Please help with front suspension parts

[NWA4X]

I’m ready to upgrade my ’76 Sport I just bought as the current shocks and front bushings are shot. I'm running new 31/10/50's. I’ve decided to go with the Rancho 9000XL series. I called Rancho customer service and they told me I need the RS999115 for the fronts and the RS999118 for the rears. They also told me these are for a 2-4 inch suspension lift. I think I have a 1.5” or 2” body lift as I only see blocks between the frame and the body. I’m not sure what kind of springs these are. They told me to measure from center of wheel to bottom of the wheel well lip then compare against stock height and I should have my height difference. Does this sound correct? Can you help me give a part name to the pictures below? Not sure what to order when replacing all these shot bushings. Rubber or polyurethane? Is there a preferred steering stabilizer shock or should I keep it all Rancho? Thanks in advance;D

 

[thegreatjustino]

Look at your front axle. See the round tubes coming out of the center part where the driveshaft connects? From the top of one of those tubes to the bottom of the frame is seven inches on a stock Bronco. Anything over seven inches is your amount of suspension lift.

#1 body mount
#2 front coil spring
#3 c-bushing
#4 drag link boot at pitman arm
#5 body mount
#6 tie rod dust boot
#7 drag link dust boot at tie rod
#8 tie rod dust boot
#9 coil spring
#10 rear wheel well (has been cut from stock)
#11 1976 Bronco


Welcome to the site.

 

[Broncobowsher]

That looks like a very poorly made homemade body lift.
1 and 5 show body mounts. The square metal between the body and rubber should not be there. The thickness of that is the body lift you have. It was not a kit, just something someone tossed on using some scrap metal.

#10 looks like you are missing the shock mount on the frame. You can also tell from the rear spring that there is a lift block. Between the leaf spring and axle there is a spacer block, that is about the amount of suspension lift you have. No garantee, other stuff may have been done to give a different amount of lift or spring sag.

Those front coil springs should not bow out that much. the lower spring seat may be damaged. A little forward bow is common in Lifted Broncos but outward bow is something to look for problems with. #2 looks overly bowed out (could just be the angle the photo was taken)

#3 is an aftermarket urathane C-bushing. The rest look like old stock rubber parts.

 

[NicksTrix]

in pic 5 it looks like the frame is rotten around the body bushing area on the mount. that is very common. with the rust showing in the other pictures you might want to take a good look at what you have going on.

 

[NWA4X]

OK, if I were to start fresh...
I'd get the Rancho 9000's and replace all the worn out bushings. Would I remove the body blocks and get new springs? If so, which ones. Whats a good ride height for mainly dd and some mild trail riding? Thanks again

 

[Broncobowsher]

31 10.50 15s are a pretty good match for a stock (no lift) suspension. Several of us have ran 33 12.50 15's without a lift. So I would say you don't need a lift at all. Your fenders are already cut for clearance.

I would recomend stock to +2" lift. Not knowing what kind of trails you are planning it is hard to recomend. Simple forest service roads don't need any lift, crossing streams a couple extra inches could be nice.

 

[DirtDonk]

Agree with the others that your old rubber body mounts/cushions are generally shot and need to be replaced. You can easily get polyurethane replacements that will last the rest of the life of the truck.
Whether to remove or leave the square spacers intact is either going to be up to you, or up to the method of install. If they're welded on for instance, removing them could be more work than it's worth.
If they're different heights, the previous owner might have been compensating for the old crushed cushions.

And is it just me (very possible!), or is the upper spring tower in pic 2 twisted at the top? It may just be the angle of the shot, or my eyes, but it sure looks twisted.
That and the fact that the lower mount looks bent too, would certainly explain the bowing of the springs more than would normally be expected from a mild lift.
The lower perches could have been bent from abuse, but more likely they're just rusty and are crushing under the weight of the truck.
Easy to repair or replace. Upper tower too, but more work involved.

Any more images of the rear springs and how they sit? Especially on top of the axle?

