Symptoms
A clunk over bumps or on braking, wandering steering and caster that won't hold. The rubber at the rear of each radius arm, where it passes through the frame bracket, is cracked or squashed out.
The fix, step by step
- Support the frame on stands with the axle on a jack so the arms are unloaded.
- Remove the nut at the rear end of each radius arm, slide off the washers and old bushings, and pry the arm down out of the bracket just far enough to fit the new bushings and washers.
- Bronco Graveyard's 1980–87 kit swaps the rubber for polyurethane and replaces the loose washers; adjustable bushings are available if you need to correct caster after a lift.
- Torque at ride height and get an alignment.
Tools & part numbers
- Jack and stands
- large sockets and breaker bar
- pry bar
- torque wrench.
Where to buy the parts
1980–87 Bronco and F-Series radius-arm bushing repair kit (poly)Bronco Graveyard ↗Amazon ↗
1980–97 Bronco and F-Series adjustable radius-arm bushingBronco Graveyard ↗Amazon ↗
1987–97 F-Series radius-arm bushing heat shieldBronco 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.