SO the 16yr old hops into the bronco this am to head off to school. ROads are slick. I pay attention as he warms her up, scrapes all the windows and hooks up the harnes properly....

Off he goes heading down the street at a nice slow safe rate of speed. I go and fire up the Excursion and am pouring my coffee when I hear him heading back up the street. (over that 7.3 diesel that little pony is pretty loud), he pulls in and asks me to "Come here"...

Turns out he smacked a curb and busted up a wheel pretty good. Right at the bottom of the hill. Why is it that you never hit a curb where it is short? Nope hit it right at the storm drain. TIme to find another wheel and get an alignment...

I guess I should have tought him how to put her in 4wheel. Then he could have steered away from the curb. I went and looked at the tracks as I left for work, it was not a hard hit, just hard enough to ruin the wheel, the tire looks ok. I dont think he was driving fast, just a slick down hill stop.

Oh well, I wish I could say I have never wrecked a wheel on a curb...

Glad everyone is OK. I put a couple scratches in my car at 16. It is a learning curve and hopefully you were calm, cool, and collected. I remember my Dad actually chuckling at my first scratch

Oh we were fine with it, not a big deal around here. His mom has ruined more wheels on curbs than I care to think about. We were much like your dad, laughing it off. As you said, nobody was hurt and it should not be an expensive repair. Just meant I had to change a tire and drive the bronco myself today - shucks!


One thing I did notice, while it does not shake or viberate, the steering wheel seems to have turned 180 degrees, the bottom is now the top. It does not pull hard one way or the other. I will put her up on stands and look at the steering and see what might have caused this.... any ideas gents?

I came close to smacking a few things this morning myself. The roads in the springs were incredibly icy. I started out in 2 wheel drive, but quickly pulled over and put in in 4 wheel and life got much easier.

I watched one car slide right through a school zone at about 4 miles an hour.

Maybe you (he) stripped the splines on the steering shaft trying to out steer the slide?

180 degree turn sounds like something let loose, may take a close look starting at the pitman arm (may have slipped on the splines) and working your way to the tie-rod ends. I pulled over as well this morning and locked the hubs, never did put it in 4 wheel drive, but it was surely slick and I keep the speeds down below 70!

Ok, so I was extremely busy yesterday so I ran it up to the local tire/alignment shop. I figured it was a good idea anyway considering I do not know if it was ever done. 2.5 hrs on the rack - I know this because I headed over there at 5:00 and it was on the rack until 7:30 and I am told it was on the rack 30 min earlier - and she is all diled in.

I got to watch and learn as they did the alignment. Actually a fairly simple yet complex process. The tech was able to adjust everything to nearly perfect within ford spec. All suspension and steering is tight and in good shape (other than a slight bend in one of the steering arms) and nothing needs replaced.

So yes, 4X4 from here on out as soon as the roads get slick.

Keep safe everyone.

I hope they didn't charge you by the hour. There is only one adjustment that can be made to these Broncos for alignment purposes unless you start getting into shims. It should have only cost around $40-$50.