Anyone who used ORD's frame brace and repair kit chime in please...

[BIGCHEVYTRUCKDRIVER]

I am getting ready to install this along with crossover the frame is pretty badly damaged and I am wondering if this is gonna be the be all end all for me or if I need to do more.

I was figuring on cutting away the existing plate, drilling the end of all existing cracks and filling them in, place the ORD frame repiar kit on and weld in, put the ORD frame brace kit in, and install crossover.

Think it'll be strong enough?

My wheeling now includes snow and mud (easy enough) but in the future I would like to run the CON and dont wanna have any problems. Also may start doing some more rough trail driving and mediocre rockcrawling.

 

[ChrisPerry]

I just installed them both. The frame brace and the repair kit. I haven't had the chance to beat on it yet, but it seems beefy. Install wasn't hard, a little heat and a hammer and the repair kit formed into the frame. Just make sure to follow the welding instructions with the kit. They don't recommend it be welded all the way around. The rest was a straight forward bolt on (drill one hole bigger). I also put on hydro-assist, but that's because I'm running 44tsl's and a locker front and rear.

 

[nvrenuf]

...I was figuring on cutting away the existing plate, drilling the end of all existing cracks and filling them in, place the ORD frame repiar kit on and weld in...

Do you already have an ORD kit on your frame? Is this the existing plate you're planning on cutting out? Just to say it out loud, the ORD kit goes on top of the OE frame rail - not in place of it.

 

[rcamacho]

Ditto, the plate goes over the existing frame. If you've broken an existing plate than it's probably time for a new frame or some custom fabrication anyway.

Otherwise, it's a good kit. I'm running both the plate and brace kit.

 

[BIGCHEVYTRUCKDRIVER]

Yeah it was already plated but the guy didnt do any repair to the frame so it just worked the frame apart until it ripped the existing plate. So I am grinding off the plate repairing the frame then replacing. Also he didn't install the smaller plate. So it seems like he did a half assed job then sold the truck.

 

[nvrenuf]

Dang that sucks... Depending on how bad it is maybe consider graphing in a piece of another frame from on the back side.

 

[yellowK20]

Yeah pics would be a big help in this discussion.

I guess i should knock on wood that I've never had frame problems........

 

[pseudomike]

I had good luck with it but didn't have crossover at the time. Not sure if that is working for or against you. If it breaks again consider some custom fab or ram assist. I did mine before it broke. I am no-longer running the brace and no issues with the plate alone.

I will say this, all the trucks I have seen with broken frames had loose rivets in forward cross members. Might be a place to start an attack as well. I have only seen a few people note this. I don't think I would weld the members in but finding a way to brace them to the frame wouldn't be a bad idea. The ORD brace accomplishes pretty much the same concept.

 

[mAdhaTTeR]

I had good luck with it but didn't have crossover at the time. Not sure if that is working for or against you. If it breaks again consider some custom fab or ram assist. I did mine before it broke. I am no-longer running the brace and no issues with the plate alone.

I will say this, all the trucks I have seen with broken frames had loose rivets in forward cross members. Might be a place to start an attack as well. I have only seen a few people note this. I don't think I would weld the members in but finding a way to brace them to the frame wouldn't be a bad idea. The ORD brace accomplishes pretty much the same concept.

Agreed. Mine was a complete hack job of a repair. The top front hole area was completely gone. I am running both brace and plates but the rivets were loose on the members up front so they are now replaced with grade 8 bolts and lock nuts.