Steering Box Frame brace

[juicexj24]

I just saw this on jeepin.com it is s steering box frame brace from c-rok.com.
Just ordered it for 54.00, included shipping. Check it out.

[TN William]

I am sorry but I have trouble laying out $54.00 for something you can fab in an hour for < $5.

[Ivan]

Originally posted by TN William
I am sorry but I have trouble laying out $54.00 for something you can fab in an hour for < $5.

I don't see how you can build something like that for less than $5 unless you have access to free materials and a shop to build it in. A lot of us don't have those resources available to us. Besides, it would have cost me that much in gas alone trying to round up pieces parts.

I got the M.O.R.E. one for my XJ for about $65 shipped. I'm impressed with it and I don't think I could have built something as good (or that I would trust) for the $65 I spent on it. I don't have the fabbing resources (ie welder), but by the time I'd round up materials, cut 'n fab, and weld .... I believe I would be out money instead.

Ivan

[BillR]

Originally posted by TN William
I am sorry but I have trouble laying out $54.00 for something you can fab in an hour for < $5.
Some of us don't have mad skills at fabrication.:(
I also bought one from CRock. It should be here today.:cool:

[jalehman]

How do you think people get those skills? Not by buying parts, but by trying to make them. Metal is CHEAP. If the first one looks like crap, build the second one better. Besides, it gives you an excuse to buy awesome tools! Trust me, from what I have saved in labor costs and having parts on my rig that are built and installed by me, the tools I have are easily paid for.

[Paul S]

It's good to see some real solutions coming out for the frame area around the steering box, other than a simple steering box brace that is known to causes the very cracks that they are supposed to prevent.
Mark (ORGSMfg.com) has also addressed this issue with a complete frame reinforcement system, including inside & outside plates, + sleeves to tie them together. No more broken sleeves clunking around inside the frame.
Paul

[BillR]

Originally posted by jalehman
How do you think people get those skills? Not by buying parts, but by trying to make them. Metal is CHEAP. If the first one looks like crap, build the second one better. Besides, it gives you an excuse to buy awesome tools! Trust me, from what I have saved in labor costs and having parts on my rig that are built and installed by me, the tools I have are easily paid for.
Sounds easy, but there ARE a few issues...
1. Money to BUY these awesome tools that you may use once a year.
2. A place to KEEP these awesome tools
3. TIME to learn to USE the tool to the point where you'd bet your life (and your family's) on a fabrication you did.

Wrenches are a different story. I use them often, and have no problem buying good ones. But welders, plasma cutters, etc. are (for me) a waste of space and money. Everyone can't fix a copier or computer like I can, and I CERTAINLY can't do metal work like some folks I know. That's OK! I don't have the time to become proficient enough at metal work that I'd trust even MY life on my work. I have other priorities at this point, and am happy to pay someone for their talent and skill as I am paid well for mine.

[TN William]

BillR, I understand what your saying about having the tools to do some fab work. But this is not something that takes specialized tools or skills. It is not something that could put your life at risk. It is basically a giant washer. All you need is a piece of scrap plate, a ruler, a saw (sawzall, jigsaw, cutting wheel, etc.) and a drill.

[juicexj24]

people, just thought you might like to see a new product that would help the weak area on your XJ. I do my own fab work with rocker skids and shock mounts. I figure for 54 shipped how could you go wrong. I have a lot of the tools needed to the work but again 54. no big deal.

[BillR]

Originally posted by TN William
BillR, I understand what your saying about having the tools to do some fab work. But this is not something that takes specialized tools or skills. It is not something that could put your life at risk. It is basically a giant washer. All you need is a piece of scrap plate, a ruler, a saw (sawzall, jigsaw, cutting wheel, etc.) and a drill.
Point taken. This particular fabrication would not have serious ramifications if it wasn't "right". (I DO have a saws-all!) ;)
When I decided to dump my Dana 35, I thought seriously of an 8.8 swap. I decided against it, due to the lack of tools and skill at my immediate disposal. My 29-spline 8.25 was a bolt in swap, and it's fine for what I do with it. Although serious rock crawling looks like fun, I would not attempt building a rig like that. The labor costs for me would be astonomical! If I did that sort of work full-time or even as a hobby, it might be different...
As Clint Eastwood said in a movie "A man's got to know his limitations".

[juicexj24]

great line.."A man's got to know his limitations" Couldn't agree more.

[Slip Kid]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid59/pd999e4f79658b7f803f885817dd91235/fc5b057c.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid59/p746fb44d05c2e299fefffa112cca9304/fc5b0578.jpg

[crimsonride]

I'm not sure about those braces. I've heard they cause more problems than they solve. I don't know how but that's what I remember hearing on this forum about five months ago. Seems like there was a big thread about it.

