What Maintenance Do You Actually Do on Your Bronco?

[suparee]

Friday is almost here, so let's talk Bronco maintenance.

Everyone seems to have their own maintenance routine. Some people are constantly checking fluids, greasing components, and sticking to strict service schedules. Others keep things pretty simple. Personally, I think one of the easiest maintenance tips is giving the Bronco’s hard top a break from the sun whenever you can. Less UV means less stress on the top, the seals, and hopefully fewer headaches down the road.

What about you? What maintenance items do you stay on top of? And are there any maintenance mistakes that you think Bronco owners should avoid?

Let's hear your tips, habits, and lessons learned.

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[Area51BS]

I religiously uv protect the plastics and rubber because there is so much of it. Stay on top of filters and fluids. Cool down a little before turning off if coming off higher speeds or not much idle driving before turn off. I hand clean and inspect undercarriage just to keep an eye on things. I plan on keeping this thing possibly as last vehicle. The plastics and rubber are my number one concern due to amount of it. If I were someone with an aftermarket top, I would be investing in replacement seals. Those companies and or parts could go away easily.

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

I do all my maintenance, wont let Ford touch either of my trucks except to clear recalls ...I know Im more extreme than the majority, but this new right to repair shit has me fired up.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/ford-...ent-should-make-every-car-owner-uncomfortable

Ford should REWARD consumers that dig deep into the innerworkings of the vehicles...NOT penalize them!!!

 

[CitrusBronco]

Everything I can, I always find I can do the job better no matter how simple or complex it is.
I even debate to let a dealership repair a warranty item because they are usually incompetent. It sucks big time.

 

[G1D1UP]

Yeah, I'm an avid wrench-head. I've been known to change the tire pressure oils, spark plug fluids and air filter hoses in my time...

 

[Oldhippie]

As an actual “mechanic“ I used to do most all my maintenance and keep on top it, but as the saying goes. “Mechanics have the most ignored vehicles” (like the shop forklift) just because it is like work…now in my old age I do very little at all…my bronco is parked outside and gets run through the carwash once in a while…take it in for oil changes when I think about it…it gets less than 10k a year and I don’t plan on living/driving long enough to see 100k

 

[Z because X was taken]

I put gas in it. I will lower the air pressure depending on the area I am off road and reset it back to normal when I am done. Other than that I have it done by my dealer or independant shop. Not that I dont know how to turn a wrench, but as I have gotten older I dont like to spend the time anymore dealing with maintenance or repairs unless I have to.

 

[dgorsett]

As an actual “mechanic“ I used to do most all my maintenance and keep on top it, but as the saying goes. “Mechanics have the most ignored vehicles” (like the shop forklift) just because it is like work…now in my old age I do very little at all…my bronco is parked outside and gets run through the carwash once in a while…take it in for oil changes when I think about it…it gets less than 10k a year and I don’t plan on living/driving long enough to see 100k

I'm the son of an old school mechanic and do everything needed except recalls and warranty, but not too much to my vehicles. Relatives have bought several of my used vehicles, figuring I took good care of them, maybe so but, they never saw WHERE I took them!!

 

[LSW]

Oil change & filter every 5,000 miles with latest flavor of the month oil brand.

Triple Transmission fluid drain and fill every 20,000 miles.

Differentials and Transfer Case Fluid change every 30,000

Windshield wipers 3 years/30k with Bosch Icon

Undercoat every year

Alignment every 12-24 months depending on use.

Brake fluid flush every 3 years

Transmission filter and spark plugs every 60,000

Coolant flush every 5 years

Tires as needed (60k/5 years).

Wheel bearings at 100k?

 

[gbub]

I do all the maintenance on all my vehicles. One exception is the transmission, other than some seals. I change the fluid or gear lube but don't do internal work.

I have not had much maintenance on my Bronco yet but have done a lot on additions.

 

[Spooled]

I do all my maintenance, wont let Ford touch either of my trucks except to clear recalls ...I know Im more extreme than the majority, but this new right to repair shit has me fired up.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/ford-...ent-should-make-every-car-owner-uncomfortable

Ford should REWARD consumers that dig deep into the innerworkings of the vehicles...NOT penalize them!!!

