Bronco steering problem

[Froader527]

Hey guys Ive been on the site for awhile now and never posted anything. I figured this would be a good opportunity to get me started. I unfortunatly dont have a bronco yet but my buddy does. I was driving it tonight and noticed it has a really sloppy steering wheel like there is too much play. He said it has always been that way and thinks thats how it works. It wonders on the freeway and is kinda sketchy to drive. It also wants to slightly stick in one direction and you are constantly fighting it to stay in the lane and look drunk. Im wondering if anyone else had any problems with this on their Broncos? Its a 94 if that helps any but I dont see why. They generally all have the same ttb setup correct? Anyway any feed back would helpfull as to a way to help with it. Thanks guys, Love the site.

[Wrightracing.net]

I'll be the first one to ask a dumb question. Has he had it aligned. Now the next thing that I would say that check just with the sloppiness. There's an adjuster screw on the top of the power steering box . That can be adjusted to help take out some of the slop in the steering. If the vehicles been lifted and not done properly with a drop pitman arm. That could be part of your problem also. Also check your tie rod ends and make sure they are tight. And most of all make sure your tie rods are not bent.

Any alignment shop would catch most of that right off the bat .

[Rmc]

Hehehe I love the way you put all that, sketchy n drunk lol. Sounds like poor allignment, wore out ball joints, and or a steering box that's going out. Understand broncos feel more squirrelly than a truck due to the short wheelbase but not hard to control and it shouldn't wander. There should not be a constant need to correct the steering wheel. First thing I would do is jack it up and grab each tire and try to push pull in the direction of steering it should be nice and tight to clunking. If it is tight, measure the tow in.

[RyanDS650X]

In regards to the "sticking" issue you talk about make sure the adjustment sleeves on the TRE's are not hanging up on the swaybar mount. the open part of the adjusting sleeve should face the ground. I had an alignment shop not put them in the right place once and the bolts on the sleeve would hit the swaybar mount causing it to hang up. Ill bet you the wandering is due to a clapped out steering gear box... ask me how i know.

[tcm glx]

In regards to the "sticking" issue you talk about make sure the adjustment sleeves on the TRE's are not hanging up on the swaybar mount. the open part of the adjusting sleeve should face the ground. I had an alignment shop not put them in the right place once and the bolts on the sleeve would hit the swaybar mount causing it to hang up. Ill bet you the wandering is due to a clapped out steering gear box... ask me how i know.

You still running a sway Ryan? Or is it just the mounts?

[RyanDS650X]

No way, its just the tab on the beam where it would go.

[Froader527]

Thanks guys, its stock and has a fairly new front end. I know pepboys in Santee did it at first and they made something so tight it no return steering. Im not sure if the gearbox got replaced or not but ill ask my buddy. he later had it adjusted and it fixed it but it just was never the same. When he first got it it was really fun to drive now its not. Thanks for the help. Ill see if we cant figure this out.

[Wrightracing.net]

Pep boys may be the clue. You might want to take it to a place that specilizes in trucks. So many things can effect steering and a good shop will catch it.

[Silverslk]

Lots of good information in here. My only addition is that you are right and it should not be sloppy. We typically slowly adjust to the wear in our vehicles and forget just how nice they are supposed to be.