Loose Steering

[bizarrocolin]

Hello everyone,

As the title states, by Bronco has loose steering. Not the scenario where there's too much play in the steering wheel. More where I will be driving, and without moving the wheel, the Bronco will just slightly veer one way, or the other.

Any idea what this could be? Should I just take it in to an alignment shop have them look at it? It's a new, freaky (not in a good way) experience.

Thanks in advanced.
Colin

 

[NateMob]

I just replaced my stock steering setup with an OTK setup from StoneCrusher Steering and couldnt be happier. My Bronco prior to the upgrade required constant steering input while driving to keep it going straight. I think it had a lot to do with my worn out TREs. Drives a hundred times better now. I did my own toe alignment afterwards with instructions from StoneCrusher owner, Anthony, great guy by the way.

Nate

 

[Apogee]

There are multiple things that can and will cause the symptom you're describing, however a few of the most common things are worn track bar bushings, improper toe-in, not enough caster and/or any combination thereof. I would suggest changing the track bar bushings first since that's something relatively easy to do and would be recommended prior to having it aligned if they're old and/or worn at all...plus, they're cheap.

 

[bknbronco]

You have to have someone turn the wheel while you inspect every link closley. Could be a huge number of reasons. Some guys spent alot of time and money getting there bronco to drive good. Also remember that this old truck may always drive "DIRTY". Its the joys of a old or lifted truck!

It could be as simple as worn out TRE's or it could be bad steering box or it could be wrong castor or it could be worn out tires or wrong air pressure or it could be bad steeering geometry or it could be bad axle u-joints or it could be a bent drag link or it could be............

There are so many possibilities that i could write a book! You have to a search and follow what you learn there. I wouldnt start by taking it to a shop unless you have a few grand burning a hole in your pocket.

Does it wonder all the time? Does it jump a lane all of a sudden? Does it do it only when braking or accelerating? Does it do it when you hit a bump?

We need more info and pictures! Do a search. This comes up every week on here and lots has been already said!

 

[Deano]

The universal and rag joint or the bolts holding them could be loose any number of things it could be

 

[dlong]

Is your steering box mount tight on the frame? A weeks ago I found one of the bolt holes in the frame cracked causing the steering gearbox to move around alot. Just have someone turn the steering wheel and look at the gearbox. Hopefully it will be something easy and doesn't cost a lot of cash...

 

[DuneBuster]

We had to send in the original power steering box in for rebuild to West Texas Offroad. we call them with the anlaysis and they said the seals were hard and dry. After re-installing Steering was much straighter.
Of course, the box was 38 years old....

the other thing is go find some nice bib bolts that just fit the box holes. If yuo can find a Floanged Hex head bolt and Nuts they are better than getting the ole hex head nut anb bolt with some puny washers that will bend sooner than you thnk..

 

[bizarrocolin]

Ok, I had a bit of time, so I drug myself under the Bronco. I did find this loose nut about to fall off (I hand tightened before taking the photo):
http://s1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff515/bizarrocolin/?action=view&current=LooseNut.jpg

I think this is where the track bar attaches on the drivers side. I'm not sure this alone would cause my problem.

The joint linking the pitman arm to the drag link looks to be in bad shape:
http://s1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff515/bizarrocolin/?action=view&current=BadJoint.jpg

NateMob, the StoneCrusher set up looks awesome...I'm afraid it wouldn't clear my shock (may not be able to tell from photo.
http://s1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff515/bizarrocolin/?action=view&current=Clearance.jpg

 

[DirtDonk]

Yep, upper trackbar mount. And yes, if that bolt is loose, it would act similar to a worn bushing and let things wander a bit. Also would let the steering feel vague sometimes.
Look closely at that upper mount too. Is the extension (lowering bracket) welded on, or just bolted? If it's just bolted, that would add to the wandering too.

Do the test described above too, and watch the lower mount. There looks to be a stabilizer shock bracket sharing the lower mount. That could hid some looseness there too.
Quite often the little tack weld that holds that lower bolt into it's bracket on the axle will split and let the lower bolt wobble no matter how tight it is. So pay particular attention to that mount and bolt when you do the back-and-forth testing.

And even if that's not the issue, you might want to get some factory stabilizer brackets to mount up. If you keep the stock steering, you're already set up with the proper geometry to use one. And the two holes in the frame crossmember should already be there as well.

What year is this Bronco?

Paul

 

[bizarrocolin]

The mount is welded to the frame. Is this bolt something i really need to tighten the heck out of? Or just a little? I can hear the rubber in the joint when I tighten it.

 

[DirtDonk]

My feeling is that, if it was using the stock type rubber bushings, then yes, it has to be torqued reasonably tight and a cotter pin used. Assuming the existing bolt is original, it would have a hole and use a castellated nut.

Since those are obviously polyurethane bushings with shoulders though, then I would replace that bolt with a slightly longer one and use a locking nut. That way you can tighten it down pretty tight (not so tight that the ears of the bracket squeeze down hard onto the bushing shoulders) but still allow things to work as they should. And the locking nut will keep things from loosening.

One critical thing here however, is how well the bolt fits into both the inner sleeve and the holes in the bracket. If the bolt and sleeve don't match, your bar is going to walk around and you'll have wandering.
If the bolt is smaller than the holes in the bracket, then the bolt itself will walk around in the bracket and you'll get wandering.
If they're both loose, you won't be happy with how it handles at all.

I don't have a specific torque rating for you, but I would put some of that nasty/sticky/gooey silicone grease on it and tighten it down more.
The tighter cinching would keep things more stable and the grease would keep things from making noise.

Maybe others will have suggestions too, but that was just some more information to help you make decisions here. That bar is so critical to the proper handling of the Bronco that you want it working the best that it can.

Paul