Largely the same for me. I'll do it all. There is a dealer close to me though that is pretty mod friendly and also has some techs that have done good work on BRaptors. I let that dealer do an alignment for me lol

 

[Rams1919]

I try to do everything myself. Unfortunately, the service departments at the Ford dealers near me dont have the best reputation...

 

[MilesTeg]

Mechanical things I do:

• Oil/filter -- 5k or 1 year. Usually don't make mileage and end up doing every 2-4k depending on vehicle.
• Air filter - 10k miles (lots of dirt roads)
• Cabin air filter - 10k miles (again, lots of dirt)
• Washer/coolant/brake fluid top off as needed
• Tire rotation every 5k
• Swap to winter tires in my F-150 every winter as it's a death trap on ice, hah.
• Run a tank of Techron once a year in my Coyote but not in EBs
• Test brake and coolant every oil change (test strips and voltage test)
• Brake fluid replacement (not flush, just suck out as much as I can from reservoir and replace) if it looks iffy when tested.
• New thing I will do myself: diffs, transfer and manual transmission drain/fill. All my vehicles need this so I'll be doing a lot, hah.

Mechanical maintenance I don't do myself:

• Full brake flush every 3 years -- PTSD from a brake bleed gone horribly wrong.
• Coolant flush every 3 years -- too messy, my house drains to the river, and I hate having to try to collect/dispose of dozens of gallons of flush.
• Auto transmission service every 30-40k.

Non-mechanicals:

(how often I really do these things depends on how much I am driving each car)

• Never, ever use a car wash that has brushes. Touchless only.
• Hand wash during spring/summer/fall. 2 bucket method always.
• Undercarriage wash after every snow/salt.
• Plastic/rubber dressing.
• Wax/sealant every spring and fall
• Rainx every spring and fall
• Clay every spring.
• Yearly rock chip fixes -- fill, cut, sand, buff. Did a PPF wrap on Bronco so looking forward to not having to do that, hah
• Detailing interior as needed (I like very clean cars)
• Engine detail (just rag/mit cleaning) once a year or so.

 

[suparee]

Mechanical things I do:

• Oil/filter -- 5k or 1 year. Usually don't make mileage and end up doing every 2-4k depending on vehicle.
• Air filter - 10k miles (lots of dirt roads)
• Cabin air filter - 10k miles (again, lots of dirt)
• Washer/coolant/brake fluid top off as needed
• Tire rotation every 5k
• Swap to winter tires in my F-150 every winter as it's a death trap on ice, hah.
• Run a tank of Techron once a year in my Coyote but not in EBs
• Test brake and coolant every oil change (test strips and voltage test)
• Brake fluid replacement (not flush, just suck out as much as I can from reservoir and replace) if it looks iffy when tested.
• New thing I will do myself: diffs, transfer and manual transmission drain/fill. All my vehicles need this so I'll be doing a lot, hah.

Mechanical maintenance I don't do myself:

• Full brake flush every 3 years -- PTSD from a brake bleed gone horribly wrong.
• Coolant flush every 3 years -- too messy, my house drains to the river, and I hate having to try to collect/dispose of dozens of gallons of flush.
• Auto transmission service every 30-40k.

Non-mechanicals:

(how often I really do these things depends on how much I am driving each car)

• Never, ever use a car wash that has brushes. Touchless only.
• Hand wash during spring/summer/fall. 2 bucket method always.
• Undercarriage wash after every snow/salt.
• Plastic/rubber dressing.
• Wax/sealant every spring and fall
• Rainx every spring and fall
• Clay every spring.
• Yearly rock chip fixes -- fill, cut, sand, buff. Did a PPF wrap on Bronco so looking forward to not having to do that, hah
• Detailing interior as needed (I like very clean cars)
• Engine detail (just rag/mit cleaning) once a year or so.

This is so detailed and helpful! Thanks for sharing.

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