Steering Box Brace

[Talyn]

The sway bar is removed so there will be no collision in between.

Not in his pictures. http://www.flickr.com/photos/77467221@N02/6942054151/in/photostream

How could it not? It's beefier than most of the aftermarket ones.

x2. Looks to be one of the strongest I have seen.

M.O.R.E. makes one too, exact same design as Rusty's i believe.

Most of them are like that except the one from flickr and Kevin's

 

[5-Speed XJ]

I have a jcr 4 bolt plate for my yj box and a MORE Brace its not going anywhere.

 

[Porch951]

Since the thread came up, i've been looking into making one for myself (money isn't the issue, i just thought it'd be more fun!).

One thing i can't find is a good source for these clamps. It seems like it would be a pretty common thing but apparently not--or i'm searching for the wrong terms. The diameter of the box is almost exactly 2". I searched for "bolted clamps" and went through most of the "pipe clamp" results. Anyone have any ideas, or do i just have to buy some 1/4" strips and make my own?

From the pictures it looks like they just used a piece of pipe, but i'd rather not have to take my pitman arm off every time it needs to come on/off. I do wonder if a heavy-duty exhaust clamp (u-bolt + bracket) would be strong enough.

Any ideas? Sorry for the hijack, but it's kind of on-topic

 

[HavvkXJ]

How could it not? It's beefier than most of the aftermarket ones.
....

The beefier does not mean the better, there must be a reason all the other vendors are making different ones.

I just need an input from the users that can confirm: yes this one works well, this one is crap etc, cause fabricating them is not an issue

 

[Talyn]

The beefier does not mean the better, there must be a reason all the other vendors are making different ones.

Because its easier and cheaper.

 

[HavvkXJ]

Talyn - are you using one from the market, home-made or none?

 

[Talyn]

Not yet. I have been looking and I really like that one from Kevin's. I'm waiting on finding a clunk I have in my steering.

The only thing that concerns me about that one on flickr is that you have to remove the pit man arm to install and I don't see a method of tightening the collar around the steering box.

 

[Porch951]

Because its easier and cheaper.

Egg-zackary.

And yes, beefier=better.

 

[foxwar71]

There needs to be a box brace like what is offered for full size dodge trucks. A brace the ties the two framerails together with a carrier bearing that goes onto a new pitman arm nut, ultimate support and beef. ORS talked about building an inner support piece that did something like this but I don't think it ever happened.

 

[XJLI]

Nope, that never happened. I still want one.

 

[XJEEPER]

One thing i can't find is a good source for these clamps. It seems like it would be a pretty common thing but apparently not--or i'm searching for the wrong terms. The diameter of the box is almost exactly 2". I searched for "bolted clamps" and went through most of the "pipe clamp" results. Anyone have any ideas, or do i just have to buy some 1/4" strips and make my own?

From the pictures it looks like they just used a piece of pipe, but i'd rather not have to take my pitman arm off every time it needs to come on/off. I do wonder if a heavy-duty exhaust clamp (u-bolt + bracket) would be strong enough.

Any ideas? Sorry for the hijack, but it's kind of on-topic

If you've ever walked down a stairwell in a parking garage, you've likely seen the solution......and I'm not talking about a slurpy cup half full of hobo pee...........try searching riser pipe clamp.

http://www.cooperindustries.com/con..._hangers/pipe_hangers_and_supports/Clamps.pdf

 

[Porch951]

I did look at the riser clamps, but they start at $30. Might as well just buy the brace at that rate :/

Edit: nevermind, found some on ebay for $10.

 

[Talyn]

There needs to be a box brace like what is offered for full size dodge trucks. A brace the ties the two framerails together with a carrier bearing that goes onto a new pitman arm nut, ultimate support and beef. ORS talked about building an inner support piece that did something like this but I don't think it ever happened.

JKS has someting similar for the JK http://store.jksmfg.com/merchant2/m...Store_Code=JKS01&Category_Code=Steering_Brake

 

[lazyxj]

I made the steering box clamp out of piece of pipe, from my bone yard, with an I.D. similar to the O.D. of the steering box's nose. I cut about 2" off and then sliced it lengthwise and fit it to the box. Drilled tabs were then welded to the new clamp.
When clamping, washers were used to control the clamping pressure and to keep the tabs from bending. The crossbar is 1"X1"X3/16 square tubing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157630657501656/

 

[sunburned]

Almost the best homemade idea I've seen yet.

Oh, and check out PSC's Dodge truck steering box brace. I think they told me they'd sell the bearing and custom nut that fits in it for $60, then you can make your own cross brace between the swaybar holes.

 

[XJEEPER]

PSC's Dodge truck steering box brace

Their "extendo-nut" that slides into the pillow block hangs down too low for my liking, but a resourceful individual could make this design work on an XJ with some mods.
http://www.pscmotorsports.com/03-08-4wd-2500-3500-dodge-ram-steering-stabilizer.html

JKS makes thier own pillow block bearing, if the nut matches the XJ box, you could buy their block and nut and fab your own sector shaft/box brace setup.
http://store.jksmfg.com/merchant2/m...Store_Code=JKS01&Category_Code=Steering_Brake


You could also buy an off the shelf industrial pillow block bearing and build you own extendo-nut............
http://www.bearingson.com/Category/...es/hcft_200_series/default.asp?page=&SortType=

 

[sunburned]

Their "extendo-nut" that slides into the pillow block hangs down too low for my liking, but a resourceful individual could make this design work on an XJ with some mods.
http://www.pscmotorsports.com/03-08-4wd-2500-3500-dodge-ram-steering-stabilizer.html

JKS makes thier own pillowYou could also buy an off the shelf industrial pillow block bearing and build you own extendo-nut............
http://www.bearingson.com/Category/...es/hcft_200_series/default.asp?page=&SortType=

Like I said, I emailed PSC about this a while back and they'd sell the pillow block and nut for $60. They confirmed it would fit any saginaw steering box. You could easily make it work with 2 pieces of angle iron on the swaybar mounts and a tube across them. Looks like the only reason the 'extendo-nut' is so long is to clear the swaybar, so you could definitely cut it down.

And Vetteboy79 did exactly what you are saying and what I am saying. He found a nut that fit on the box and machined it to perfectly fit inside a pillow block bearing. Then pretty much created the PSC brace. Probably the best way to do it, but the exhaust clamp method I posted above is a close second.

 

[Porch951]

but the exhaust clamp method I posted above is a close second.

??

 

[XJEEPER]

Two different braces, unless you have a muffler clamp version that incorporates a sector shaft brace?

 

[sunburned]

Two different braces, unless you have a muffler clamp version that incorporates a sector shaft brace?

Meaning bracing the sector shaft with a pillow block is the best way to go if you have the time and parts to do it. That's essentially what's taking all the force in the steering box.

The second best way is to brace the snout of the box where the sector shaft comes out, like with the exhaust clamp method or one of dozens of manufactured braces. This will at least keep your steering box from breaking the tabs off or cracking the unibody.