Does anyone sell a brace kit or anything for strength for the steering box area of the frame rail for a K5 blazer (1976). Or does anyone have any suggestions for bracing or pictures? I'm wondering because I had the hood off of my K5 yesterday and was turning the wheels when I looked at the frame where the steering box bolts to and I could see the frame rail flexing! I had an 86 chevy several years ago with 35s and always had an issue with the steering box trying to work lose as well. Like I said I was just wondering if anyone made a kit or anyone had suggestions on what to do?

I found a kit made by off road design? They have a weld on repair bracket to fix any damage which mine does have a little bit of, and then they have the brace kit. Does anyone use these? If so, how would you guys rank them?

jus plate both sides of frame

thats kind of what I was thinking, but do you think its a good idea to get the brace kit, or just make my own?

Is the T&M it would take you to make one worth less that $130? If so make your own.

Is the T&M it would take you to make one worth less that $130? If so make your own.

what I meant by should I make my own is, I wanted to know if the kits you buy are junk or not. I know if you add up your T&M on a lot of things you can't justify building it. But I don't want to waste 130 on a piece of junk if you know what I mean

In that case. I have never used one of those from them, but all the other stuff has been super (x-over, shackles, shackle flip, etc.) so I can't see why this would be any different.

alright, sounds good. It looks like it is a quality product. Thanks

Pretty sure that ORD doesn't make them, but I have purchased them in the past, and the quality is what you would expect from ORD.

ORD DOES make the weld on plate and bolt on brace kit.
:shaking:


I would suggest getting both from ORD. Its money well spent, and unless you can fabricate a plate that can fit the contour of the frame where the steering box bolts on, (which I know I can't, its not flat or easy to replicate)
you will be time ahead getting it from ORD.

cant emphasize the importance of fixing this problem before the frame is cracked and destroyed.

Ideally, plating the frame, and boxing the other side is the strongest solution, but for a daily driven, sometimes wheeled vehicle, the ORD plate is good to go.

Well. It would appear that I have been outsmarted.

:shaking:

miniwally 07-25-2006, 09:22 AM

Autofab and ORD buy there braces from someguy that doesn't want the hassle of selling them. So ORD and autofab buy and sell them.

From here: http://coloradok5.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-180156.html

Miniwally would know, because IIRC, he is Stephen's brother. You know, the guy that runs ORD?

And furthermore:

http://www.autofab.com/sbgk%20100.htm

Looks a lot like this:

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/steeringkit.htm

:flipoff2:

Well...now that you have your moment of gloat, and went to the trouble of proving that ORD does not MAKE, but rather SELLS the items in question....good job. Excellent man you are.

And I could care less.

The point I was making that I felt you might have missed in your previous post is that ORD sells the items in question, pardon my ignorance and stupidity for using the word "make".

That the man gets the right info to fix his truck is all I am concerned about.

The rootypoot details of why who does what and why I will leave to you, who obviously has more time to kill over minutae and frivolity.

thanks guys. And I assume the previous owner of my k5 had an issue because the frame has been re-welded in this spot. Any suggestions as to what to do about that? Do you guys think it will be fine with the brace kit? The vehicle will be wheeled very seldom just due to the fact that I don't have a whole lot of time to take it out.

go to the P&P and grab that section of frame from another truck trim it up to fit the effected area and weld it

You are right. I am a detail oriented guy. And I do have a lot of time on my hands. Got a pretty good memory as well. I won't make any excuses or apologies for that.

I'm glad that despite the fact that you could care less, you took the time to stamp out such a witty and insightful response. I totally get the fact that trying to belittle me makes you feel better.

Yes, you are right. My hat is off to you.

You have bested me and I will go back to my corner.

Now, go fuck a blender....:flipoff2:

lol...its all good. People arguing BS over the internet....



Back to the OP, my frame end from the steering box up was completely cracked top to bottom, had been welded over and over again, and cracked back through.

I had to remove the steering box, grind all the welds off, drill the crack ends, weld the cracks, grind them flush, and then weld the plate on.

No problems since.

Same here my shortbed frame was cracked 3x's and welded back togeather, after i bought the kit from ord and stitched it on its been perfect ever since. My opinion its one good product along with the bolt on brace....

the PO of my truck welded a plate to the back of the frame where the box bolts up and like a dip shit also welded the box TO the frame once i got the box off it was full of cracks you could even see the the bolts pulled threw the frame. i welded everything up put the ORD stuff on. i can even feel the truck steer better now world of diff. IMO the ORD stuff is tit's but over priced aswell.

You guys must have more money to throw away than I do. On my wife's 89 K5 the frame almost ripped in two on a rock garden, so we drove it home, ground the crack smooth, and welded the frame back together. Then, we cut a flat section of 3/8 steel plate I had laying around into two patches...one for the bottom face of the frame and one for the outer face. Welded those over top of the cracked area, and drilled holes through for the steering box bolts. Who needs a kit when you can fix it yourself for free? AND believe me it's strong! No more problems since. :smokin: Edit: I think she posted some pics on Carolina k5, but I can't get to them since I'm at work...I'll try to post a link or the pics when I get home.

agreed, some people like to throw money at a problem instead of building it themselves, mainly because they either dont know how, or dont care to learn...

