Power Steering Box Bracket suggestions.

[RTRCJ7]

Collecting the parts for an 83 CJ7 PS conversion and was overwhelmed with all the choices for a bracket for the box. Any suggestions? Also having the same problem for a brace. Any suggestions for bracket and brace?

Thanks

 

[yellow85cj]

My bracket came from Rock Tite Metal Fabrication .

Great looking welds, solid, and powder coated, great price. Now if they could do as good a job with their web site.......

 

[BusaDave9]

I like having a brace that extends to the passenger side of the frame. I think that distributes the forces better. The CJ frames are not the strongest.

Warrior Products 897 - Warrior Products Steering Box Brace for 76-86 Jeep® CJ-5, CJ-7 & CJ-8 - Quadratec

 

[Old Dog]

My brace is like Dave's but I don't remember who made it. I still run the stock mount. I bought a HD mount (again don't remember who's) but didn't like it so I sent it back, the stock mount is doing good with the brace.

 

[RTRCJ7]

My brace is like Dave's but I don't remember who made it. I still run the stock mount. I bought a HD mount (again don't remember who's) but didn't like it so I sent it back, the stock mount is doing good with the brace.

What about the HD mount didnt you like ?

 

[Old Dog]

What about the HD mount didnt you like ?

The bracket is flat and they give you spacers to make it fit the contour of the steering box. The box has a rounded shape. I didn't like the idea of bolting a round surface to a flat sided spacer, just didn't seem like a good idea to me, seemed kinda like a weak link, not much surface area holding it in place.
I know a lot of people don't think much of the stock bracket but at least it's formed to fit better. With the brace holding the box in place it has worked for me so far. I only run 33's but it gets beat up pretty good sometimes.

 

[RTRCJ7]

The bracket is flat and they give you spacers to make it fit the contour of the steering box. The box has a rounded shape. I didn't like the idea of bolting a round surface to a flat sided spacer, just didn't seem like a good idea to me, seemed kinda like a weak link, not much surface area holding it in place.
I know a lot of people don't think much of the stock bracket but at least it's formed to fit better. With the brace holding the box in place it has worked for me so far. I only run 33's but it gets beat up pretty good sometimes.

ok I see . So if Im not going to do any extreme offroading and my tires will probably never go over 32 - 33's then a stock bracket could work for me and the HD bracket is prob overkill?? That is if I install the brace.

 

[Old Dog]

ok I see . So if Im not going to do any extreme offroading and my tires will probably never go over 32 - 33's then a stock bracket could work for me and the HD bracket is prob overkill?? That is if I install the brace.

IMHO yes, although others may disagree.
Just make sure the bolts stay tight as they sometimes work thier way loose.

 

[RTRCJ7]

IMHO yes, although others may disagree.
Just make sure the bolts stay tight as they sometimes work thier way loose.

Thanks again Old Dog , you may have just saved me some $$$ on my conversion.

 

[BusaDave9]

The stock bracket is fine. Don't spend your money or time replacing it.
IMHO if the 1/8 inch bracket is going to break away so will a half inch thick bracket. It's not the bracket that breaks, its the frame. CJs don't have very strong frames.
If you are going to do much off-roading I would certainly get the type of brace that goes to the passenger side of the frame. This is easier to install (you don't have to remove the steering gearbox) and I think it distributes the forces better. If you are going to rip it off you would have to rip both sides of the frame.
The CJ really does have a weak frame. The Wrangler is much better in this area.
What I am saying is IF you do much off-roading you should think about bracing the gearbox better. On the other hand if you don't go off road much you very well may never have a problem in this area. I don't see that you have oversized tires so that may be in your advantage too.
Do you weld? If you crack your frame it won't be a $60 bolt on repair and you will always wonder if it is as good as before the crack.
Warrior Products 897 - Warrior Products Steering Box Brace for 76-86 Jeep® CJ-5, CJ-7 & CJ-8 - Quadratec

 

[RTRCJ7]

The stock bracket is fine. Don't spend your money or time replacing it.
IMHO if the 1/8 inch bracket is going to break away so will a half inch thick bracket. It's not the bracket that breaks, its the frame. CJs don't have very strong frames.
If you are going to do much off-roading I would certainly get the type of brace that goes to the passenger side of the frame. This is easier to install (you don't have to remove the steering gearbox) and I think it distributes the forces better. If you are going to rip it off you would have to rip both sides of the frame.
The CJ really does have a weak frame. The Wrangler is much better in this area.
What I am saying is IF you do much off-roading you should think about bracing the gearbox better. On the other hand if you don't go off road much you very well may never have a problem in this area. I don't see that you have oversized tires so that may be in your advantage too.
Do you weld? If you crack your frame it won't be a $60 bolt on repair and you will always wonder if it is as good as before the crack.
Warrior Products 897 - Warrior Products Steering Box Brace for 76-86 Jeep® CJ-5, CJ-7 & CJ-8 - Quadratec

Thanks Busa. Will the manual steering box bracket work with the power steering box?? And I am definitly getting one of thoses braces !

 

[BusaDave9]

yes, the brace should fit manual or power steering.

 

[andyt]

I used both styles. the bracket and the brace. Warrior bracket, Currie brace