Symptoms
Bubbling paint along the rear wheel-arch lips, holes at the bottom of the B-pillars or tailgate, a soft floor near the rear seat-belt anchors, a rotted radiator core support.
The fix, step by step
- Bronco Zone owners blame Ford's spot-welded seams, which trap water, so the rust usually runs further than it looks.
- Strip back to clean steel, cut the panel out beyond the rot, and butt-weld in a patch or a full panel.
- Seam-seal, prime and paint, and treat the inside with cavity wax.
- On the tailgate, clear the drains and fit new internal hardware while it's apart.
Tools & part numbers
- Cut-off wheel
- MIG welder
- flap discs
- panel clamps
- seam sealer
- cavity wax.
Where to buy the parts
1983–96 Bronco tailgate internals kitBronco Graveyard ↗Amazon ↗
1980–96 Bronco body parts departmentBronco Graveyard ↗Amazon ↗
1978–96 Bronco rear frame crossmemberBronco Graveyard ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Ford Full-size Bronco parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.