ORD Steering Box Brace Kit
 

It's my understanding that these trucks are notorious for frame cracks/breaks near the steering box. I want to install the steering box brace kit from ORD, and I need some advice. Here's a link to the kit: http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/steeringkit.htm

So here's the deal...my front crossmember is the straight design, as opposed to the crossmember that curves back toward the rear of the truck. According to ORD's website, their kit was designed around the crossmember that curves toward the rear. In order for it to work on my crossmember, I'll have to do some modifications. What would be the best way to fill this gap and mount the bracket to the crossmember? Does anyone know of another company that makes a steering box brace kit like this?

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...member%20B.jpg

Re: ORD Steering Box Brace Kit
 

Best advice... Call them when they are open. I'm pretty sure they can give you the insight to use it on the straight crossmember.

Re: ORD Steering Box Brace Kit
 

Even though my truck had the correct crossmember or maybe It didn't but I still had to add 1/2" spacer. A few others here on the forum had to modify it quite a bit and some not so much. Check out the build threads on the 4x4 build thread area. Good luck. Check out my build thread and dwilber's thread we both installed them in different ways.

Re: ORD Steering Box Brace Kit
 

If I recall correctly - sold that truck so I can't go look - I used a fairly large spacer on my ORD kit to meet the crossmember. Once bolted in place it seemed very solid, no worries about the spacer whatsoever. Will probably add one of these to my new Super when it gets here!

Re: ORD Steering Box Brace Kit
 

I called them yesterday and they suggested a spacer similar to what others have done on this site. Shouldn't be too much of an issue for this rookie:dohh:

Re: ORD Steering Box Brace Kit
 

I had a similar problem on my 71 K10. After talking with ORD, I ended up using washers to space it out properly on both frame and crossmember (see pics). I also ended up cutting a "window" in the bracket to be able to route brake lines cleanly.

Re: ORD Steering Box Brace Kit
 

This is exactly what I was hoping to see. That looks super clean. Thanks for the pictures. Any chance you remember what size washers you used? Also, I'm curious, did cutting that window make it a lot easier to route the brake lines? I planned on just routing them around the bracket when the time came, but now you got me thinking.

Re: ORD Steering Box Brace Kit
 

The washers were the same size as the bolt but were extra large outside diameter to match the size of the bracket. I found them at the hardware store. It's not necessary to "window" the bracket, it just made the routing cleaner on my truck. Your's may be different. The bracket works GREAT in stiffening that area of the frame. Frank