- Some Ford Bronco owners can now retrofit a sturdier steering setup with a new parts package from Ford Performance.
- The Severe Duty Steering Upgrade kit costs $1300 and includes the Bronco Raptor’s beefier steering gear casing, a high-torque motor, and stronger tie rods.
- Eligible Broncos include all 2021–2024 two-door models, ’21–’24 four-door models with the Sasquatch package, and ’21–’22 Wildtraks.
The Ford Bronco is built to withstand off-road abuse right out of the box. Of course, that doesn’t mean certain parts aren’t prone to breaking when pushed past their limit. We’re talking specifically about the mid-size SUV’s steering setup, which owners of certain models can now upgrade thanks to a new package from Ford Performance that was first revealed by Ford Authority.
Building a Stronger Bronco
Called the Severe Duty Steering Upgrade kit, it includes the Bronco Raptor’s beefier steering gear casing, a higher-torque motor, as well as stronger inner and outer tie rods. The package costs $1300, but Ford Performance specifies that its digital ProCal 4 Calibration tool is required to configure the steering gear. So, unless customers know someone who has one that they can borrow for the install, that will cost an extra $495.
Some Bronco owners don’t have to worry about retrofitting the sturdier steering setup because their rigs are already fortified. We mentioned the Raptor, but Ford first beefed-up the Bronco Wildtrak awhile back with the introduction of the HOSS 3.0 (High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension) package that became standard for the 2023 model year. For 2024, the company followed suit by making the HOSS 3.0 equipment standard on the Bronco Badlands and adding it to the Sasquatch package, which was also reported by Ford Authority.
For folks who don’t own one of the above mentioned examples, or those who bought one before the HOSS package became available, that’s where Ford Performance’s steering upgrade can help. It’s compatible on the following Broncos: 2021–2024 two-door models, ’21–’24 four-door models with the Sasquatch package, and ’21–’22 Wiltraks.
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.