Steering is not solid

[Xearo69]

yah i dunno the steering is kind of crappy. When i hit the breaks, it pulls to the right so when i turn the wheel, nothin happens untill i turn in a good 10 degrees then the car turns really hard out of nowhere.. i have to correct the steering alot wheil im driveing.. maybe too much freeplay and stuff.

How do i fix that? =)

 

[Seabronc]

I'd keep it off the Freeway and even the street until you get your front end fixed. There are a lot of things that can cause that kind of steering, sometimes called "Slot Car Steering". It is dangerous, as you have experienced. Some possibilities are, tie rods, ball joints, linkage, alignment, etc.

Good luck,

>-

 

[Xearo69]

=) so how do i diagnose the problem my self?

 

[Seabronc]

=) so how do i diagnose the problem my self?

I'd take it to a good 4X4 shop or find someone close by that can help you out. However, jacking it up and checking for play in the tires, side to side, up and down, can tell you a lot about the condition of the steering components. Also, with it on the ground see how much the wheel turns without moving the tire, that will tell you something about the steering linkage. In either case there should be very little to no play.

Good luck,

>-

 

[Broncobill78]

=) so how do i diagnose the problem my self?

Well, I have to say up front that if you have to ask then you may not be capable. It's not a personal slam, I'm just telling you what the deal is. Front ends can be tricky and if you're not mechanically inclined or used to working on cars/trucks then you probably should take the advise you've already been given and bring it to a shop.

Having said that, we need much more info before anyone can even begin to help you out. What year is it & what kind of shape is it in, what do you know about the history of the truck ? Is it lifted with larger tires or stock ?

The symptoms you describe can usually be traced to things like ball joints, steering boxes, track-rods, pivot joints, tie-rod ends and such like that. First & foremost are these things you're *able* to replace yourself ? If not then don't ***** around with steering componants and bring it to a good local shop. If you don't know what we're talking about then you probably shouldn't try repairing it yourself. I hate to discourage ANYONE from picking up a wrench but this is obviously a street rig and the consequences involve more than just your own personal safety, make a mistake here and you can literally wipe out a minivan with a family in it. A Bronco is a big heavy full-size truck and *more* than capable of completely destroying another vehicle & it's occupants. If you have a plastic toolbox full of screwdrivers and old sockets then take the advise & bring it to a shop. If you question their diagnosis the come on back & post it, we're happy to chat about it and offer advise but front-ends are serious business and the LAST thing that anyone here wants to see is you or anyone else getting hurt.

 

[Broncobill78]

yah i dunno the steering is kind of crappy. When i hit the breaks, it pulls to the right so when i turn the wheel, nothin happens untill i turn in a good 10 degrees then the car turns really hard out of nowhere.. i have to correct the steering alot wheil im driveing.. maybe too much freeplay and stuff.How do i fix that? =)

I neglected to ask in my first response what the specifics of your truck are. Does it have stock suspension & tires or is it lifted with larger tires ? To be sure, I think you probably have a mechanical preoblem of some sort but also be aware that a lift kit for a TTB truck also needs all of the accessory bracketry that's offered (don't just buy a cheap lift with nothing but coils & leafs), if you install a lift without the bracketry (or buy a truck that doesn't have it) it will dart all over the place & in general scare you silly. Also, larger tires are usually prone to a somewhat larger degree of sidewall flex (since the sidewalls are so much taller) and that will also sometimes feel a little "darty" to the guy behind the wheel. The sidewall thing is just something you have to get used to & understand that it's there but the bracketry issue is something that won't go away and the taller you get the more dangerous it becomes to not have it. And please let me add my apologies if my initial response came off a bit too harsh. Everyone here loves these trucks and our only real goal is to help each other out.

 

[Xearo69]

the truck is a 90 full size bronco thats bone stock except for the heater core i threw in a couple weeks ago when the vents started spewing antifreeze! Suspension is stock as are the tires.. the front wheels have automatic lockers, and the tires are basicly street tires (mellow tread) and i think they are 32s. Yah i have no experience taking apart front ends -ive changed a motor and changed water pumps, and brakes.. i have a friend thats going to guide me in putting a 6 inch lift kit and extended radius arms so he is going to have to give it a look.. unfortunately my degree is in electronics so il probably leave it the way it is and get it fixed when i can. I probably wont drive it till its fixed cuz i dont wanna crash into an minivans with a family in it =)