Specs, fluids & service · 1978–1996

Ford Full-size Bronco specs, fluids and service intervals

The numbers you need in the garage, on one page: spec sheet, capacities and service intervals, wheels and tires, and the parts to order. Sourced from owners, specialists and the factory; tags marked confirm in manual haven't been checked against a factory source yet.

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Spec sheet

MODEL YEARS	1978–1996 (second to fifth generations)
ASSEMBLY	Michigan Truck Plant, Wayne, Michigan; also Broadmeadows (Australia, 3rd gen) and Valencia (Venezuela, 4th–5th gen)
BODY	3-door wagon with lift-off rear hardtop
WHEELBASE	104 in (1978–86) · 104.7 in (1987–96)
LENGTH	180.3 in (1978–79) to 183.6 in (1992–96)
WIDTH	79.1–79.3 in
CURB WEIGHT	4,663–4,718 lb (1978–79) · 4,343–4,374 lb (1980–86)
FRONT AXLE	Dana 44 solid (1978–79) · Dana 44 TTB (1980–96)
REAR AXLE	Ford 9-inch · Ford 8.8
ENGINES	4.9 300 I6 · 5.0 302 V8 · 5.8 351M/351W V8 · 6.6 400 V8
WHEELS	5 x 139.7 mm (5 x 5.5 in) bolt pattern
BUILT	≈ 902,500 (sum of Wikipedia's annual figures)
REPLACED BY	Ford Expedition (1997)

By year

YEARS	PLATFORM	ENGINE	OUTPUT	NOTES
1978–1979	2nd gen · F-100 (1973–79 F-Series)	351M V8 · 400 V8	156–158 hp · 262 / 277 lb-ft	Solid coil-sprung Dana 44 front, 9-inch rear. T-18 or NP435 4-speed, or C6 automatic. NP205 part-time or NP203 full-time.
1980–1986	3rd gen · F-150 (1980–86 F-Series)	300 I6 · 302 V8 · 351M · 351W	302 EFI 190 hp (1985) · 351 HO 210 hp (1984)	TTB Dana 44 front. 351W replaces 351M from 1982. Eddie Bauer package from 1985.
1987–1991	4th gen · eighth-generation F-150 styling	300 I6 · 302 V8 · 351W	—	EFI on the 300 (1987) and 351 (1988). Rear ABS, M5OD 5-speed from 1988, E4OD from 1990. Silver Anniversary Edition for 1991.
1992–1996	5th gen · ninth-generation F-150 styling	300 I6 (to 1993) · 302 V8 · 351W	—	4-wheel ABS 1993, driver airbag 1994, OBD-II 1996. The hardtop is bolted on with security Torx from 1994.

Fluids, capacities & service intervals

These are thirty-year-old trucks with simple pushrod engines, so assume nothing has been done and baseline every fluid. Treat the front axle as a service item too. The TTB's spindle bearings, U-joints, ball joints and radius-arm bushings decide how the truck drives, and on most Broncos for sale they're original.

