What does it take to return 71 Bronco to original suspension?

[Trevor VanLandingham]

What does it take to return 71 Bronco to original suspension?

 

[1969]

What is on your Bronco currently? Hard to make recommendations without knowing. You could have a linked Bronco, air ride, or maybe it’s just lifted and needs stock replacement springs to go back.

 

[DirtDonk]

And just how original do you want it?
Factory stuff, as in a religious restoration? Or just good quality replacement parts that bring it back to stock height?

 

[Broncobowsher]

As noted, depends on what you are starting with?
Next is how stock do you want it? Just stock height that rides good? Pebble beach, date code correct, OEM parts, perfect restoration original?

Just going off 'typical' old school Bronco lifts, need stock height springs and shocks. Track bar drop bracket removed, which is typically welded to the original. Drop pitman arm removed. Replace the caster correction bushings in the front axle (or leave them with power steering as it will drive real good with extra caster). But there are so many other things that could be involved. The more modified it has been, the more it will take to undo it. Leaf spring conversion kits once existed for the front suspension, that will be a lot more work. Drop radius arm brackets, long arms, full width conversions. Those will drive up the difficulity levels.

 

[okie4570]

Like said above. Depends on what if anything has been welded on, etc. Track bars brackets, extended pitman arms, lengthened drive shafts.....

Could be simple and low cost or pretty involved and you'll be spending some cash, depending on what's currently there.

 

[bmbm]

Probably, possibly simple as just start calling Bronco vendors and purchase stock height springs, shocks, bushings, steering parts etc. They have all the good stuff and the knowledge to help you get it done right. As stated some pics will be helpful here and for vendors. Do you want to include tires and wheels? I could recommend replacing the body bushings as they are most likely squashed flat (mine were). At that point consider if you want to add 1" body lift pucks along with the new body bushings. It will still look mostly stock but gives it a bit of a stance and a minimal lift cheap and does not cause any problems at least that was my experience. Also since I am considering this for my 66 put some thought into what you might add such as roll cage and how you want it to sit. I am after close to approximately stock height in front and a bit higher in back 1-1.5" so if loaded with camping gear it might ride level. Send some pics and keep us up to date.

 

[RODRIG3911]

I had the original suspension 21 years ago. I promise you don't want it haha... Just buy a new stock height suspension from one of the vendors. The stock one is way to stiff

 

[Trevor VanLandingham]

The 71 Bronco has a 5.5 inch lift. With heavy duty springs in front and monster leafsprings in back along with 1 shock per side in the rear and only springs in the front. I need to put a 2.5 inch body lift to fit my 6r80 auto transmission. Took off the drive shafts today rear seemed fine but the front was sloppy. Is it normaly sloppy while not engaged to transfer case?

 

[DirtDonk]

Depends on where the slop is.
But whatever you do, don’t fix or get new drive shafts until you have the new ride height set. There’s a very good chance that your drive shafts are longer than stock to accommodate the 5 1/2 inch lift.
In theory, all you need are new springs and new shocks. If the mounts are stock, all will be well.
Possibly new shorter brake hoses, but the same ones that fit a 5 1/2 inch lift could very well fit in 2 1/2 inch lift.
Steering linkage depends on what was done to work with the 5 1/2 inches. Nothing wrong with the standard drop Pitman Arm and track bar bracket for a 2 1/2 inch lift, but a riser And tie-rod over and other things might interfere.
So we will need to know more about the front end and stuff.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The 71 Bronco has a 5.5 inch lift. With heavy duty springs in front and monster leafsprings in back along with 1 shock per side in the rear and only springs in the front. I need to put a 2.5 inch body lift to fit my 6r80 auto transmission. Took off the drive shafts today rear seemed fine but the front was sloppy. Is it normaly sloppy while not engaged to transfer case?

5.5" of lift often requires a lot of stuff to be fixed to get the lift to work right. How much was fixed and how much was just left alone is the big question. Posting pictures is the only way to really answer that question.

 

[Madgyver]

time....