I also built my own. It might sound stupid but ground down the stamped section of the frame where the box mounts(because it had torn from hole to hole) and welded 1/4" plate on. Then I drilled out some 1" solid stock for the box mounts. Drilled holes in frame and welded them up.

The frame is NOT flat behind the steering box. The four bolt holes are raised outwards from the frame, so you can't simply weld a flat plate onto the frame. By the way, if the frame was flat the steering box wouldn't fit because the body of the box would hit before the mounting flanges were flush against the frame. Yes, the cheapest option is to cut a section of frame off an old truck, but obviously more time consuming especially if you don't have a bare frame or at least partially disassembled truck laying around. There are tons of places that sell the weld on kits and likely only one or two places that actually make them. I bought a kit from National Tire & wheel a few years ago for cheaper than ORD (ORD is a very reputable shop with good parts, but for stuff they don't actually fabricate the prices are higher). I'm thinking it was around $50 for the weld on kit and well worth my time.

Also keep in mind there are two items discussed here.
1. weld on repair kits
2. bolt on steering box brace.

The brace bolts on the two rearmost steering box bolts and runs to the front crossmember. There is also another tab that ties in the upper forward bolt to the front crossmember. It's not rocket science to build one, but I know on my truck it would of required quite a bit of fab work to replicate it, not including the amount of other items that would of needed removed to make room to do it.

The frame is NOT flat behind the steering box. The four bolt holes are raised outwards from the frame, so you can't simply weld a flat plate onto the frame. By the way, if the frame was flat the steering box wouldn't fit because the body of the box would hit before the mounting flanges were flush against the frame. Yes, the cheapest option is to cut a section of frame off an old truck, but obviously more time consuming especially if you don't have a bare frame or at least partially disassembled truck laying around. There are tons of places that sell the weld on kits and likely only one or two places that actually make them. I bought a kit from National Tire & wheel a few years ago for cheaper than ORD (ORD is a very reputable shop with good parts, but for stuff they don't actually fabricate the prices are higher). I'm thinking it was around $50 for the weld on kit and well worth my time.

Also keep in mind there are two items discussed here.
1. weld on repair kits
2. bolt on steering box brace.

The brace bolts on the two rearmost steering box bolts and runs to the front crossmember. There is also another tab that ties in the upper forward bolt to the front crossmember. It's not rocket science to build one, but I know on my truck it would of required quite a bit of fab work to replicate it, not including the amount of other items that would of needed removed to make room to do it.

If you were refering to my post I took that raised section of frame out because it was broken(I tore the box off the frame while on the trail), And that is were the 1" solid stock drilled out comes into play.:D

I have the AutoFab steering box brace that goes to the crossmember and I never got a cracked frame. I only have soft stock length springs and 37 inch tires though. I will have to see when I step up to 42s and 54 inch front springs to see how well it will hold up

honestly its easier and way cheaper to make shit.(assuming you dont count the initial cost of tooling) i spent less than $30 on 1/4" plate and 3/4" dom tubing. its up to you. if you cant make crap buy crap thats made. however if you can or know people that can make stuff you have no excuse not to.

If you were refering to my post I took that raised section of frame out because it was broken(I tore the box off the frame while on the trail), And that is were the 1" solid stock drilled out comes into play.:D

No, I wasn't replying to your quote but of a previous one...we must of been typing at the same time because I didn't see your post until afterwards. I understand what you are talking about with the 1" stock to accomodate for this.

Does anyone sell a brace kit or anything for strength for the steering box area of the frame rail for a K5 blazer (1976). Or does anyone have any suggestions for bracing or pictures? I'm wondering because I had the hood off of my K5 yesterday and was turning the wheels when I looked at the frame where the steering box bolts to and I could see the frame rail flexing! I had an 86 chevy several years ago with 35s and always had an issue with the steering box trying to work lose as well. Like I said I was just wondering if anyone made a kit or anyone had suggestions on what to do?

agreed, some people like to throw money at a problem instead of building it themselves, mainly because they either dont know how, or dont care to learn...

You heard the man. Pictures. What do you have?:laughing:

You heard the man. Pictures. What do you have?:laughing:

Sirch. its out there.

I just boxed both sides of my frame and then added a 1/4 cross member in place of the stock one. I also did what grumpy did and ran some tubing through the frame to the box and welded those to the frame.

I just boxed both sides of my frame and then added a 1/4 cross member in place of the stock one. I also did what grumpy did and ran some tubing through the frame to the box and welded those to the frame.

thanks for the pics! Helps a bit

heres how I did it from post 36 on-
http://4x4mecca.com/forum/build-ups/4586-1ton-cab-chassis-build-4.html

Sirch. its out there.


Search? Doubt it. I have that aortion saved:eek::laughing:

that abortion has served me well. sure, its not pretty. You and one other seem to be the only people out there that are critical of it, even with my explanation. If you cant find anything to bitch about besides someone learning to weld in the wind, perhaps youre just too perfect. Maybe you are the one fabricator out there that can do no wrong.

I dont care. besides, youre still a newbie tard, to me. you dont pay my bills, you dont hold much sway in my life. Go on, be critical. This is pirate, after all. at least i had the balls to show parts of my abortion off.

Oh, and not that it matters, but i am building another one, from scratch. wanna ride?