Steering Box....Stress Cracks!!

[eightbanger]

I did mention this in another thread but here's the full story for future reference.
When I was under my Truck checking on an unrelated problem I noticed a small crack between the bumper bracket mounting and one of the S/B mounting holes.



Round the back was not looking too sharp either at the top mounting hole.



Then I took a vid to see what might be going on down there, the S/B is tearing itself loose.

YouTube- MOV07829

Time to strip it down and clean off for a better look.







After some BFH treatment to knock the two sections either side of the main crack back inline with each other I had a friend do some welding, I didn't grind it down as I figured I wante as much metal on those cracks as possible...and it would not really be seen.



As a precaution I added a plate on the back which then needed longer bolts to fit the S/B due to the extra thickness and the original concave mounting points on the frame would now be covered.