[Xjman1]

I got the C-rok plate installed with the MORE Brace. Very nice unit and cleanly fabricated. Laser cuts are sweet and holes all lined up perfectly. A very stout product and for $54.00 a great deal to save future expenses'.
I know I read about the brace issues but it seems most people put them on after they started noticing cracks to prevent further cracking. I will keep and eye on mine for an observational perspective with a "good" frame as a starting point.

Joe

[JEEPZZ]

Originally posted by juicexj24
I just saw this on jeepin.com it is s steering box frame brace from c-rok.com.
Just ordered it for 54.00, included shipping. Check it out.
How about a link to the page. I took a look around and couldn't find it & c-rok's site is under construction.

[xjmike]

email them...info@croc.com

[xjmike]

I mean info@crok.com

[BillR]

Originally posted by Xjman1
I got the C-rok plate installed with the MORE Brace. Very nice unit and cleanly fabricated. Laser cuts are sweet and holes all lined up perfectly. A very stout product and for $54.00 a great deal to save future expenses'.
I know I read about the brace issues but it seems most people put them on after they started noticing cracks to prevent further cracking. I will keep and eye on mine for an observational perspective with a "good" frame as a starting point.

Joe
Mine came in yestereday and I hope to get it painted and installed today.
The instructions say not to do the install alone. Is this the case? When I talked to Greg from CRock, he explained the install and it sounded like no big deal.:confused:

[Matt]

Originally posted by crimsonride
I'm not sure about those braces. I've heard they cause more problems than they solve. I don't know how but that's what I remember hearing on this forum about five months ago. Seems like there was a big thread about it.

I think the issue is that by the time most people need a brace the area by the box is already weakened, cracked or fatigued

I bought one from MORE after tearing the box off the frame 3 times in one day - I figure why reinvent the wheel, I also built a 1/4" plate for the outside of the frame and a 1/8" plate for inside - welded up the cracks and then welded on the plates, bolted up the brace and never had another problem...

The whole project only took about 2 hours - things go quick when you have access to a plasma and a 70 ton ironworker :D

Now that I run a ram assist sytem the plating is probably overkill but still nice to have; but what ever turns your crank - I have enough other projects that I know when it is easier and better to buy a well engineered product that fits my needs than to bang my head against the wall building one, just my 2ct's :rolleyes:

Matt

[Matt]

Originally posted by BillR
Mine came in yestereday and I hope to get it painted and installed today.
The instructions say not to do the install alone. Is this the case? When I talked to Greg from CRock, he explained the install and it sounded like no big deal.:confused:

The plate requires you to remove the steering box - yes ???

If so it is easier to have a friend help to get everything lined up again - I have gotten pretty fast at swapping mine in and out - takes about 20 min to pull it and 30 min to put it back solo (that is pulling the box completely out of the heep - if all you need is to pull the bolts life will be much easier and faster than completely removing the box ;)

You will never know until you try - it is pretty darn easy - the box can be kinda akward depending how much lift you have and where you are working - go for it!

Matt

[CajunCherokee]

Originally posted by Matt
I think the issue is that by the time most people need a brace the area by the box is already weakened, cracked or fatigued

I bought one from MORE after tearing the box off the frame 3 times in one day - I figure why reinvent the wheel, I also built a 1/4" plate for the outside of the frame and a 1/8" plate for inside - welded up the cracks and then welded on the plates, bolted up the brace and never had another problem...

The whole project only took about 2 hours - things go quick when you have access to a plasma and a 70 ton ironworker :D

Matt

Here are a few pics of what I fabbed up. Is that similar to you're design?? The first picture is my outside plate uninstalled, and the second is the plate installed. The reason why I have 3 different pieces to the plate is because I had to build around my front bumper brackets. Sorry for the large pics...
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/23/23544/folders/64220/447835MVC-836F.JPG
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/23/23544/folders/69644/447851MVC-844F.JPG

The next few pics are of the inside plate. I welded spacer onto the inside plate because I broke that aluminum stock POS spacer into 5 pieces, and because it is a shitty design.
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/23/23544/folders/64220/447830MVC-834F.JPG
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/23/23544/folders/64220/447832MVC-835F.JPG

I also drilled out 2 of the 3 holes and just put on Grade 8 bolts and nuts. I was tired of being careful when torquing down the delicate steering box threads. So now, I can torque the hell out of those bolts. Makes me feel better!!:) And my steering has never felt so stout!!

