Think my C Bushings were put in wrong

[kat]

I had local front end shop install my extended radius arms on my '76 and had him align front end. I explained to him that the company said I needed +4 degrees caster. Its hard to tell by this picture but at the bottom of my springs they are closer together toward the rear of Bronco on left and right sides.

Driving down the road it wants to 'walk' and feels like I have body roll when ever I try to correct it or turn a corner. There is no lean to Bronco when sitting on flat surface. What you guys think?? Im going to call the shop in the morning to set up appointment to have him check it. Thanks

 

[AZ73]

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309588

 

[blubuckaroo]

I had local front end shop install my extended radius arms on my '76 and had him align front end. I explained to him that the company said I needed +4 degrees caster. Its hard to tell by this picture but at the bottom of my springs they are closer together toward the rear of Bronco on left and right sides.

Driving down the road it wants to 'walk' and feels like I have body roll when ever I try to correct it or turn a corner. There is no lean to Bronco when sitting on flat surface. What you guys think?? Im going to call the shop in the morning to set up appointment to have him check it. Thanks

Your front axle looks a lot like mine. I was "marketed" into the dual shock thing. Mine still has the scars of the "unused" dual shock brackets.
Be careful adding caster bushings to a '76/'77. Ford already did it.
I run 2 degree "C" bushings with a 2.5" lift on my '77.
There's a lot of advice out there. Be careful who you listen to.

 

[kat]

Thanks for the advice.

That thread you sent me to AZ73 had a you tube video in it Ill have to check out when Im not on work computer.

Im wondering if its just the mannerism of the extended arms?? I mean the purpose it to have more flex and it feels like that's what its doing going down the road...swaying.

 

[DirtDonk]

Its hard to tell by this picture but at the bottom of my springs they are closer together toward the rear of Bronco on left and right sides.

First off, I'm not sure what that means. What is closer together? The springs, the bushings, or something else?

Next, did you already have the lift and only installed the new radius arms and C-bushings?

Paul

 

[kat]

First off, I'm not sure what that means. What is closer together? The springs, the bushings, or something else?

Next, did you already have the lift and only installed the new radius arms and C-bushings?

Paul

Sorry, I was rather vague. The coils of the springs have shorter distance between them in the rear of springs than they do in the front. I have had the lift for a few years now with no issues but dont remember the uneven of the coils before. Maybe its just because Im not used to the extended radius arms to have as much flex going down the road. Before the front end shop got a hold of it I had about 3 inches of steering wheel play now less than an inch it seems. Maybe Im over compensating and just snatching the steering wheel. It just feels like the truck has more body roll than before the extended radius arms install. Which I know it should, that is what they are made to do.

 

[DirtDonk]

Correct. But I would think it would not be that bad for someone who's driven Broncos extensively like you have now. Could be wrong on that though, as the longer arms might just be more effective than I remember!

But the C-bushings have nothing to do at all with spring attitude. That comes from two things. The amount of lift (assuming no drop brackets for the radius arm frame mounts) and the angle of the radius arm cap ends.
That surface at the caps is the only thing that changes the springs. The C-bushings only change the angle of the axle housing inside the radius arms.

If the arm's "heads" are adjustable where they bolt to the arms, that adjustment can change how the springs react. Because the coils are clamped at the top and semi-clamped at the bottom, any change in the attitude of the arm can change how the springs bow out away from vertical.

Paul

 

[kat]

The radius arms can be adjusted and was thinking that is an option. Hear are some pics I took this morning. The rear bushings that are against the radius arms seem pushed away. There are no gaps in the arms and caps though.

Passenger front


Passenger rear



Driver front

 

[kat]

Driver rear

 

[DirtDonk]

Can't really tell on the rear bushings, because they're hidden behind the arm pieces. But the front bushings look to be installed correctly.

The adjustment on the arms is presumably for caster, so if you adjust them to correct something else (like spring angle) it might go against your caster numbers.

Did you get a printout of your alignment settings? If so, what is your caster reading currently?

Paul

 

[Rustytruck]

check your tire pressure with the suspension change. who knows what the shop did.

 

[kat]

Can't really tell on the rear bushings, because they're hidden behind the arm pieces. But the front bushings look to be installed correctly.

The adjustment on the arms is presumably for caster, so if you adjust them to correct something else (like spring angle) it might go against your caster numbers.

Did you get a printout of your alignment settings? If so, what is your caster reading currently?

Paul

After doing some research, I think the bushings are installed correctly. Hard to take pics of it but they seem right. I dropped it off back at the shop today and explained how it was acting going down the road and like you he thinks he can adjust the arms some. No computer printout of numbers, this is an old school shop that I have been using for years. If he cant get it right I might take it to a more 'modern' shop and have them check it.