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Have you seen the one Boostwerks sells with build in steering support ? Been selling it for awhile .
He's aware, it has been commented on in this thread, and the baddad mount also has a steering brace incorporated into it. It braces the box itself as opposed to the sector shaft. This is the reason I waited for this mount instead of ordering the BWE mount, as you can run a stock swaybar without drop brackets. The BWE mount you have to run drop brackets because the pillow bearing that supports the sector shaft. I have one of the first prototypes, we installed it yesterday afternoon, and the steering definitely feels tighter and more responsive.
Thanks to Jake85 I was able to do another test fit. The biggest challenge has been the width of the “frame”. As we all know, these Jeeps aren’t put together with very tight tolerances so finding the sweet spot for width has been interesting! I’d like to do at least one more trial fitting before I settle into production. Anyone in the Seattle area have a 1997-2000 interested in participating?
On Jake85 ‘96. Measured and marked. Cut out. Here’s the steering brace. And the finished install. We’re going to fit his Badlands 9,000lb winch next week.
I took the Boostwerks brace off to put this on. I was having clearance issues between the bearing pillow block and my sway bar with the boostwerks unit. I shimmed the swaybar down more even though I had drop brakets and even with grinding I was having clearance issues. This mount cures all of this, drops the winch down for lower center of gravity, and gets the winch out of the front of my radiator, and no more swaybar issues. I was having some minor cooling problems due to blocked airflow from the winch on the highway. Problem solved now.
I took the Boostwerks brace off to put this on. I was having clearance issues between the bearing pillow block and my sway bar with the boostwerks unit. I shimmed the swaybar down more even though I had drop brakets and even with grinding I was having clearance issues. This mount cures all of this, drops the winch down for lower center of gravity, and gets the winch out of the front of my radiator, and no more swaybar issues. I was having some minor cooling problems due to blocked airflow from the winch on the highway. Problem solved now.
You sure you mounted things right?
I've got the Boostwerks mount, with the Boostwerks swaybar drop brackets.
My swaybar would have to somwhow reach down under the frame to even get close to the pillow block...which would mean my vehicle is likely totaled at that point.
As well, the winch is located under the radiator, so not sure how it could remotely ever block flow?
Don't get me wrong, this hidden winch mount seems like a great product (though I'm not sure I'd call it so much hidden anymore)...but it sounds like there was something seriously wrong with your system/install to have those issues.
Suprmn had the Boostwerks pillow block steering brace, not the winch mount. That is where the sway bar interference was happening. He was referring to changing to the clamp style steering brace on my mount. His old winch bumper was causing air flow problems.
Thank you for all the pictures for ideas. I am currently working on a hidden winch. Thanks to @Baddad for the steering brace idea. I will be copying that. I am choosing to weld my winch plate straight to the bottom of the frame rails as I cut the entire front cross member of the frame out. And yes when I cut this out, the frame spread 3/8". I will use pipe clamps to pull it back in before welding the winch plate and adding gussets. The new winch plate is going to be my cross member. The fairlead will be on the actual bumper just in front of the winch plate. These pictures the winch is on a 1/4"x6" piece of metal for mockup as they didn't have a 8" wide piece. The plate will eventually get cut down to 6.5" wide at the winch mount bolts and taper back to the frame rails. I am currently waiting to get to a wrecking yard to pull a Durango steering box so I can make sure that will fit in with everything. I welded 1/4" flat bar to the bottom of the frame rail to space the winch plate down just a little bit as it was up against the radiator and I didn't want it rubbing.
He's aware, it has been commented on in this thread, and the baddad mount also has a steering brace incorporated into it. It braces the box itself as opposed to the sector shaft. This is the reason I waited for this mount instead of ordering the BWE mount, as you can run a stock swaybar without drop brackets. The BWE mount you have to run drop brackets because the pillow bearing that supports the sector shaft. I have one of the first prototypes, we installed it yesterday afternoon, and the steering definitely feels tighter and more responsive.
Yeah, for someone not planning on much else the steering brace is a nice incorporation. If you're running an aftermarket bumper or have a brace already, kind of moot. But at least there are options that fit both on the market (soon).
Originally Posted by Baddad
Suprmn had the Boostwerks pillow block steering brace, not the winch mount. That is where the sway bar interference was happening. He was referring to changing to the clamp style steering brace on my mount. His old winch bumper was causing air flow problems.
Ah ok, makes sense. How he wrote it made it come off as if it were the Boostwerks mount itself, which would be rather confusing.
FYI everyone. I will be at the 4x4 swap meet In Puyallup WA this Sunday if your in the area and want to stop by. We will be indoors in the main hall. Not sure exactly where but look for us, love to meet up with some of you!
Finished up my hidden winch mount.
So I wanted a winch mount that did not stick out so when I build my bumper I can maximize clearance and approach angle. I was able to make room under the radiator. I cut the entire front section of the frame out. Which yes made the frame pop out about 3/8", I was sure to suck this back in with a bar clamp before welding the winch plat one. I first welded 1/4" plate to the bottom of the frame rails to space the winch plate down 1/4". Without this the winch rubbed on the bottom of the radiator.
Winch Plate is 1/4" plate that started out as 8" wide. I used a cut off wheel on my grinder and cut the plate 1 inch in from the back all the way through on 60% of the plate and almost all the way through on the rest. Bent that up to 90 degrees and welded it on top and bottom. Winch mount holes are 1" in from the back and 1.5" from the front. I doubled up the front edge with a 1" wide 1/4" thick flat bar to keep the plate from flexing and give it a little more strength. This all was welded to the bottom of the frame rails. Not shown in pictures but the bent up back was gusseted into the passenger frame rail. The engagement **** on the winch sticks out past the grill 3/4". The control unit for the winch will be mounted inside the engine compartment up by the radiator overflow.
01-31-2019, 11:49 AM
