Steering box questions

[swettysblazer]

Howdy guys, I've got a question about the steering box. The bolts keep backing out of the box on the frame. I put lock tight on them and they still keep backing out. I put the ORD weld in frame brace on it a few years ago and it just started giving me a problem about two months ago. I have to tighten them up almost every week, and when they're not tightened up its pretty scary. The truck has 35's on it, could this be a cause? Also, would putting on dual steering stablilizers help or is it a waste of time?

 

[Fordum]

Well, if locktite won't hold it, you must be using the wrong color. Try the bearing and stud version.
Red, if I remember right.
Or put on some locking nuts over the other nuts.

 

[swettysblazer]

On these trucks the steering box itself is tapped for threads and theres really no room to get a nut on there unless I get longer bolts, which I might just do anyways.

But I don't want to just do this and have it be another issue that I don't know about, and my steering box is gonna fall off on the highway one day and I'm completely ****ed

 

[dremu]

Steering stabilizers are just horizontal bidirectional shock absorbers, made to reduce vibration up front. They won't magically improve the steering, and like regular shocks, more isn't better =))

I suppose it's a question of the bolts or the threads being worn. Seeing as the bolts are easier to replace than the box, I'd get new ones. Get them 1/2" - 1" longer than the existing ones. The crazy high-temp loctite is the red, IIRC; if that doesn't hold them in, you could double-nut them, and/or drill them for safety wire.

And then maybe figure out why the frame is shaking so much that the bolts are coming loose ... front tires out of balance, rotor out of round, driving over repeated speedbumps at 50MPH, something's gotta be causing that...

-- A

 

[dremu]

Oh oh oh oh. You *also* have the bolt-in brace, in addition to the weld0-in one, yes?

If not, that's the first thing to do.

-- A

 

[swettysblazer]

I do not have the bolt in brace. Just the weld in one. Why do you say that?

And there's really no vibration at all on the front end of the truck so this is why I'm so stumped. No death wobble, brakes are all good etc. Thanks for the steering stabilizer info, that's what I figured.

 

[dremu]

I do not have the bolt in brace. Just the weld in one. Why do you say that?

Well, as I understand it -- while I don't claim to be all-powerful, I know a few things -- the two are made to solve different problems.

The weld-in brace goes on the outside of the frame, protects if it was cracked ... but the bolt-in goes inside, essentially gussets the frame to the crossmember, so it prevents torsion between the two. I betcha it'd help in your case.

I've never had a frame cracked that required the weld-in, but I've done the bolt-in on every K truck I've had, never had troubles after that. YMMV.

-- A

 

[swettysblazer]

Well, as I understand it -- while I don't claim to be all-powerful, I know a few things -- the two are made to solve different problems.

The weld-in brace goes on the outside of the frame, protects if it was cracked ... but the bolt-in goes inside, essentially gussets the frame to the crossmember, so it prevents torsion between the two. I betcha it'd help in your case.

I've never had a frame cracked that required the weld-in, but I've done the bolt-in on every K truck I've had, never had troubles after that. YMMV.

-- A

Cool. I'll look into the bolt on brace. Thanks man

 

[Slapperbar]

The FSM calls for a torque of 120 ft/lbs iirc.

 

[swettysblazer]

The FSM calls for a torque of 120 ft/lbs iirc.

Awesome, good to know. I'll be sure to do that

 

[6.2Blazer]

If the bolts are being torqued properly and have loc-tite, but are still loosening, then something else is wrong. I would pull each bolt out and inspect the threads for damage or wear. After that I would torque them withe loc-tite and see what happens (probably wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and put new bolts in).

If it still loosens I would recommend pulling the box off and inspecting the frame. If the frame was cracked or the holes wallowed out (which wouldn't be unusual if the box was loose for any length of time) this could cause the issue. Also check the threads in the box itself.

 

[diesel4me]

I'd add that GM put steel spacers under the bolt heads for a reason--if your using shorter than stock bolts without the steel spacers,that may contribute to them loosening--and ya,I bet the holes are hogged out in the frame,that certainly wont help!...using grade 8 bolts I assume too?...

 

[swettysblazer]

I still have the spacers on there and the bolts are stock as far as I know. I'm going to put new grade 8 bolts that are a little longer and put a nut on the back side alng with red loctite. The box is only 3 years old as well.