Ford Bronco II

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Ford Bronco II from Mexico
Ford Bronco II
Production period: 1984-1990
Class : SUV
Body versions : Station wagon
Successor: Ford Explorer
1st generation
Ford Bronco II (1984-1988)

Ford Bronco II (1984-1988)
Production period: 1984-1988
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines: Gasoline engines :
2.8-2.9 liters
Length: 4021 mm
Width: 1727 mm
Height: 1732 mm
Wheelbase : 2388 mm
Empty weight :
2nd generation
Ford Bronco II (1989-1990)

Ford Bronco II (1989-1990)
Production period: 1989-1990
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines: Gasoline engines :
2.8-2.9 liters
Length: 4112 mm
Width: 1727 mm
Height: 1775 mm
Wheelbase : 2388 mm
Empty weight :

The Ford Bronco II was a compact SUV that Ford offered in the model years from 1984 to 1990. It was designed as a smaller counterpart to the Bronco and as a competitor to the Chevrolet Blazer S-10 , Jeep Cherokee and Toyota 4Runner . The Bronco II was Ford's first compact SUV since the first Bronco model, which was sold from 1966 to 1977. It corresponded conceptually and mechanically to a large extent (except in details) to the Ford Ranger . It had a wheelbase of 2,388 mm, but had a closed cargo space in the rear of the vehicle. Standard on the large Bronco model, the Bronco II was optionally available with four-wheel drive . There were rumors that many Bronco II's had empty front differential cases to give the appearance of four-wheel drive.

Engines

The models from 1984 and 1985 were equipped with the 115 bhp (85 kW) six-cylinder engine from Cologne with 2.8 l displacement, which was also used in the Ranger at this time. In 1986 the Bronco II received the 140 bhp (103 kW) V6 engine with gasoline injection and 2.9 l displacement (also from Cologne). If these engines became overheated, this led to cracks in the cylinder head between the valve springs and camshaft bearings and internal cooling water loss in the oil circuit system, which in turn led to considerable engine damage if this was not discovered in time. Although the cylinder heads were slightly improved in late 1989, these improved heads were no longer built into the engines of the Bronco II until production ended. Bronco II specimens that still had a guarantee or at the special request of customers were equipped with the new heads.

A small 86 bhp (63 kW) diesel engine was also offered in 1987, but was rarely ordered because it offered little power.

idea

The first Bronco II was developed in parallel with the Ranger between 1984 and 1988.

The revised versions of the Bronco II and Ranger were introduced in 1989, but production of the Bronco II ended in February 1990 when the larger successor Explorer came on the market. The revised version of the Bronco II can be recognized by its external appearance, but also by the more solid vehicle construction. In contrast to the Dana 28 front axle of earlier years, 1990 models that were delivered from November 1989 had the Dana 35 .

Like the Bronco II, the successor Explorer had a chassis based on that of the Ranger and the same vehicle front. As a drive unit, however, it had a 4.0-liter V6 engine from Cologne with 155 bhp (114 kW) and was supplied as a four-door model, and also as a 2-door sports version on request. The Ranger concept was retained in the Explorer until 1995. Thereafter, the exterior styling and chassis were completely redesigned to allow the use of the 5.0-liter V8 engine from Ford. This ended any reminiscences of the Bronco II.

Only with the Escape 2001 did Ford offer a compact SUV again.

Subsequent changes

There were many subsequent changes to the Bronco II. In four-wheel drive vehicles, for example, the earlier Dana 28 front axle was replaced by the Dana 35 of the Ranger / Explorer ( please note: Bronco IIs manufactured after November 1989 already had the more stable Dana 35 ). The installation of a Ford 8.8 rear axle turned out to be not that easy, but it was still common, as was kits to increase the ground clearance. Either longer shackles were used on the leaf springs of the rear axle and longer coil springs on the front axle, or wishbone and axle lifts or a body lift. Both the Bronco II and the Ranger had many engine options, including the use of the 5.0 l V8, the Ford 351W, 5.75 l V8 or the 4.0 l V6 from the Ranger or the Explorer were among the most common.

safety

The Bronco II was often criticized as a popular SUV in newspaper articles because of its tendency to rollover.

After analyzing accidents involving the Suzuki Samurai , the NHTSA also began an official study of the Bronco II in 1989. In 1987, 43 people died after Bronco II models overturned, while only 8 people died in this way in the Suzuki Samurai. However, accident data from four states showed that the Bronco II's rollover rate was no worse than other SUVs, so investigations have been discontinued. The NHTSA refused to resume investigations even after further accidents. In general, SUVs have a higher center of gravity than automobiles, but there was no evidence that the Bronco II would pose a particular hazard in this regard.

American jockey Bill Shoemaker was among those injured in a rollover with a Bronco II .

Web links

Commons : Ford Bronco II  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Safety Research Report Index - rollover of a Ford Bronco II ( Memento of the original from November 9, 2001 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 164 kB)  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.autosafety.org
  2. ↑ "Rollover complaints dismissed" (English) ( Memento of the original on 30 July 2012 in the Web archive archive.today ) Info: The archive link is automatically inserted and not yet tested. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.detnews.com