Tom74'CJ-5
10-20-2008, 02:43 AM
Big Daddy Steering Box Bracket
For some reason, after I put the 4wd.com sticker on the jeep, I started breaking things left and right. I think it has something to do job security for the guys in Ohio, but at least I get to add new beefy stuff....
So here it goes. I looked around a bit and this bracket seemed to be the best choice given it's healthy size and description provided by the manufacturer.
All in all, it's a very stout bracket. Here are a couple pics....
The mount that I had on there was one solid cast piece. It was pretty beefy, but only had three mounting holes to the steering box.
I have a shackle reversal on mine which meant I had to cut the leaf spring mount to fit the extra mounting hole on the new bracket ( 2 on top, 3 on bottom)
So I got the leaf bracket cut and made the new holes so that they would fit the mount as you can see in the above picture. The box is advertised as a simple bolt in factory hole location for 76 and up CJ's, but was nothing close to that on the 74.
So after checking the alignment on the holes, I went to check the fit on the studs provided with the kit (4 studs that screw into the actual box, then to the bracket). The studs fit fine into the box, but when trying to fit the provided spacer bushings that go between the box and mount, the bushings would not fit over the studs provided in the kit.
I ended up drilling out the bushings, which almost caused serious injury as the drill got caught up, yanked the vise off the table and landed inches from my toes, but all was good.
Got those drilled out, then mounted the box to the bracket... that is of course after I realized that in order to get to the bolts to actually mount the bracket to the frame, I had to do some modifications. First I dropped the axle and springs out of their mounts in the front to give me room to wrench....
Test fit with the bracket.....
And of course some slight modification to the front cross member. I had to remove the radiator to make the cuts. Once the cuts were done, then I had to cut some more so that the lines would still screw into the box once it was mounted. Remember, this in on a 74, I have no idea if it would go right on in a 76 or newer.
So after all that, I was able to bolt it up to the frame, with the box mounted.
This is the 6th bolt that goes into the box. It's a 5/8th bolt that goes into a welded nut on the bracket. This mounts sideways, so with this on, you have mounts on three sides of the bracket.
All in all, great part, but I'm a little surprised that the parts that came with it, didn't fit together. It wasn't a deal breaker for me because I pretty much expect to have to modify things. The bracket is very beefy, and definitely better over all with the 4 mounting studs for the steering box, and extra mounting points to the frame.
For some reason, after I put the 4wd.com sticker on the jeep, I started breaking things left and right. I think it has something to do job security for the guys in Ohio, but at least I get to add new beefy stuff....
So here it goes. I looked around a bit and this bracket seemed to be the best choice given it's healthy size and description provided by the manufacturer.
All in all, it's a very stout bracket. Here are a couple pics....
The mount that I had on there was one solid cast piece. It was pretty beefy, but only had three mounting holes to the steering box.
I have a shackle reversal on mine which meant I had to cut the leaf spring mount to fit the extra mounting hole on the new bracket ( 2 on top, 3 on bottom)
So I got the leaf bracket cut and made the new holes so that they would fit the mount as you can see in the above picture. The box is advertised as a simple bolt in factory hole location for 76 and up CJ's, but was nothing close to that on the 74.
So after checking the alignment on the holes, I went to check the fit on the studs provided with the kit (4 studs that screw into the actual box, then to the bracket). The studs fit fine into the box, but when trying to fit the provided spacer bushings that go between the box and mount, the bushings would not fit over the studs provided in the kit.
I ended up drilling out the bushings, which almost caused serious injury as the drill got caught up, yanked the vise off the table and landed inches from my toes, but all was good.
Got those drilled out, then mounted the box to the bracket... that is of course after I realized that in order to get to the bolts to actually mount the bracket to the frame, I had to do some modifications. First I dropped the axle and springs out of their mounts in the front to give me room to wrench....
Test fit with the bracket.....
And of course some slight modification to the front cross member. I had to remove the radiator to make the cuts. Once the cuts were done, then I had to cut some more so that the lines would still screw into the box once it was mounted. Remember, this in on a 74, I have no idea if it would go right on in a 76 or newer.
So after all that, I was able to bolt it up to the frame, with the box mounted.
This is the 6th bolt that goes into the box. It's a 5/8th bolt that goes into a welded nut on the bracket. This mounts sideways, so with this on, you have mounts on three sides of the bracket.
All in all, great part, but I'm a little surprised that the parts that came with it, didn't fit together. It wasn't a deal breaker for me because I pretty much expect to have to modify things. The bracket is very beefy, and definitely better over all with the 4 mounting studs for the steering box, and extra mounting points to the frame.