Ford Bronco II Parts & Accessories

As you go through expeditions and all sorts of road adventures aboard the Ford Bronco II, you need more than just great power and speed. Clean, comfortable seats also make a difference when it comes to comfort and convenience. Cleaning the seats can be a bit tricky. You need the right cleaner and tools to make sure that the upholstery of your SUV will be spotlessly clean and will be better protected against dust and dirt that may settle deep into the seams. You also have to treat the stains, so the seats won't get permanently smudged and won't ruin the whole interior look. Cleaning the seats regularly and the right way would give you a fresh-smelling interior. Here are some cleaning tricks for fabric and leather/faux leather seats:

• Clean fabric vehicle seats using a vacuum and a bucket of water.

Vacuum the seats to easily remove dirt, dust, and even moisture. Get through every nook and cranny of the seats to get rid of debris and gunk. This will make it easier to wash the fabric car seats. After cleaning the seats with vacuum, you have to prepare a bucket of cold water and a bucket of warm water. In the bucket of warm water, add some laundry detergent, about a scoop. This will serve as the upholstery cleaner. Wash the seats using a sponge that's soaked in the warm water solution. Using the sponge, gently and thoroughly scrub the seats. You don't want the seats to get soaking wet, so be careful in sponging them down. Work on the stains and smudges. Once the seats seem clean and moistened evenly, wash them off using cold water. Dip the towel in cold water and wipe off the soap and excess dirt. Be sure not to leave any cleaner or soap residue on the seats' surface. Do this several times until the seats are spotlessly clean.

• Test the cleaner if it's safe to use on fabric seats.

If you'll be using a fabric seat cleaner, be sure to test the cleaning product first on a small, less visible area of the upholstery. See if it's safe to use on a specific type of fabric before you apply it to the rest of the upholstery for intensive cleaning.

• Use a special cleaner in cleaning leather/faux leather car seats.

You can't clean or treat leather the same way you do with fabric seats. This will need a different kind of treatment. But just like the fabric seats, you need to vacuum the seats and the rest of the interior first. Use a leather car upholstery cleaner for proper upholstery care. The cleaner should be applied sparingly. Avoid using excessive amounts, as this may only cause more harm or damage on the delicate leather. Use moist chamois or soft cloth for wiping down the seats. Cover every part and make sure that the leather is cleaned off fully. Look for soap spots and stains that may be left behind. After removing any cleaner residue, let the seats dry fully on their own.

Aside from the cleaner, you may also treat the leather using conditioner. The conditioner will help retain the natural oil on the leather and will prevent the surface from getting dry and from cracking.

Although the Ford Bronco II enjoyed quite a short run, it still proved to be a very important part in the evolution of Ford’s SUV range. The second among Ford’s string of compact SUV’s, the Ford Bronco II enjoyed much of its term as one of the more popular, entry-level compact SUVs in the market. However, several roadblocks resulted to the production of the final Bronco IIs six years after its introduction.

When the Ford Bronco left its compact roots and became a full-size SUV in 1978, Ford lost its entry in the booming compact SUV market for several years—until the Ford Bronco II came to the rescue in 1984. With overwhelming competition from other major compact SUVs like the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer, the GMC Jimmy, and the Jeep Cherokee, the Bronco II definitely had a lot to prove during its introductory phase.

The first Ford Bronco II was very mechanically similar to the Ford Ranger. Both had a carbureted 2.8L Cologne V6 engine that had 115 horsepower, but the Bronco II had a 94-inch wheelbase and an enclosed rear. These four-wheel drive Bronco IIs were also 800 pounds lighter than its bigger Bronco brother.

An upgrade came in 1986 with a fuel-injected 2.9L Cologne V6 engine together with a two-wheel drive version for the Bronco II. For the 1987 model year, an optional 2.3L diesel engine was introduced. However, the diesel engine's meager offering of 86 horsepower did not draw too much appreciation. This model year also saw the addition of a rear ABS or anti-lock braking system for the compact SUV.

Although the front fascia of the Bronco II experienced a major redesign, there were little changes elsewhere for the compact SUV as it approached its final years. While there were big restyling plans for both the Bronco II and the Ranger in 1989, the end of the run for the Bronco II in 1990 meant that it would only experience the improved structural support from a Dana 35 front axle and not much else from the restyling.

A snowball of events led to the end for the Bronco II. The increasing gas prices brought about a lot of compact SUVs from various makes. Even though the Bronco II was a popular choice for offroaders who were looking for an inexpensive, rugged vehicle, the stiff competition from more stylish and polished compact SUVs proved to be too much for the Bronco II to handle. However, the departure of the Bronco II left a spot for what was destined to be one of Ford’s biggest successes—the Ford Explorer.