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FRONT SUSPENSION PARTS for Early Ford Broncos
BRONCO FRONT SUSPENSION AND HANDLING TECH INFO
When you raise the front of the Bronco, many front end components are affected. It is the job of the trac bar to locate the front end under the vehicle from side to side. This is the bar that is attached to the passenger side of the front end and to the driver's side of the frame.
As the Bronco is lifted, the angle of the trac bar is increased, and the front end is shifted to the driver's side.
There are three ways to center the front end when a suspension lift is installed: 1) the adjustable trac bar, 2) the trac bar drop bracket, and 3) the trac bar riser. The adjustable trac bar can be adjusted longer than the stock trac bar. This pushes the front end back over to the passenger side, centering the front end under the vehicle. Using the adjustable trac bar alone will center the front end, but the increased angle on the trac bar can cause undesirable handling characteristics, mainly bump steer. With stiff springs that don't move, bump steer will be less noticeable.
Since Wild Horses coils are made to provide travel and a comfortable ride, we recommend that you use a trac bar drop bracket or riser, regardless of whether or not you are using an adjustable trac bar. The trac bar drop bracket centers the front end by lowering the trac bar closer to its factory angle. All of our 3 1/2" and taller suspension systems come with a trac bar drop bracket.
The trac bar riser can be substituted for $35. The trac bar riser was born out of necessity because of interference between the drop bracket and tie rod over the steering knuckle conversions. It is also a more severe duty way of dealing with the trac bar alignment issue. The trac bar riser mounts to the front end and centers the front end by raising the trac bar closer to its factory angle. The adjustable trac bar can be ordered as an option to our kits.
Another component affected by lifting the Bronco is the drag link. The drag link is the rod that connects the tie rod to the pitman arm. The tie rod connects the front steering knuckles together, and the pitman arm is the arm attached to the bottom of the steering box. When the Bronco is lifted, the angle of the drag link is increased. This may cause the Bronco to be able to steer one way farther than the other. This is easily addressed by installing a drop pitman arm. The drop pitman arm will locate the drag link closer to the factory angle. We've noticed the Bronco will handle better if the angle of the trac bar and drag link are about the same.
Front end alignment for toe adjustment is not necessary except on 76-77's with inverted Y tie rod and drag link. On stock 76-77 Broncos the toe in will be decreased as you lift the Bronco. On all others, the toe is not changed when you lift the vehicle. Front end caster can be addressed with correct degree C- bushings, radius arm drop brackets and long radius arms.
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DEATH WOBBLE
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Dangerous and scary, the "Wobble" is definitely something that needs to be remedied.
Question:
I'm doing a restore on a 1973 Bronco that I bought 1 1/2 months ago. When I bought the Bronco, it had the radius arms disconnected from the area they should be, but they were still attached to the front axle. The vibration that I speak of is comparable to the space shuttle during take-off. When the vibration does occur and I look out the window at the front axle, it looks like after-burners in full idle ready for launch. After installing the 3 1/2" lift ( bushings, shocks, coil springs, and leaf springs), the vibration stopped, but now at times the vibration is slight and once in a while it comes back to shake me back into orbit but not as bad as at first. Also any bumps in the road can spark the rocket motors. The lift kit is on correctly and tight to specifications. I will be buying new rims and tires this week, which I hope will help. I'm puzzled by this freak problem. Do you have any suggestions? Your help is greatly needed.
Tim Van Houten
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FRONT SHOCK MOUNTS 
PITMAN ARMS 
RADIUS ARMS 
TRAC BARS & BRACKETS 
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