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Anybody ever strip out their steering box threads installing the ORD brace?

shima

shima

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Hi all,

Just a quick one (hopefully quick, at least :whistle:) for you today...

When installing the ORD steering box brace on my '89 K5, I stripped out my steering box threads. :doah:

I'm sure everyone is familiar with the brace: it contains two brackets that mount on either side of the front frame crossmember. I'm talking about the larger of the two brackets, the one that mounts on the back side of the crossmember... two bolts go through that bracket and into the steering box, and one of them was just spinning and spinning last night (the upper bolt out of the two).

I can see the bolt in question sticking out on the other side of the steering box. I ran to Home Depot and picked up a nut that would thread onto the other side, but there just isn't enough of the bolt sticking out for the nut to catch. Drove me nuts last night. My plan thus far is to go back to Home Depot and buy another bolt that is just a bit longer so that I can get the nut fastened onto the other side...

This ever happen to anybody else on here? What did you do?
 
I have stripped the threads on several boxes. I drill and tap to the next size up.
 
Hasn't happened to me, but I have heard of people thru bolting them with a nut on the back side. I would use a washer and an all metal pinch-lock nut. You can get those nuts at Home Depot as well. Grade 8 on the bolt and washer.
 
I did the bolt/nut thing on my box for good insurance. Many times box or frame related issues are from loose bolts. Anyway, 3 of the 4 bolts go all the way through, I put nuts on all of these. Find some "stover" / pinch lock / crimped nuts (everybody refers to the differently), these are shorter than nylocks and won't require a lock washer to stay tight.
 
I run nylock nuts, never trusted the small amount of bite on the box.
 
Make sure the casting is flat as possible where the nut and washer will ride.
File it, grind it, whatever. Make sure it's got a solid square seat for the nut.
 
obijuank5 said:
Make sure the casting is flat as possible where the nut and washer will ride.
File it, grind it, whatever. Make sure it's got a solid square seat for the nut.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this... if I remember right, it's seated at an angle right now. I don't own an angle grinder yet, so I'll likely end up filing it. Do you think that's something that I could file by hand? I don't think I own a file but will pick one up tonight.
 
If you dont own a file yet, do yourself a favor and buy a quality 4.5" angle grinder (Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita). Also some basic grinder disks, cutting wheels, and flap sanding discs. There are so many jobs that require these basic items. $60 to $100 and you will use it for the next 10 years of your life. Also it will make this job take 2 minutes vs 30 minutes.

Cant afford a good one right now? Go buy a Harbor Freight $20 one. Use it for a year, then upgrade later.
 
Got it finished up last night after two runs to Home Depot.

Unfortunately, the only stover / tension lock nuts that I could find were metric. They had basically one drawer and that was it. I talked to a couple employees and they couldn't find anything else in the store. Bummer. So, I ended up going with a grade 8 bolt (much longer than before) and lock washer. I put a bunch of lock-tite down and cranked that thing to 80 ft. lbs... hopefully it stays in place well.

Thanks for all the help, guys. I really appreciate it. Now on to this brake leak... :pimp1:
 
Well I guess the website wasn't lying after all when I could only find them in metric. Guess it's been awhile since I checked the store. Usually I get bolts and stuff at Ace.
 
@Justin V @mrk5 if you were in my shoes, would you say it is worth the trip to Ace to see if they have the right nuts and remove/replace?
 
If you used loctite and lock washers on your install, I'd just leave them. Just check them before any big wheeling trips.
 
LNielson said:
If you used loctite and lock washers on your install, I'd just leave them. Just check them before any big wheeling trips.
Click to expand...
I agree.

I used to be better about checking the steering box bolts before every big trip. Now I probably only catch it every couple of trips.
 
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