And welcome from here too! Whereabouts you located? NWA happen to mean your area, or something with your name?
Just curious really. It does help sometimes when members here know your general location. Even if it's just the state. That way if someone is nearby, they might stop by to say hey and help out when you need to.
Or invite you along on get-togethers or let you know when parts are available from some local source.
Just a thought.

Paul

 

[NWA4X]

Thanks, Paul
I'm in North West Arkansas, Bentonville to be exact. Sure would be nice to have a knowledgeable fellow Bronco owner in the area. I'll take a few more pics in the morning. I'd really like to get her on the road and riding well. Thanks again

 

[ransil]

don't get wrapped up in the Ranchos... if your buying a new suspension lift buy a full kit from a Bronco vendor with what ever shocks come with it.
Nothing special about the Rancho except they spend a lot in advertising

 

[NWA4X]

Ranchos

I was only going by what a lot of people here suggested. Aren't the Rancho 9000XL popular because of their adjustablilty?

 

[Bronco Junkie]

don't get wrapped up in the Ranchos... if your buying a new suspension lift buy a full kit from a Bronco vendor with what ever shocks come with it.
Nothing special about the Rancho except they spend a lot in advertising

X2 on this....go with a complete kit from a Bronco vendor and avoid possible wrong parts.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

yikes...new poly body mounts/ body lift for sure...id go with a whole kit from a vendor for sure scrap the rancho idea...jmho

otherwise a nice looking bronco!

 

[Tasty Geezer]

What about bilstein shocks? I love the ride after installing these! I ordered all of my springs, leafs and bushings from Wild Horses and my bilstein shocks from summit...

 

[NWA4X]

Here are some more pics

Just uploaded some more pics

 

[Broncobowsher]

OK, new pictures, few new comments...
No blocks, but double add-a-leaf should have that rear spring riding really stiff That odd leaf that is thicker and square cut ends isn't stock. The springs are shot.
That drivers side lower spring seat has had some severe hackery done to it. My guess is it rusted out and they added metal until it "worked".
The C-bushing has a little split in it, Could be pinched with a jack or the bushing could be getting old. I have seen much worse.
Good thing is I now see it does have rear shocks, so discard my comment about missing rear shock mount.

 

[NWA4X]

I was thinking...

After talking to reps at wildhorses and duff today, I'm thinking about maybe removing the 1" metal body lift blocks and going with a 2.5" suspension lift including:
New leaf springs, new front coil springs, all new bushings including C bushings, new shocks including the steering stabilizer shock but haven't decided which ones yet. I'd love to get the whole undercarraige sandblasted and POR 15 painted or similar. I could do a kit or just get select parts here and there. Your thoughts are welcome and appreciated.

 

[snipi]

what your plans are for the bronco will help to determine which kit to get or weather or not your should try to buy things part by part. if you want a more simple install with less of a hassle on your part get a nice complete kit. if you plan on doing some hard core crawling and want the ultimate in flex then pieceing it together is prob the only option (although some of the kits are still really good for this) if you are going to be doing a lot of street driving with light to moderate off-roading stick with a kit it will save you a lot of time and hassle and usually the kits come out cheaper in the end than buying parts seperately. the wild horses kits are nice and if you are in california you will prob save money on the shipping end of the spectrum.

in my opinion if you are just a mostly street setup with light to moderate offroading stick with a kit, if you do get a kit get a complete one i personally think you need new rear springs and while you are doing all this work(are you doing the work or is someone else) you might as well do new front springs and all new bushings, so a kit is a good option and it will give you piece of mind. get new body mounts while your at it and get rid of the body lift or at least replace it with a new one froma vendor.

dont worry about the ranchos and the adjustability i have wild horses shocks and i really like them for everything i have done so far( lots of street and lots of dirt roads, not major 4x4 but just dirt driving),

let us know what your plans are and what your ultimate goal of the bronco is, nice colors on your rig.