Best Steering Box Brace

Preventative maintainance is key. It always takes less to prevent a problem then it takes to fix once a problem has occurred.
 
Brandon77 said:
Does your frame side brace mount work with the stock sway bar mount?
Click to expand...



Sure does. The sway bar mounts right over top of it.
It will space the mount down 3/16 of an inch. In our testing, we didn't see or find an issue however if you want, you can just use some washers to space the driverside down the same amount.
 
I don't understand what the bottom plate does on the driver's side rail, and I don't understand why the rear bolt hole isn't included as part of the outer plate on the drivers side.

Looks half ass to me. Especially for $165.
 
MoparManiac said:
I don't understand what the bottom plate does on the driver's side rail, and I don't understand why the rear bolt hole isn't included as part of the outer plate on the drivers side.

Looks half ass to me. Especially for $165.
Click to expand...

The bottom plate Is there for added structure. I personally suggest that the plates be welded together and to the unibody, so we use the rear hole for welding, however it can also be bolted. Also, not all xj's have a small 1/2 hole in the rear. Some have a larger 1 inch diameter hole instead, why? I dont know. When adding the bottom plate, and welding the two together, it forms much more of a "true" frame in the steering box area. With just a single plate on the outside, you are only gaining strength in one linear direction. Adding the bottom plate that mounts perpindicular to the side plate essentially creates a triangle, which we all know is stronger then just single piece of plate.

And as for the price, you must not have clicked the link because that is not the price.

After fixing several xj's with pretty severe cracked uni bodies, I feel that the added structural integrity given by the bottom plate is essential in preventing the problem from ever happening again.
 
Last edited:
bluejeepkid said:
The bottom plate Is there for added structure. I personally suggest that the plates be welded together and to the unibody, so we use the rear hole for welding, however it can also be bolted. Also, not all xj's have a small 1/2 hole in the rear. Some have a larger 1 inch diameter hole instead, why? I dont know. When adding the bottom plate, and welding the two together, it forms much more of a "true" frame in the steering box area. With just a single plate on the outside, you are only gaining strength in one linear direction. Adding the bottom plate that mounts perpindicular to the side plate essentially creates a triangle, which we all know is stronger then just single piece of plate.

And as for the price, you must not have clicked the link because that is not the price.

After fixing several xj's with pretty severe cracked uni bodies, I feel that the added structural integrity given by the bottom plate is essential in preventing the problem from ever happening again.
Click to expand...

I don't see the need for welding the plates to the unibody if you're bolting them (though it wouldn't hurt anything), however welding them to each other is absolutely needed or else the bottom plate is worthless IMO. The picture above didn't show that nor was it described (sorry didn't feel like clicking on all the links).

Every XJ I have ever seen has that rear hole, as it was used by the factory tow hook brackets.

Good to know, but I personally still wouldn't buy it. I don't like the braces that span from the passenger side frame rail to the steering gear body. I've seen bent/broken sector shafts and plenty of worn out lower bearings in the box (even from just street driving with oversized tires) that the only brace I would run is something that ties the rails together and uses a bearing, much like the aftermarket Dodge braces.

Surprised no one has made one for the XJs yet.
 
I'm curious about how the solid brace from box - passenger side rail would damage the stearing gear? Not challenging your statement, just trying to learn more about the forces at play. I've got some hairline cracks on my bottom frame rail, even though I've had the CROK inner plate for 5+ years and only run 31s. So researching options, and this was seeming good until you mentioned it as a potential source of further damage?
 
Do you have an aftermarket bumper up front to keeps things tight and straight? If so, it acts like a heavy duty cross member and will prevent the uni body rails from flexing, thereby preventing the tube brace from pulling on the sektor shaft housing. If you don't, then as the body flexes, it MAY be enough to pull the steering box from its side of the frame and potentially causing damage.potentially
 
Brandon77 said:
Bring this thread back alive.

Anyone know if these will work with the Durango Steering Gear box? I have the Iron Rock Steering plate already installed. But i found out the Durango Box is much bigger and had to but some thick washers on the plate to push it away from the frame a little.
Click to expand...

it will have to be modified to fit....shortened by maybe 1/4"

It will go around the sector shaft though
 
MoparManiac said:
Surprised no one has made one for the XJs yet.
Click to expand...

not yet...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=606183262755329&set=p.606183262755329&type=1

968889_606183262755329_197724068_n.jpg


...but soon. Hopefully Tim and the LII dudes get it going sooner than later.
 
kndrewa said:
I'm curious about how the solid brace from box - passenger side rail would damage the stearing gear? Not challenging your statement, just trying to learn more about the forces at play. I've got some hairline cracks on my bottom frame rail, even though I've had the CROK inner plate for 5+ years and only run 31s. So researching options, and this was seeming good until you mentioned it as a potential source of further damage?
Click to expand...

If the rails are not tied together in some fashion, then they will move independently of one another and possibly put extra stress on the steering gear rather than help hinder any movement.

When I said I'd only seen sector shafts bend/break and bearings wear out, I didn't mean WITH the brace, I just meant in general. I'd rather help support the sector shaft then the whole gearbox since that's where all the forces come from anyway.
 
There's at least two vendors here that are working on Dodge-style braces. I just picked another one up for my Cummins, haven't decided yet if its going on the truck or if I wanna steal the bearing setup for the and build something. Even with every frame rail heavily plated and hydro assist, I can still watch the sector shaft move around a little bit.
 
MoparManiac said:
If the rails are not tied together in some fashion, then they will move independently of one another and possibly put extra stress on the steering gear rather than help hinder any movement.

When I said I'd only seen sector shafts bend/break and bearings wear out, I didn't mean WITH the brace, I just meant in general. I'd rather help support the sector shaft then the whole gearbox since that's where all the forces come from anyway.
Click to expand...

Ah okay makes sense, thanks! Just seems odd that even though I've had a steel bumper and the inner brace and only on 31s, but still am seeing cracks in my unibody under the steering box. Maybe I should just drill the ends and weld them up and not worry about it, then, if the steering gear brace isn't addressing the actual forces at play.
 
kndrewa said:
Ah okay makes sense, thanks! Just seems odd that even though I've had a steel bumper and the inner brace and only on 31s, but still am seeing cracks in my unibody under the steering box. Maybe I should just drill the ends and weld them up and not worry about it, then, if the steering gear brace isn't addressing the actual forces at play.
Click to expand...

You may still need a tube type brace to actually stop the box from wiggling.

The cracks along the bottom are the reason I add the bottom plate in my kit. When the bottom plate is bolted, and welded to the side plate, it adds tremendous amounts of structure to that area of the unibody. No other company offers the bottom plate, but I feel it Is a crucial part.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Which steering box brace? Bearing or not?
Replies
7
Views
3K
75SV1
7
L
Ironman4x4fab steering box brace for XJ - works with C-ROK plates?
Replies
8
Views
1K
lordoeuf
L
Goose_XJ88
XJ Weak Points and How to Best Fix Them Long Term
Replies
13
Views
5K
TRCM
TRCM
J
steering box brace confusion
Replies
4
Views
1K
trippled
T
C
1999 XJ 4 door lifted on 35s with Dana 44s & extras – under 76K miles
Replies
10
Views
6K
Anak
Anak
Back
Top