What Steering Set Up Is This on a 1976

[BGBronco]

Looking at a '76 Bronco. Not a steering expert but I haven't seen this setup on a Bronco before. Thank you.

 

[okie4570]

Inverted Y that came on 76' and 77'.

 

[Justafordguy]

Yep, looks like stock 76 - 77 steering.

 

[BGBronco]

Thank you. I haven't seen many with this set up so assuming people have been swapping these out over time. It has a 2.5" lift so probably a preference more than a requirement i'm assuming.

 

[half cab]

Thank you. I haven't seen many with this set up so assuming people have been swapping these out over time. It has a 2.5" lift so probably a preference more than a requirement i'm assuming.

If you get above that 2.5" sup lift it would be nessary or vastly improve your steering. On the '76-77.

 

[sykanr0ng]

Thank you. I haven't seen many with this set up so assuming people have been swapping these out over time. It has a 2.5" lift so probably a preference more than a requirement i'm assuming.

The stock '76-'77 steering has really good road manners as long as it is not lifted more than 2 1/2 inches (suspension lift).
More than that spreads the Y which changes the geometry for the worse.
Many owners change out the steering for the older style or a custom setup because of this.

 

[DirtDonk]

Some people find they don't even like them with 2.5" lifts. Some notice a difference, some don't.
Some of that may be the owner, but some may also be the combination of things, such as tire size and wheel width and offset.

They really do like less angle, so the more flat the long link is, the better.
If you're not experiencing any issues, leave it. But if you find that it's steering a bit funky, a dropped pitman arm and dropped trackbar bracket that are normally used with 3.5" lifts would still be a good thing.

And you're right about many swapping out the Inverted-Y for the older Inverted-T setup. It's not that the Y is not a great design. It is, at least for stock, or near-stock angles. But once angles go up, and tire size goes up, and especially use severity goes up, the need for the more flex-resistant design of the earlier T style goes up as well.
All depends on what you have, and what you're going to do with it.

It's one more thing to think about too, when your original stuff starts to wear out and get loose. That's the perfect time to decide whether to keep the Y, or go to the T.
But be aware too, that if you convert to an Inverted-T linkage, you may use a different pitman arm (dropped OR stock), and you do not want the dropped trackbar bracket anymore.

Paul

 

[stout22]

FYI: Looks like the front axle has been swapped out. I don't see the brackets for the optional sway bar. Although someone could have cut them off.

 

[sprdv1]

FYI: Looks like the front axle has been swapped out. I don't see the brackets for the optional sway bar. Although someone could have cut them off.

Good catch....

 

[garberz]

FYI: Looks like the front axle has been swapped out. I don't see the brackets for the optional sway bar. Although someone could have cut them off.

Not all 76'-77's had sway bars, that was an option.

Mark

 

[stout22]

Not all 76'-77's had sway bars, that was an option.

Mark

Maybe that's why I said "optional" %). But I believe all 76/77 D44s had the brackets to attach the sway bars.

 

[sm7mag]

i have the same steering on mine with 2.5" lift, it drives great,,i tried changing over to the old style...i couldnt hold it in the road, I called wild horses and they sent me a drop pitman arm..it improved but still wasnt that great...i went back to the inverted y , stock steering

 

[DirtDonk]

If that's the case on the anti-sway bar brackets, I wonder if it's one of those early vs late things?
What month was your '76 built in BGB? A lot of changes happened in '76, so I'm always curious what happened and when.

Thanks

Paul

 

[englewoodcowboy]

We ditch the inverted Y on all our 76-77 builds with any amount of lift. Just better geometry all the way around when you do except for stock, the Y works well for stock height.

 

[75MIKE]

I'm with sm7mag, I'm going back to the inverted Y. I've tried everything to get the T conversion to work, not happening with a 2.5 inch lift.

Every rig is different that's for sure.

 

[Justafordguy]

I changed the Inverted Y on my 2.5" SL 77 out for the Extreme Custom Fab 1 ton steering and had a lot of bumpsteer. Later I got a drop pitman arm from Paul @ WH and it steers great now with no bumpsteer. Like Mike said, it seems like every one of these trucks is different. ;D

 

[DirtDonk]

...I'm going back to the inverted Y. I've tried everything to get the T conversion to work, not happening with a 2.5 inch lift.

What do you have now Mike? And what is it doing that you don't like?
And more importantly I suppose, what all have you done to try to fix whatever is wrong?

Not saying you're not right to go back, if that's what worked better for you. Just that most find the T a better fit for a lifted Bronco.

Got pics of your setup? Have we seen it in other threads? If so, post up a link so we can check it out.
Sorry if it's just re-hashing old news. Maybe we already beat it to death. But if you know me, almost nothing I like more than a good old steering dilemma!

Good luck.

Paul

 

[75MIKE]

Hi Paul,

We emailed back and forth and I sent you pictures about a year or so ago when I was trying to get this dialed in with drop pitman arm after installing the T conversion. Have everything parallel has just always felt that I'm chasing it down the road. The inverted Y just felt tighter. Time to re-invest in the stock set up.

 

[DirtDonk]

Well bummer Mike. Sorry it never felt right.
I'm assuming you twiddled with the toe-in settings as well? And if I talked to you, I'm sure I would have mentioned rotating the centerlink if it was an adjustable type. Especially if you sent pics.
Did we talk about that too at the time?

And I'm wondering, if your linkage is still in good shape, why not sell it up front to help pay for the new Inverted-Y setup, rather than waiting for this one to wear out and not being quite happy with the way it drives?
I don't think you'd be selling something bad to someone, since they do seem to work for most people that swap. And that way you wouldn't be hanging on to it for so long, and could be out less money if you sell it while it's good and tight.

Just a thought anyway. I bet there's someone that would like it.
It's funny too, but I bet those pics you sent me are the ones I just sent in the recycle bin while cleaning up my computer last week!

Paul

 

[75MIKE]

Thanks Paul, I fiddled with everything enough that I know I tried everything. It's like new, as I only drive less than a 1000 miles a year. Just hunting season and winter time.

I'll be selling it once I get the Y parts here.