is "how does it drive now", if it drives good then the 2* will be ok however a little more caster wont be a bad thing. You just have to be careful and not get too much or it will cause the Bronco to over-steer in the turns, you will find yourself making mid-turn corrections. However you could have 10 diff Broncos and none of them may drive the same, I have found that most have their own personality when it come to handling, so you will have to decide and maybe do a little trial and error when it comes to fine tuning the handling on yours

Pros: little more caster with 4* wont be a bad thing

Cons: the front pinion will be angled down more

Thanks for the reply. Very helpful. My truck drives normal at highway speeds which I'll take seriously into consideration. I'll have my shop put it on the alignment rack to take some measurements then decide after reading the results.

Do C bushings settle (compress) or just decompose over time?

 

[surfer-b]

Do C bushings settle (compress) or just decompose over time?

The OE rubber can do both. I have had a set of poly C's on my 74 since ~89 and havn't noticed any defects at all, however this rig hasn't seen anything but road use. I do not like the poly radius arm bushings, I always use the rubber on them. I have had the polys fall apart within a yrs time, if you do go with a lift use these from WH http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Rubber_Degreed_Radius_Strut_Arm_Bushing

For a stock lift I would use these
http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Rubber_Strut_Radius_Arm_Bushing

 

[DirtDonk]

I agree about the C-bushings. While it's entirely possible for them to deteriorate, I've never had a set do so, or known anyone that's experienced degradation of the polyurethane C-bushings.
They do compress and squish and deform as they're being installed (minimized with lubrication) but do also tend to keep their general offset.

The best thing anyone can do before disassembling for a suspension install, is to get an alignment reading and printout so you know where you're beginning. Back then, both Ford AND Dana/Spicer (the axle/differentital manufacturer) were not as consistent as they might have been. Add a few decades of use and it seems like no two Broncos have exactly the same caster.

Barring that, if yours is already apart or you don't want to hassle with it, I usually say err to the high side and go bigger on the bushings. Especially if you already have power steering to lessen the forearm load of more caster.
With stock height you're already gaining 2° because the original rubber bushings were zero offset. Add the fact that you said it drives well now and I'd say you're OK with the included 2 degree offset C-bushings.

Paul