Stock suspension...what would you do?

[cplynn]

So my stock suspension needs to be replaced, but I can't really afford a new lift kit at the present time (and I have more pressing bronco needs to address), so I was thinking of updating the stock suspension. What products/vendors would you use to do this in the most affordable way? I know WH has a stock suspension kit available, but even that is a little more than I would like to pay at this point, especially since this will only be temporary until I can purchase a lift kit.

I basically would like something that will allow me to use my bronco as a daily driver while I work on addressing other things on the bronco (hydroboost, front discs and new tires/wheels). I would say I am a year or more away from purchasing a lift kit.

[sbolt19]

I guess a good question is what makes you think the suspension needs to be replaced? Do you have a busted leaf spring? Are the bushings shot? The reason I ask is that why pay double for a lift kit, save your money, do the things you want to first and do them right so you don't have to spend the money twice. If you are having some suspension issues (i.e. rough, bouncy ride), go get yourself a set of affordable shocks from Sears (Gabriel or Monroes) and deal with the rough stuff of the current components for the time being. The one problem that most people have (and I was one of them) is that they jump into upgrades too fast and don't do what is pressing rather than what is wanted. If I am you, I figure out what has to be done immediately, what needs to be done in 6 months and what I want done eventually. A list like that will save you time, money and headaches now and later down the road.

Take this for example, lets say that you want to go with a set of 35" tires and you go and install a 1" lift or stock suspension and then 6 months down the road you get the money to buy those 35s. You buy them but realize that they won't fit under a stock suspension so you have to buy the 3-5" lift kit. You just bought 2 kits when you should have only bought one. Or you put an ass load of money into a 4.5" suspension right now and have to run original sized tires on it for the next 6-8 months to save the money to buy those bigger tires. Make sense? I don't want to seem like I am shooting you out of the water, but build it right the first time so you don't have to rebuild it again later.

[cplynn]

There is a rough, bouncy ride and my bronco sits with a mild lean to the passenger side. Also, my current tires (LT235/75R15) have significant dry rot. I completely agree with doing things right the first time, which leads me to believe I may not be able to make my bronco a daily driver as soon as I would like. It doesn't make much sense to get new shocks, coils, etc. and invest in a set of 31" tires now if I'm just going to lift it (plan is for 3.5" suspension with 1" body) and run 33" or 35" tires down the road, right? And based on what I've read in the forums it wouldn't be safe to run larger tires until I have a power brake system in place sooooo, that is where I need to start then by the looks of it.

Welcome to the world of early bronco ownership, right? Thanks for the input.

[Entourage]

It sounds like you have a great plan for your Bronco - 3.5" Lift 1" Body and 35's. That is what dreams are made of. Keep watching Craigslist for what you need. I sold my Pro Comp 35's with Black Rims and Bought ProComp Polished 33's all in the same week. I love to search for 'procomp' and 'pro comp' just to see what is out there. I cannot blame you for wanting to drive your Bronco. As for the brakes, there are guys in the club running manual brakes and big tires.

[Justin]

I'm one of those guys. I've got 35s and manual drum brakes. It works, but I wouldn't want to daily drive it. I've had a few scary moments and leave lots of following distance. Do the front discs first, they'll be fine for a stock vehicle, and will probably be fine for bigger tires if you don't mind a heavy brake pedal. I'll second the suggestion for new shocks for a rough ride. Find some soft, cheap shocks and that should be a cheap way to help while you save up. I hear ya on big plans combined with a small budget.

[crawlercreations]

I am running 37" tires on manual brakes. Fronts are discs rears are big drums. It will stop as quick as I want it to. Stopped faster than a newer compact blazer......his grill, headlight, core support, condenser and radiator were proof of it! As long as you are willing to deal with a harder brake pedal you will be fine!

[Justin]

BTW, if you don't have a hydroboost unit already check the pick and pulls. The one near 66th had at least 5 when I was there. Mine was $18.99.

[Rox Crusher]

Replacing the dry rot tires would be my priority

[sbolt19]

There is a rough, bouncy ride and my bronco sits with a mild lean to the passenger side. Also, my current tires (LT235/75R15) have significant dry rot. I completely agree with doing things right the first time, which leads me to believe I may not be able to make my bronco a daily driver as soon as I would like. It doesn't make much sense to get new shocks, coils, etc. and invest in a set of 31" tires now if I'm just going to lift it (plan is for 3.5" suspension with 1" body) and run 33" or 35" tires down the road, right? And based on what I've read in the forums it wouldn't be safe to run larger tires until I have a power brake system in place sooooo, that is where I need to start then by the looks of it.

Welcome to the world of early bronco ownership, right? Thanks for the input.

