what to check when looking at a bronco

[paintballdude902]

ok im looking at buying bronco

when i go to look at them what should i be sure to check?

i know to check the body for rust especially tailgate and fenders

im taking a friend along that is a certified mechanic but is there anything particular to check?

 

[BB33's]

The Broncos are known for "loose" steering. I would check for any sort of leak either the pump or gearbox. Also rear main seals are a common problem but it is not a deall breaker. Pretty much all the common problems with Broncos are small ones and can be fixed very cheaply so most are not deal breakers.

 

[paintballdude902]

im expecting to have to do some stuff when i buy it but i dont want to have to do anything major im selling my current truck (2000 dodge dakota) so im planning on having money left over

i figure im buying a car as old as i am (18) are there known problems with any of the trannies they come with?

how would i fix loose steering?

 

[Miss Kitten]

lose steering is a very hard problem to fix. once you get used to it you'll be fine /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

check how the tcase shifts. make sure there's no problems getting into 4lo and then back into 2 hi again. when driving the truck hit the gas hard and see how it shifts from 1st to second. a hard shift could be signs the tranny may be on it's way out. also check the exhaust manifolds for cracks. turn the hubs from free to lock and make sure that they don't feel restricted or that could mean a hub rebuild. if you aren't planning on doing any lifts to the truck right away check to see how flat the rear leaf springs are laying and if there's any movement in the shackle when going over bumps (will require you and your buddy to check this) if the springs are flat and there's no movement in the shackles she'll be a rough ride. also pay attention to any weird vibrations while driving the truck.

 

[crazyhorse85]

There are many good points to check on older broncos...miss kitten has some very good advise on what to check...you may also take a good minute and take a long look underneth...check for anything out of sorts...frame rail cracks,tranny or trans.case cracks,unrepairable rust....as far as loose steering a good reman.or new box should solve that problem...take it for a ride and as miss kitten said take notice on how the trans.shifts,any oil burning...all not major problems but might aid in final price you pay for the truck...just don't base your final choose on looks alone...someones jem could be your lump of coal.....my truck looked like a basket case when i first bought it...but most of the damage was cosmitic...it's come along way from the day i brought her home....happy hunting... B)

 

[dhpt99]

I really wouldnt worry about tailgate rust to much. It something almost every bronco has. Like miss kitten said check the tranfer case. Also when you test drive it check it for any noises and look at the gauges ( mainly the temp gauge ). I was lucky enough to find a truck with tight steering and suspension but it does leak oil out of the rear main seal. Plus check all the windows, lights, horn, blinkers,... jus to make sure every thing works and to get an idea on what you would have to fix.

 

[paintballdude902]

well with the steering i can just take the one from an f-series truck of the same model right?

dhp i just want it to look nice i have no problem replacing the metal

i can either do every thing to fix it up or i know someone who can show me so im not real worried about small stuff i jsut dont want to end up with a bad tranny or transfer case or worse have to rebuild the engine

 

[walnuts75]

I just wanted to add something. Make sure you check all of the brackets that hold the suspension together for severe corrosion, for example radius arm brackets and the brackets that hold the shackles and leaf spring to the frame. I have had to replace both front radius arm brackets and bushings on mine and am now in serious need to replace the shackle-to-frame brackets. Mine were completely rusted out.

 

[paintballdude902]

walnut thankfully down here we dont use much road salt so that isnt a problem but we do have salt spray from the ocean i mean hey were 30 mins from the beach who doesnt go there

 

[walnuts75]

walnut thankfully down here we dont use much road salt so that isnt a problem but we do have salt spray from the ocean i mean hey were 30 mins from the beach who doesnt go there

You're lucky then! Road salt tears everthing up. I always get so jealous when I travel down south and see vehicles that are well over 20 years old and have absolutely no rust on them. Then up here in Ohio you'll see 5 year-old vehicles with paint bubbles and rust around the fenders and bottoms of the doors. Sorry I'm just venting a little bit cuz of all the work I've done on my Bronco b/c of rust.

 

[rostheiceman]

hay paint. well i take it your from florida as am i but as far as rust goes you should still look for bad spots (you never know where it came from) like the body mounts and rocker panles. like the others said take it for a test drive check the guages especially the oil pressure also if its manual 4x4 check to make shure the hubs lock and the 4x4 works if its auto 4x4 one of the most commen things to go out is the 4x4 push butten make shure it works and when you check the tranny let it get to temp before you dirve it

 

[paintballdude902]

hay paint. well i take it your from florida as am i but as far as rust goes you should still look for bad spots (you never know where it came from) like the body mounts and rocker panles. like the others said take it for a test drive check the guages especially the oil pressure also if its manual 4x4 check to make shure the hubs lock and the 4x4 works if its auto 4x4 one of the most commen things to go out is the 4x4 push butten make shure it works and when you check the tranny let it get to temp before you dirve it

bit north of you im in eastern north carolina

but yeah i hear what your saying it seasm like down here the only cars that have rust are people that spend alot of time at the beach

i plan on taking a flash light and doing some crawling under it when i look found two on crais list im gonna take a look at pretty soon

 

[jsomedaysoon]

i live on the beach in north carolina too. dont under estimate how much salt is just in the air around here. you can whipe your finger across your truck and see the salt residue pretty much all year long. but dont let that stop you from driving your new found toy on the beach! its a unique experience and really the biggest reason i own a bronco. we dont really have any mud here at the beach.

 

[paintballdude902]

jsome where are you hatteras?

im in new bern

oh yeah i know i spent a week in nags head about 2 weeks a go and fist thing i did when i got home was a car wash even with it left at the beach house i still had a horrid layer on the windshield

there is a bronco for sale in harkers island for a decent price but i dont want one that close to the salt water

 

[jsomedaysoon]

i'm north of hatteras i'm in nags head actually. i used to live in new bern though. way back in the early 90's haha. oh yea and just because that bronco is in harkers island now doesent mean you should exclude it completely. the guy may have just moved there or taken good care of it or both. its still worth a look but keep in mind all the things these other people have said. they are all very valid points i've owned three bronco's so far and two f 150's all from the 80's

 

[paintballdude902]

yeah i got more pics of it via email and the interrior was really bad so thats why im not looking more at it