Steering gear brace

[denverd1]

worth it? or a waste of $80-150 bucks?

I think a durango swap would be a better use of $. Not sure I'll go past 33 so a rebuilt stock one works for now... not sure if I should brace it or not. Any of you guys done a brace kit? what did you think and where did you get it?

[5-Speed XJ]

worth it? or a waste of $80-150 bucks?

I think a durango swap would be a better use of $. Not sure I'll go past 33 so a rebuilt stock one works for now... not sure if I should brace it or not. Any of you guys done a brace kit? what did you think and where did you get it?

brace from more is worth it also the sold frame plate spacer from jcr is worth it also

[UpstateXJ]

I will be adding one! I sheared mine off on the trail this weekend. Getting it a mile down the trail with no steering is not fun at all!

[4.3LXJ]

The plating on the frame is worth more than the brace. You can do double duty with the winch bumper plate mount too.

[UpstateXJ]

Yeah, I don't have the inner plate but do have the ARB bumper with the long mounts. It doesn't look too hard to fab, I may just make one instead of buying a kit.

[4.3LXJ]

The outer plate is enough if it is heavy enough. I run a standard box with the AGR high pressure pump, which is just like running the Durango box. The trick is spreading out the forces so they are on more of the frame instead of just on those little tubes running through the light metal of our frames.

[denverd1]

So there's two versions of this brace kit. A long bar with a plate on the end. Like this:
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Brakes-Steering/Pro-Comp-Steering-Box-Braces.aspx?t_c=65&t_s=430&t_pt=7225&t_pl=100997

Or more simply, the plate version that goes in fender on the outside. I'm guessing the first goes on the inside and keeps the box pressed against the frame rail.
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Brakes-Steering/Big-Daddy-Off-Road-Steering-Box-Brace.aspx?t_c=65&t_s=430&t_pt=7225&t_pl=102987

I'm thinking the first one looks more effective. Thoughts?


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[4.3LXJ]

They will both work. The second will require an adjustment to center your steering wheel.

[07Negative]

But is the Durango box remain with only 3 mounting points? I'm not sure which Wrangler it is, but they have 4 mounting points instead of the XJ's 3. I'm sure the steering ratio is a touch different, but nothing to slit your wrist over.
I'd forgo the brace, though I'm curious myself. Get a box that has 4 mounting points. Replace the aluminum spacer with a design like: http://www.tntcustoms.com/Jeep_Cherokee_XJ/4_bolt_steering_conversion.aspx
Should do quite well.

[denverd1]

Never looked at a durango box, so I'm not sure. I'm also thinking how to increase strength of front bumper mounts and this steering box mount - and how do I integrate the two. Myt bumper has 3 bolts and this has three. I'd like to plate over both mounting areas and tie it all together.

[denverd1]

Deejay, I like that design. May have to try something like that

other side, with 3 mounting holes...
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/power%20steering/PSB002a.jpg

[denverd1]

found this but it shows the wrong side.... they look identical
http://www.cojeeps.net/showthread.php?851-Durango-steering-box

[4.3LXJ]

That would be my plan. Do some plating. I am not sure the ARB bumper mounts are as strong as you would want.

[07Negative]

That kit that I posted is what I have. I have a OEM front bumper for now as well. I personally went with a ARG gear box (Which I have yet to install) but if I'm not mistaken it also fits a YJ or TJ. I also did frame stiffeners from where that kit ends all the way to the back.
Alot of bumpers don't come with that fourth hole pre drilled, but its not hard to do once you have the box to line it up.
What I did was, take all the junk off the jeep. Steering gear box, tire for working space, yada yada. Then that outer plate I lined up to the existing 3 holes. Then marked the fourth hole on the unibody. Centered it the best I could. Sent a small drill bit through. Lined it up all up again to check how center I was with that new fourth hole. The small bit i used was about 6" or so long. So it went all the way through. Then I used that big conical bit like thingie to enlarge the hole to fit new crush sleeve and bolt. Prep work took the longest.
If you get the TNT kit. Ask them to not powder coat it. Their coating is fugly! It's this light grey dark grey, almost tortoise like looking. I dislike it. But you don't even see the damn thing. So I don't know what I'm complaining about.
I know CRok makes a kit that is popular, but it's only for a 3 bolt gear box.
And since we're talking about platting. I noticed a rather noticeable difference when I put on "Frame" stiffeners. If you have fab skills. Make your own. My welding skills are the pits. So mine look a touch ugly. I think the stiffeners are well worth the while.

[dagr8tim]

I got a set of front recovery points that brace the front of the frame. They have an inner plate also. They bolt through the 3 holes for the steering box, the large hole behind it, and the 4 bolts for the sway bar & skid plate.

http://buckeyejeeps.com/albums/Front_End_Work/2010_05_24_10_06_00_800x598.sized.jpg

[denverd1]

I forgot to link the Durango box mounting side.... I've got some sort of after market winch bumper but it stops well before the gearbox bolts.

I like that TNT brace. I may look into that a bit more.

I can't wrap my head around putting that plate and the bumper on together.
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[07Negative]

You have your front bumper that bolts to probably the same as OEM. So instead of your after market bumper extending down the unibody like what alot of cats have done. The TNT kit (at least one half of it) would pick up where the front bumper left off. Now some bumpers have to be ground down or cut a touch so that they dont over lap each other. The other half of course is taking the place of the aluminum spacer that once was between the unibody/frame and steering gear box.
But if you do the Durango or whatever 3 mounting steering box. Don't bother with it. Just get a CRok or somethin. I think they are cheaper.

[XJ Wheeler]

I got a set of front recovery points that brace the front of the frame. They have an inner plate also. They bolt through the 3 holes for the steering box, the large hole behind it, and the 4 bolts for the sway bar & skid plate.

http://buckeyejeeps.com/albums/Front_End_Work/2010_05_24_10_06_00_800x598.sized.jpg

Where'd you get those? I've been wanting something like that, if the price isn't too bad.

[dagr8tim]

Where'd you get those? I've been wanting something like that, if the price isn't too bad.

The company's out of business. I think they were around $100 with shipping.

I'm sure somebody makes something similar.

Another thought is one of these:
http://www.jcroffroad.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=J&Screen=PROD&Category_Code=XJMISC&Product_Code=STSPC
http://www.jcroffroad.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/XJ-SteeringSpacer1.jpg

[XJ Wheeler]

The company's out of business. I think they were around $100 with shipping.

I'm sure somebody makes something similar.

Another thought is one of these:
http://www.jcroffroad.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=J&Screen=PROD&Category_Code=XJMISC&Product_Code=STSPC
http://www.jcroffroad.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/XJ-SteeringSpacer1.jpg

Oh well, thanks anyway. I've looked for months. One guy was thinking of making some that went through the bumper, but he turned out to be a fraud.

[dagr8tim]

Oh well, thanks anyway. I've looked for months. One guy was thinking of making some that went through the bumper, but he turned out to be a fraud.

I think I've got some CAD style drawings that show a flat plate coming through the bumper, and then has a plate welded on either side to thicken it and allow a D Ring Shackle to mount.

[XJ Wheeler]

I think I've got some CAD style drawings that show a flat plate coming through the bumper, and then has a plate welded on either side to thicken it and allow a D Ring Shackle to mount.

I'll give it some thought and do some engineering in my mind. Add it to the list.:rolleye0012:

[UpstateXJ]

Good deal on the JCR spacer. Mine looks pretty much like what you have there.

[dagr8tim]

I'd consider getting a chunk of flat stock to put on the outside of the frame to brace the steering bolts opposite the JCR steering spacer.