steering box bracket

[mitchk]

So ive needed to change my steering box for a little while now and wen I finally got around to doing it I noticed the bracket that mounts it to the frame is cracked. I went to my local dodge dealer and they said its discontinued. Does anyone know where to find one, I've been searching and no luck. I was planning on just welding it since the crack isn't to bad but I would rather just change it out if I can find another one. Thanks

[oldestof11]

Weld it. I did that to the one I cracked. 2nd one on the truck in 3 years.

[Burritoboi5]

If you opt to weld it make sure you do a good job. We just replaced one on my buddies truck that had been welded by the previous owner. It didn't hold and sheared completely off from the front bolt. We just replaced his with one from a parts truck. Or now may be a good time to swap to a 2wd setup with crossover?

[mitchk]

I was thinking a lot about doing a crossover set up but I don't have that kind of money at the moment so I did just weld it. I think it looks pretty good. Well see how long it holds up. Thanks

[hackster]

So,

Just getting ready to post up in this section about steering box bracket replacement....

Does anyone know where or if we can get new ones still? Some dodge dealership in ohio have any on the shelf or is there anyone out there that is hoarding them?

If you know where to find one let me know.

Thanks,

Sean

[Black93]

For some reason Dodge quit making new ones. My bracket and frame are cracked. I looked everywhere for a new one, with no luck. I finally picked a stock one up at my local pull-n-save for $2.50. I need to go back and see if I can find a brace.

[cougar]

There was never a factory "brace". At least none of my trucks have one. I do know someone made one as part of their cross over steering set up.

[RCCUMMINS89]

My original Ramcharger frame had a brace on it...............I never noticed until about a month ago. Haven't swapped it over to my current truck frame though yet.

[Black93]

A few Ramcharger's and even a few 80's to 93 2wd trucks came with them factory. I don't know why Dodge thought a 2wd sb needed a steering brace, but a heavy arse diesel truck didn't.

[Mark Nixon]

My original Ramcharger frame had a brace on it...............I never noticed until about a month ago. Haven't swapped it over to my current truck frame though yet.

Save yourself the hassle.
With the extra weight of the diesel, the spindly junk off the RC/1/2 tons won't last long.
I've seen numerous ones that were broken on the slotted end, usually on R/Cs with bigger than stock tires.
Even if you duplicated it in double the thickness all around, I still think it'd be a marginal piece on the diesel trucks.

Look at the way it's designed, along with how it attaches and you can see that it's really not helping a thing.

Mark.

[Philip]

For some reason Dodge quit making new ones. My bracket and frame are cracked. I looked everywhere for a new one, with no luck. I finally picked a stock one up at my local pull-n-save for $2.50. I need to go back and see if I can find a brace.

Dodge has been deleting parts for our trucks pretty fast for about the last year now. When the steering box plate was deleted. I know there were over 10K in the chicago warehouse.

[RCCUMMINS89]

Speaking of no longer getting stuff.................... The clutch pedal bushing (for the post and the hydraulics rod), no auto parts store carries it and Dodge said it is a deleted part..........had so make my own.

[Mark Nixon]

Dodge has been deleting parts for our trucks pretty fast for about the last year now. When the steering box plate was deleted. I know there were over 10K in the chicago warehouse.

So, you know of this stuff being available and you have all of these connections, why not get someone with a few $$$ involved and buy some of this stock up?
As I understand it, when Chrysler "deletes" inventory, it's sent straight to the scrapper and I understand the "cutting dead inventory" scenario.
Same deal on things like Getrag clutch forks, if the inventory is depleted and they don't get so many orders on a backorder list, it doesn't get another production run.

If it doesn't sell, or people don't request it, it goes away.

Mark.

[Philip]

Mark I wish I could afford to buy and store some parts. I don't know in advance when parts are going to be deleted. I sure wish I did. The steering box plate is one of the ones I would have bought quite a few. I have friends with 1st gen's. In the last few years I have boughten around a half a dozen plates for their trucks. I got lucky when the last person broke his plate. The friend thought about grabbing mine and just replacing it. I happened to be working so he just went to Dodge to order one. Then we fouind out the item was N/A. I had boughten one 30 days before.

Now I have noticed one thing on the recent N/A parts. Even if it shows N/A that might just mean in the computer. The parts still might be in the wearhouse. There seems to be some lag time before the parts are pitched. The clutch pedal bushing for example. I lost the one for my truck when I was installing the pedals. The computer showed N/A at chicago wearhouse. I told the dealer to order any way. The next day I had two bushings in my hand.