ITEM	SPEC / CAPACITY	INTERVAL	NOTES & PARTS
Engine oil & filter	SAE 5W-30 preferred in all climates (Ford ESE-M2C153-E); 10W-30 acceptable in hot weather · 6 qt with filter (1992 5.8)	Then every 5,000 mi, or every 3,000 mi on Ford's severe-duty schedule (1996 workshop manual)	Drain-plug torque 15–25 ft-lb (AMSOIL lookup). Owners of tired, high-mileage engines often move to thicker oils.Oil filter, 1992 Bronco (choose your engine) · RockAuto ↗Ford Racing high-performance oil filter · Bronco Graveyard ↗
Engine air filter	Panel element confirm in manual	Check every oil change; Ford's 1996 schedule replaces it every 30,000 mi or 30 months, sooner in dust	Check the airbox seal and the intake tube after any trail trip.Air filter, 1992 Bronco · RockAuto ↗
Ignition: plugs, cap, rotor, wires, TFI	1996 workshop manual: 5.8 Motorcraft ASF-32C, gap 0.042–0.046 in · 5.0 ASF-42P, gap 0.052–0.056 in · 4.9 BSF-44C, gap 0.042–0.046 in. Check the VECI decal on earlier trucks	Baseline once; Ford's 1996 schedule replaces plugs at 60,000 mi	On 1985–91 EFI trucks, inspect the distributor-mounted TFI module and fit any replacement with dielectric grease as a heat sink.Motorcraft V8 spark-plug wire set · Bronco Graveyard ↗1985–91 Motorcraft TFI module · Bronco Graveyard ↗Spark plugs, cap and rotor, 1992 Bronco · RockAuto ↗
Coolant & hoses	Ethylene glycol, 50/50 premix · 14.8–15.9 qt (1992 5.8, by transmission and A/C)	Flush at purchase, then every 30,000 mi or 36 months (Ford 1996 schedule; first change from new at 50,000 mi/48 months)	Check the plastic side seams of the radiator, which tend to leak after the engine cools overnight.Bronco Graveyard — heating and cooling systems · Bronco Graveyard ↗
Automatic transmission (E4OD)	Mercon V · 16.2 qt total, ≈ 8.5 qt on a pan drop (4WD E4OD)	Fluid and filter every 30,000 mi (owners' recommendation); sooner if towing	A single pan drop replaces only about half the fluid. C6 (13.5 qt total) and AOD (12.3 qt) trucks: use the fluid stamped on the dipstick.Motorcraft E4OD transmission filter · Bronco Graveyard ↗Motorcraft Mercon V ATF · Bronco Graveyard ↗
Manual transmission (M5OD-R2)	Motorcraft MERCON ATF · 3.8 qt (7.6 pints) for the Mazda R2 five-speed (1996 workshop manual); AMSOIL lists 6.8–7.6 pints	Drain and refill at purchase; Ford changes it every 60,000 mi	Owners recommend resealing the rubber plugs in the M5OD shift cover, which shrink and leak. Check the slave cylinder for leaks.Bronco Graveyard — clutch parts · Bronco Graveyard ↗
Transfer case	BW1356: Mercon V (factory manual), ≈ 4 pints · BW1345: ≈ 6.3 pints	Drain and refill at purchase	AMSOIL notes Ford has since updated the spec to Mercon LV. On push-button cases, clean the shift-motor connector while you're under there.Motorcraft Mercon V ATF · Bronco Graveyard ↗BW1356 electric-shift seal · Bronco Graveyard ↗
Front differential (Dana 44, solid or TTB)	Ford 4x4 Gear Oil F1TZ-19580-A (WSL-M2C191-A) · 3.6 pints for the Dana 44 IFS (1996 workshop manual, F-150/Bronco). The manual's table doesn't state a viscosity, so match the Ford spec	Change at purchase and after deep water	Check the axle vent tube, and look for gear oil weeping from the slip-yoke seal on the long side of a TTB.Bronco Graveyard — Dana 44 front axle · Bronco Graveyard ↗
Rear differential (8.8 / 9-inch)	SAE 80W-90 (Ford XY-80W90-QL, WSP-M2C197-A) · ≈ 5.5 pints (8.8 Traction-Lok) plus 4 oz Ford friction modifier (F3TZ-19B546-MA)	Change at purchase	Fill to 1/4–9/16 inch below the filler hole (factory manual via Bronco Zone). Seal the 8.8 cover with silicone (D6AZ-19562-AA or equivalent).Bronco Graveyard — Ford 8.8 rear axle · Bronco Graveyard ↗Bronco Graveyard — Ford 9-inch rear axle · Bronco Graveyard ↗
Front wheel bearings, spindle bearings & hubs	Ford High Temperature 4x4 Front Axle and Wheel Bearing Grease E8TZ-19590-A (ESA-M1C198-A), which the 1996 manual also specifies for the spindle needle bearings and axle U-joints	Repack at purchase	On a TTB truck, do the spindle needle bearings and seals and the axle U-joints while the hub is apart.1980–92 Dana 44 TTB spindle bearing kit · Bronco Graveyard ↗1980–92 Dana 44 TTB front-end rebuild kit · Bronco Graveyard ↗
Steering & front-suspension wear parts	Radius-arm bushings · ball joints · tie-rod ends	Inspect at purchase	Have a helper rock the steering wheel while you watch each joint. Perished radius-arm bushings are common.1980–87 radius-arm bushing repair kit · Bronco Graveyard ↗Dana 44 Spicer ball joints (pair) · Bronco Graveyard ↗
Brake fluid	DOT 3 (Ford C6AZ-19542-AA/BA, ESA-M6C25-A)	Flush at purchase. Ford's 1996 schedule sets no fluid-change interval, only hose and line inspections every 15,000 mi	On manual trucks the hydraulic clutch shares the same fluid type.Bronco Graveyard — brake parts · Bronco Graveyard ↗
Power steering	Ford Premium Power Steering Fluid E4AZ-19582-C or E6AZ-19582-AA (ESW-M2C33-F), per the 1996 workshop manual. Some owners use Mercon V instead	Check level and hoses at purchase	A leaking box can be resealed rather than replaced; seal kits are available.Ford Bronco and truck power-steering box master seal kit · Bronco Graveyard ↗

Capability

Wheelbase	104 in (2,642 mm) 1978–86 · 104.7 in (2,659 mm) 1987–96
Length	180.3 in (1978–79) to 183.6 in (1992–96)
Curb weight	4,663–4,718 lb (1978–79) · 4,343–4,374 lb (1980–86) Wikipedia infobox figures
Seating	Up to 6 Three-across front bench and a folding, removable rear seat from 1978

Wheels & tires

Bolt pattern	5x139.7 (5x5.5") on all 1978–96 trucks
Lug thread	1/2"-20 UNF (listed for 1992–96)
Biggest tire · Stock	33 in (e.g. 33x12.50R15)
Biggest tire · 3 in body lift	35 in
Biggest tire · 4–6 in suspension	35 in
Biggest tire · ≈ 6 in (8 in preferred)	38 in

Open the Full-size Bronco in the tire fitment tool →

Common Full-size Bronco repairs

Always confirm torque figures, fluids and capacities against the factory service manual for your VIN. See the disclaimer; some parts links are affiliate links.