Steering Gear - Inside Bracket

[Eddy_AL]

Well, due to a rather bizarre set of events ( you can read about it here - http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1026525 ) I now have inside steering gear brackets from both C-ROK and JCR. In the end, it's all good. I also have two 97 XJ's. One is lifted, one is not. The question now is, which one do I install on the lifted jeep? Before I get flamed, yes, ultimately, it probably won't matter, but I have still have to decide and wondered which one you guys might recommend?

Funny - the C-ROK comes with crush sleeves, no bolts. The JCR comes with bolts, no crush sleeves.


Here's pics -

Both - side by side

C-ROK on the left - JCR on the Right.

C-ROK Welds

JCR welds

The JCR welds are big and ugly compared to the C-ROK. Also, they don't make it all the way around the bungs. And, the C-ROK have a finished lip on the inside of the bungs - I assume to seat the crush sleeves. But, the JCR bungs are larger.

Anyways - for the most part, probably useless info. But if you are considering purchasing either, you have close ups to make a comparison.

 

[jeeperjohn]

The only purpose of those welds is to position the bushings on the plate for installation. They only need to be strong enough to hold them until installation. Both have more than adequate welds.

 

[RedHeep]

I think you could also make the arguement that the JCR welds look like nice welds and the C-rok ones look like someone blew their nose on some steel plate. Doesn't matter if they go all the way around or not.

 

[lazyxj]

Funny - the C-ROK comes with crush sleeves, no bolts. The JCR comes with bolts, no crush sleeves.

Make sure to use the crush sleeves on the lifted XJ.
The JCR plate doesn't come with sleeves? That seems like a partial kit.

 

[MoparManiac]

There are already factory crush sleeves in the rail.

I would use the C-rok on the lifted XJ.

 

[lazyxj]

There are already factory crush sleeves in the rail.
I would use the C-rok on the lifted XJ.

The C-ROK sleeves supplement the Factory stamped steel spacers.

JKS's steering brace also comes with frame spacers so it seems some manufacturers are concerned about the strength of the Factory spacers.
http://store.jksmfg.com/merchant2/m...Store_Code=JKS01&Category_Code=Steering_Brake

 

[Eddy_AL]

Thanks for all the input. As you can tell, I'm a newb to this stuff (ie, uneducated observations)

 

[falcon1235]

if you have a winch bumper on your jeep it should cover the outside of the frame rail mounting points for the steering box and if it does not i would mod it to do so. if your don't plat the outside if the frame rail as well as the inside i don't think it would do you much good it would just transfer more stress the the outside holes IMHO. if your concerned about the sleeves and your kit didn't come with them you can get the sleeves at you local ace hardware and cut them to length in about 20 mins. i built my stiffener plat in the shop with a 1/2 drill bit some 1'' solid stock and 1/4'' plate in about 1 hour using the "pos" aluminum one as a template looks allot like the jrc on and i dint use spacers. im on 35'' and have not had any issues to date.

just my .02 Dustin

p.s. i looked in the fsm the inside of the frame rail looks like this. i can email you a scan of it if you want but the powers that be dont want us posting them so... bad paint pic.....

 

[crimsondragon]

What exactly are the sleeves for? When I installed my JCR, I recall the clearances in the bolt holes pretty tight. I'm assuming the sleeves go in there? Or do the sleeves go in the actual frame to prevent pulling the inside and outside frame together when tightening the bolts for the steering box? In which case I think they're still in the frame and I went ahead and installed the spacer without even knowing it.