I installed a new steering gear box along with new power steering pump and new lines last march. Of course the factory steering box brace was shot so I found an aftermarket one on ebay that was a lot beefier than the original.
Here is a pic I found on the forum of the same one I have, made by Creepy Fabrication.



Here lately there seems to be a creaking noise coming from that area. I had the wife turn the wheel back and forth while I felt for the noise and I felt it the most on the outside where the bolts run in the unibody for the gear box. All the bolts are tight and I can't find anything else that would be making that noise. Anyone run across this issue before? It doesn't affect driveability, its just an annoying noise.

 

Its doubtful that the actual plate broke, but it is possible that a weld on one of the sleeves broke free.

Best bet is to pull the spacer out and check I think

Edit:
Actually, I misread that - I thought you said "crack" and not "creak"

Did you use new bolts when you installed the steering spacer? Maybe one of the old bolts is stretched and causing the noise. You could spray everything with some PB Blaster and see if the noise alleviates