Steering stabilizer shock

[savage]

Here is my drop pitman arm and the drag linkage it connects to, plus my Steering stabilizer shock mounted.

 

[broncodriver99]

Here is a pic of underneath the crossmember. It only has one hole. Will this work?

Nah that one won't work. Looks like you have an early one that didn't come with a stabilizer. Hopefully someone can grab a tape and get you a couple of measurements. I can measure mine but can't get to mine until this weekend. Hopefully someone can get you a measurement before then.

Savage's pic gives a pretty good idea of where it goes.

 

[broncodriver99]

Man I need someone who knows what they are doing to come to my house sounds like. SHEESH!!!!!

Nah, you can do it. Start with getting your stabilizer sorted out and go from there. I have seen and driven worse. I doubt your angles are causing any big issue, maybe some bump steer. If you have wandering issues check your toe in.

Sort out the simple stuff before spending money on stuff is what I say.

 

[DirtDonk]

PO put a 3" suspension lift on it.

Next time you get the chance, put a tape measure between the bottom of your frame rail and the top of the axle. This distance will tell you if you've gained or lost anything in height. You'd be looking for approximately 10" between those components for a 3" lift.
This isn't critical at this point, but it's good to know for future reference if you decide to do other things to your Bronco.

Please forgive my ignorance as I am new to all of this.

Nah, nothing to forgive at all. We were all new at some point, and many here still are and learning with you every day. Heck, I was new to all this 50 years ago! And now we've got this interweb thingy to spread the good, the bad and the ugly to all corners of the earth. Whether the info is right or wrong is up for further discussion though.
And it's not like Ford made every detail the same for all year models of EB anyway. They may look the same on the outside, but there were many little changes over the years.

I will look for the holes in the crossmember this evening.

By your later pic, I'd say you don't have any. I'm curious how early your '66 is. There is a thread here in the CHAT forum where they're hunting down the earliest known to exist owned by members here. You should join the discussion and add your info. Maybe we can query the others in that thread to see if they have holes or not.

I am not sure about the pitman arm. Which one is that?

Might already have been stated, but it's the first part bolted to the bottom of the steering box. It's about six inches long, tapered from large at one end to smaller at the other, and the draglink rod end is attached to it with a nut.

I know that I don't have a trackbar bracket but was thinking about getting one but I heard that you only need to do that if you get real bad bronco lean and I am not sure mine has that too bad. It's my understanding that you can either do the drop bracket or get an adjustable track bar. I think the bracket is cheaper.

Different symptoms and discussions. While the trackbar can act on some lean, the drop bracket is primarily to drop the angle of the trackbar and to help re-center the axle under the frame after a lift.
Really any time you lift the suspension more than 2" you should add a dropped trackbar bracket (for the upper mount) AND a dropped pitman arm.
You need to do them both so that the relationship between the trackbar and the draglink remains the same (parallel) as it was from the factory. So with very few exceptions, you always use both together.

The bracket is definitely less expensive. But sometimes an adjustable trackbar helps to fine-tune the location of the axle/differential to get it perfectly centered. It also makes installation easier because the angle of the upper eye is adjustable to match the upper bracket better.

As far as angles which angles are you talking about Paul?

The overall angles of the draglink and trackbar there in your first pic. They look steeper than just a 3" lift should have them, and you do look like the suspension is at normal ride height and the engine is installed, so full weight is on the front suspension.
So getting an exact measurement of your lift might be a good idea anyway. It's always possible too that it's just the angle of the camera when the pic was taken, skewing how we see the bars.

You didn't actually ask, but here's a list of what you're looking at:
1. Pitman arm is attached to the steering gear box.
2. Tie-rod is the straight bar between the wheels.
3. Draglink (or drag link) runs up at an angle from the tie-rod to the pitman arm.
4. Trackbar locates the axle side-to-side and is the big bar from the axle at the lower end to the frame at the upper end.
5. Radius arm(s) are the long bars running fore and aft between the axle and the frame. The C-bushings fit under the caps where the radius arms bolt to the axle tubes.
6. Steering knuckles. We weren't talking about them, but they come up often. The steering arm part of the knuckle is where the tie-rod connects at each wheel. The knuckle itself is the big cast piece that pivots on the "kingpin bearings" (the caps with 4 bolts on top and bottom of the knuckles) and a bunch more thingies we won't name at the moment are bolted to the knuckles to hold the wheels and tires.
Don't worry though, eventually they WILL come up in conversation about Broncos!