Welcome is right. There is always something that can or needs to be done

Is your Bronco cut? If it is, you can get 31s under it without having the lift, it will rub with flex though. As far as the bouncy and rough ride, like I said before, get yourself a set of shocks. Even a set of Rancho 5000s are only $35 apiece and that will solve the bouncing problem. Enough so that you can daily drive it. But as far as putting a lift on it right now, I wouldn't until you have everything in order. From what you are saying you want, the route that I would take would be this....

#1 Fix the lean - it is a pretty common problem and fairly easy to fix, but it requires removing the front coils to do it right.
#2 Tires
#3 Front Disc
#4 Hydroboost
#5 Lift (susp & body - do this at the same time)

Just remember, it only takes time and money

[BURNTFISH]

I have a 66 that is drums all around and I have run 35 13.5 Krawlers and 37 Irocs. I even ran all the Ouray trails with a single master(I know how stupid that was). Mine was a daily driver for several years with manual brakes and if you push hard enough it will lock up all 4 tires.
Ask around for someones old stock springs. I might still have some of mine that would be free and ride real nice if I still have them. I ran 33's with a standard cut fender on my stock stuff for 2 years.

[airbur]

#1 Fix the lean - it is a pretty common problem and fairly easy to fix, but it requires removing the front coils to do it right.

Oh if it were only that easy!

[sbolt19]

Oh if it were only that easy!

I guess I'm a glutton for punishment then. Last time I did any front end work, I did a complete front end rebuild (replaced the busings, springs, shocks, PS box & steering swap to a Stone Crusher setup) and was able to do everything in a weekend. The hardest part was taking the radius arm nuts off. But back to it being fairly easy, as long as you keep the frame up and a support under the axle, fixing the lean can be done in an afternoon by yourself if you have a set of jack stands (or a few cinder blocks if your stands aren't tall enough), a floor jack & some air tools. The trick is to make sure that when you loosen and then re-tighten the "C" clamp/radius arm clamp that you do them in a diagonal pattern equally on all four bolts and then do the other side the same. Don't completely do one side of the vehicle then the other or one bolt all the way then the rest. That is what is the primary cause of the C-bushings wadding up and giving the lean to the truck. I have pulled the front end off of my EB probably 4 times and done the same to 2 or 3 other EBs and never once have I had the pleasure of having to redo it because of lean. I always used the X pattern when tightening the bolts and kept both sides of the axle at the same point when putting it back together. But really, it is simple. You just have to take sh*t apart to be able to do it right.

[airbur]

Oh if it were only that easy!

I guess I'm a glutton for punishment then. Last time I did any front end work, I did a complete front end rebuild (replaced the busings, springs, shocks, PS box & steering swap to a Stone Crusher setup) and was able to do everything in a weekend. The hardest part was taking the radius arm nuts off. But back to it being fairly easy, as long as you keep the frame up and a support under the axle, fixing the lean can be done in an afternoon by yourself if you have a set of jack stands (or a few cinder blocks if your stands aren't tall enough), a floor jack & some air tools. The trick is to make sure that when you loosen and then re-tighten the "C" clamp/radius arm clamp that you do them in a diagonal pattern equally on all four bolts and then do the other side the same. Don't completely do one side of the vehicle then the other or one bolt all the way then the rest. That is what is the primary cause of the C-bushings wadding up and giving the lean to the truck. I have pulled the front end off of my EB probably 4 times and done the same to 2 or 3 other EBs and never once have I had the pleasure of having to redo it because of lean. I always used the X pattern when tightening the bolts and kept both sides of the axle at the same point when putting it back together. But really, it is simple. You just have to take sh*t apart to be able to do it right.

Yep...been there...done all of that....along with many other "lean fixing ideas" and nothing has worked so far:( Glad to hear it worked for you though!

[Jesus_man]

I agree with others. Fix what needs fixed for sure and put off the creature comforts for a little while. Shocks are a good place to start, but make sure they are valved for the weight of a bronco or you'll still have a stiff ride. Maybe find some used. They could fix your rough ride. Springs aren't cheap, so you'd want to spend your money on what you want in the end, not what gets you by. The lean, while annoying, is also something that can wait. Smaller, stock sized tires can be had for fairly cheap if you're looking hard and not super picky. There are businesses who specialize in used tires if you can't find anything on your own. Disc brakes are a smart upgrade as well. However, manual brakes aren't that bad. I run a manual setup with disc/disc. Don't know why it works, but it does. Enough that boosting my system isn't even on my upgrade list.

You also don't need a lift "kit" if you're willing to do some looking on your own. Often times you can come up with you own for much cheaper, especially used if it fits your bill. Suspension has come a long ways and it seems like in the last 8 yrs or so, you can get better riding springs, so you don't want old lift springs.

Seems like the big three items that are keeping your bronco off the road are brakes, tires, and a bouncy ride. Tires and the bounciness are very easy to tackle. Brakes are a little more involved in both time and money, but is an upgrade that will benefit you no matter your future plans for the rig.

J.D.

Tires:
http://denver.craigslist.org/pts/2290141494.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/pts/2288669002.html