I posted about this once before and am still having issues and have no idea how to fix it. My steering box keeps on wanting to break its bolts and there is too much stress somewhere. I am running a 4.5" lift on 33's. I reinforced the frame with plating and put a steering brace on it, but the brace isn't helping much. It moves the brace up and down but not side to side. I got an alignment done since it needed one and the alignment guy didn't have a solution. I thought I needed a longer drop pitman arm, but he says it's the right size. Help Please!

 

Are you using grade 8 bolts?

Are the mounting holes tore up(cracked, oblong, oversized from wear)?

What kind of plating did you use?

 

have you checked your steering dampener? if they lock up you tare **** up

 

yeah i've looked at mine and started figuring unibody plating but you shouldn't be stressing it that hard you say it goes up and down? the holes must be hogged out.....i'd plate both sides with a 3/16 plate and drill new holes

 

Steering dampener? Where's that at? I am using grade 8 bolts and before I put the plates on, it still broke two. I plated both sides with 1/8 inch steel plates. I'm pretty sure the holes are not hogged out. It's the bar that moves, not the plate that its welded to. It's bolted down good.

 

steering dampener is the shock looking thing there with the red boot on it.

 

wait the bar that moves???? does the whole box move??? or is it the shaft in the box if the bolts dont move the box can't move. follow me?the bolts have to move in order for the box to move.unless the frame or box is cracked.. i beat mine good and haven't had this issue

 

and are your "plates" welded? cuz they will walk around and do nothing if they aren't.

 

1/8" is really light for that location IMO. I wouldn't use anything under 3/16" with 1/4" being ideal. My understanding of steering braces are that they aren't intended to provide "up and down" support, just "side to side" support. Check you dampener to make sure its working properly. Did you weld the plates on to the unibody? I'd check around the welds for cracks. When do the bolts break?

Doing an over-knuckle conversion would probably help a lot too.

 

I thought about getting a new steering stabilizer aka "dampener". I don't like rancho anyways... But its how I bought it. I thought 1/8 inch was a little on the thin side myself but that is what my dad got from work. I wanted to put 3/16. They aren't welded as of right now. I wanted to see if it pull the bolt through like it did to the frame once before but hasn't yet and I'm pretty sure they're not moving around either. The steering box doesn't necessarily move. As I steer, the box pulls on the frame and thats what moves and eventually has broken two bolts. The steering brace doesn't really help much cause the box still does it. But with the plating and now an alignment, it steers good. I just don't want to go out wheeling or just simply driving it around town and it break another bolt. They are spendy suckers!

I will probably replace the steering stabilizer and see what that does.

 

Whats a good brand for stabilizers?

 

Did you fix the torn up hole? It would take a lot to pull a bolt through 1/8", but it sure as hell will bend a lot. With a FUBAR hole, I would be very surprised if they are not moving along with the steering box, which is why your bolts keep breaking. I'd take everything off and fix those damaged holes.

 

Yeah I fixed the hole before I put the plates on.

 

you need to weld those plates otherwise the are doing nothing but serving as ugly washers