Thanks for being a contributor by the way!
Got pics of the whole front end from tire to tire that we can see? This might help us see the angles more accurately from way out here.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[Bdhand]

This is what Okie found on my vin#

u15 wagon
F I6 170 engine
L michigan plant
822148 February build

92" wheel base
M Wimbledon white
u150 axle 2780lb?
198 1=front bench seat 98= full wagon top
C 3sp tranny
03 4.11 gears
212748 Atlanta Special order.. 21=Atlanta

 

[Bdhand]

Man I really appreciate you guys helping me out!this is all great info!! Maybe someone can get me some measurements on where then holes need to be in my frame for the steering shock! I'm guessing the other end of the shock goes where the ear tabs are welded on the draglink???? Is this correct? I am going to order a drop pitman arm and a track bar drop bracket! This thing may drive like a dream once I get all of this fixed LOL!!! Looks like a long couple of days work ahead of me!

 

[Bdhand]

Anybody got the measurements I need for drilling the new holes for the steering stabilizer shock? I would appreciate it very much.

Brent

 

[Broncobowsher]

Fully compress the damper, measure. Fully extend, measure. Average the two.
This is where is should be when going straight. Gives equal travel both left and right.
Attach one side to the drag link, there is an index tab. The other side will be where the measurement above says to put it.

Using someone else's measurements often does not match where it need to be on your rig. There is too much inconsistently between rigs.

 

[DirtDonk]

You might even compare those measurements to a known Bronco-sized shock since someone could have put the wrong one on years ago to fit into this orientation.
Don't want to limit turning radius because of a too-short shock after all the hard work.

And can you post up a pic of the whole setup? Looks like you either have a dropped pitman arm already, or more likely a non-stock steering box. I'm just going by the already slightly out of parallel orientation of the two bars in your pic. Might just be the angle the camera was at, but it'd still be good to see what you're running.

Thanks

Paul

 

[gr8scott]

When you do mount your new brackets, make sure the driver side one is mounted against the
two tabs on the track bar. Keeps it from potentially spinning. See picture.

 

[Bdhand]

Paul, what pics do you need to be able to see! Overall straight on? Steering box? I do not have a drop pitman arm yet but I will buy one here shortly!

 

[Bdhand]

I plan on ordering a new stabilizing shock along with the new brackets that I need to mount it correctly and a drop pitman arm. I am in the process of ordering power steering set up that will come with a new stock power steering box. I am going to order a drop track bar bracket as well.

 

[bronconut73]

I plan on ordering a new stabilizing shock along with the new brackets that I need to mount it correctly and a drop pitman arm. I am in the process of ordering power steering set up that will come with a new stock power steering box. I am going to order a drop track bar bracket as well.

What an amazing difference all of that will make!

I know it is expensive but you will really love the GIGANTIC difference that it will make in your driving experience.

 

[Bdhand]

I hope so if I can get it installed in the correct location!!! LOL

 

[DirtDonk]

Paul, what pics do you need to be able to see! Overall straight on? Steering box?

Well, all of the above actually!
Really the main one would be simply a front-on shot showing the full width of the tie-rod and showing at least a partial shot of the tires. This way we can see the main angles better and see what box you've got there now.

Any shots straight from the side showing the box would be a nice bonus.

Thanks

Paul

 

[B RON CO]

Hi again, you need Chiltons repair manual to help you learn parts and service. Good luck

 

[rydog1130]

Here is a pic I snagged out of another thread that shows the was it should be mounted.

That's how mine is on my 69

 

[Bdhand]

Here are some more pictures Paul!

 

[Bdhand]

A couple of more

 

[broncodriver99]

Oh man, arm strong steering. That's gotta be tough with 35's.