• Ford Bronco II

The Ford Bronco II was a compact SUV, the Ford offered in model years 1984 to 1990. It was conceived as a smaller counterpart to the Bronco and as a competitor to 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. He corresponded conceptually and mechanically very similar (except in details) the Ford Ranger. He had a wheelbase of 2,388 mm, but had an enclosed cargo space in the rear part of the vehicle. When large standard Bronco model, Bronco II was available with four-wheel drive. There were rumors that many Bronco II had empty front differential housing to visually give the impression that they possessed four-wheel drive.

The models 1984 and 1985 were equipped with the 115hp (85 kW) Six-cylinder engine with 2.8 l displacement of Cologne, which was also used in the Ranger at this time. In 1986 the Bronco II to 140hp (103 kW) V6 engine with fuel injection and a 2.9 liter displacement (also from Cologne). These motors have been overheated, this resulted in cracks in the cylinder head between the valve springs and the camshaft bearings and the internal loss of cooling water in the oil circulation system, which in turn considerable engine damage resulted when this was not discovered in time. Although the cylinder heads have been improved slightly in late 1989, not one built these improved heads in the engines of the Bronco II, before the production ended. Bronco II specimens which still had warranty or special request of customers, were fitted with the new heads.

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

The first Bronco II was developed in parallel with the Ranger from 1984 until 1988.

The revised versions of Bronco II and Ranger was 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 it can be seen on the outward appearance, but also on more solid vehicle. 1990 models that were shipped from November 1989 had, in contrast to Dana 28 front axle of earlier years now the Dana 35

The successor Explorer disposal as well as the Bronco II with a work based on the Ranger chassis and the same vehicle front. But when the drive unit he owned a 4.0 l V6 engine with 155hp from Cologne (114 kW) and was a four-door, also available as a 2-door sports version supplied. The Ranger concept was retained in the Explorer until 1995. After that, the external styling and suspension have been completely redesigned to use the 5.0-liter V8 engine from Ford to enable. Thus ending any reminiscences of the Bronco II

Only with the Escape, Ford offered again in 2001 a compact SUV to.

There were many subsequent changes to the Bronco II Thus in four-wheel drive vehicles, the former Dana 28 Front Axle Dana 35 replaced by the Ranger/Explorer (note: Bronco II with production date after November 1989 already had the more stable Dana 35). The installation of a Ford 8.8 Rear axle turned out not quite as simple as, but was still common for kits to increase the ground clearance also. Either have a longer shackle to the Used leaf springs on the rear axle and longer coil springs on the front axle or control arm and Achsanhebungen or a body lift. Both the Bronco II as well as the Ranger, there were many possibilities for change in the engines, and the use of the 5.0-liter V8, the Ford 351W 5.75-liter V8 or 4.0-liter V6 from the ranger or belonged to the Explorer to the most common.

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

After the analysis of accidents of the Suzuki Samurai, the NHTSA began in 1989 with an official study of the Bronco II in 1987 43 people were killed by rollovers of Bronco II models, while the Suzuki Samurai only 8 people had come this way killed. Accident data from four states showed, however, that the rate of rollovers in the Bronco II was not worse than other SUVs, so the tests were discontinued. The NHTSA also refused other accidents, to take the tests again. General have a higher center of gravity than SUV cars, but there was no evidence that the Bronco II would present a particular risk in this regard.

Among the injured of a rollover with a Bronco II was also the US-American Jockey Bill Shoemaker.

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