[Xjman1]

Originally posted by BillR
Mine came in yestereday and I hope to get it painted and installed today.
The instructions say not to do the install alone. Is this the case? When I talked to Greg from CRock, he explained the install and it sounded like no big deal.:confused:


Put mine an alone in about 45 minutes. I did it a little different than the instructions say. I disconnected the Sway bar links, dropped the sway bar bracket on the drivers side, Removed the drivers side bumper cap to get access to my tow hooks and bumper attachments, removed steering box bolts, then slid it into place and reversed everything.

Good Luck,
Joe

[Judd W. VA]

Hey, i know what its like to mention something in a Forum and someone shoot it down for little or no reason. The problem is that i do not expect it nearly as much here in NAXJA as happens in JU. Overall, our contributors generally are of a higher calibur, but exceptions do seem to exist.

This is one of the things that can be so great about a Forum like this, to bring to our attention new products!! $54 is nothing for the cost of a decent product, even something reportedly so simple. I do happen to posess some fabrication equipment but i'd probably buy that brace rather than build one myself. My time is worth more than that. Keep up the good work!!

[jalehman]

Judd,
You honestly take it that seriously when someone disagrees with you? If I mention a product or a modification, its because I want to know the good and bad. Then I make the decision whether or not to buy it. Also nobody shot down the steering brace. They just said that it is a part that is very easy to make.

[mark91xjbeef]

i use the more brace and the c-rok. i used only the more at first and ripped the gear out of the frame. if you go on the c-rok site the pictures he uses for what could happen without one are from my jeep. i was one of the test jeeps and i give it top honors. i drilled a fourth hole for my agr gear though. but since i installed it not a single problem.

[Judd W. VA]

It makes no difference whether or not the brace is easy to make-has not a thing to do with that at all. You miss the point totally. Is how that point was/is made. After all, look at his reaction to that response. I am trying to point out that there could be a measure of 'tact' one can use to not make the contributor think the post was stupid or 'lesser'. Not sure why one's own "perceived importance" is boosted by such strong postings. Is not necessary at all. I know what it is like because has happened to me and others in Forums in the past and does tend to take some of the fun out of it. Isn't that the main reason for this entire Forum endeavor?? I guess one should just get used to 'overlooking' some of the responses, and perhaps this is what i will have to do more often, but is such a shame-

Personally i am thinking positively about that product and i thank him for bringing it to my attention.

Is too damn bad i had to even go there with all this. Is certanly not enjoyable for me, but when one is 'hit' like this, i am compelled to respond. Forgive me. Is just that (almost) everyone deserves a measure of cordiality and respect. Seems to be lacking in all aspects of life so much these days..... Not sure what is up with that.

[BillR]

I installed the C-Rock brace yesterday. Everything went well EXCEPT there was a fender brace in the way! On my '01, I have a fender brace that attached with a tiny bolt to the frame side. That spot is covered by the CRock, so I'll need to drill a hole or figure another way to attach the brace.
This thing is well-made and beefy! I'd recommended it!

[Matt]

Glad it went well Bill - I did not even think about the fender brace as it has been along time since I chopped those out - I figure most folks who need this brace have likely done a fair bit of trimming already - I would just drill and tap a little hole to afix the brace with a bolt if you still need it (or just chop off the bottom half ;) )

CajunCherokee - those pieces look very similar to what I used except for the spacers - I had considered that but since I may be switching to a hydraulic orbital valve for full hydro steering I decided to just plate the frame and re-use the aluminum jobby...

If I do the orbital I will just build a bracket so it mounts in the OEM holes - allowing the jeep to be converted back and forth if needed

Looks like a well thought out execution though - :D

Matt

[JEEPZZ]

Originally posted by mark91xjbeef
if you go on the c-rok site the pictures he uses for what could happen without one are from my jeep.
I can't get the c-rok site to work. Can you post a direct link to the page you are reffering too so I can get a better look at what everyone is talking about?
Thanx. :)

[Jason A-33]

Anyone got any pics of ORGS MFG new design??

[BillR]

Originally posted by JEEPZZ
I can't get the c-rok site to work. Can you post a direct link to the page you are reffering too so I can get a better look at what everyone is talking about?
Thanx. :)
Try this one...c-rock info (http://www.jeepin.com/news/c_rok/index.asp)
:cool:

[JEEPZZ]

Originally posted by BillR
Try this one...c-rock info (http://www.jeepin.com/news/c_rok/index.asp)
:cool:
Thanks. :)

[EricsXJ]

Originally posted by Paul S
It's good to see some real solutions coming out for the frame area around the steering box, other than a simple steering box brace that is known to causes the very cracks that they are supposed to prevent...
Please enlighten me... how does a steering box brace CAUSE cracks in the frame?