Steering box support/brace

[JOES89K5]

Hello Members I don’t have any cracks on frame behind steering box but was going to have a brace installed on my K5. The brace I was looking at needs to be welded prior to reinstall of box. I got an estimate to install but it sounds kinda steep. Has anyone installed One, is it complicated, what’s the going rate?? Thanks for any assistance

 

[HankScorpio]

Check out off road design. If you have no cracks the bolt in brace will be fine and is about $150. The weld in brace is to repair cracked frames. You can do both for extra heavy duty use. If you can weld its simple, if you can't then you are at the mercy of the welder.

 

[JOES89K5]

Ok that sounds good. The quote was $650 Labor install $70 for brace. Sounds little high.

 

[HankScorpio]

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/steeringkit.htm
This explains it all.

 

[K5wrench]

I've got this Offroaddesign steering brace on my 86.
Very simple install.
Just be sure you don't pinch the brakeline that runs along the frame.
Bent mine outta the way an inch.
It's the ticket.

 

[JOES89K5]

I have a plow on the truck but personal use only. Will the bolt in brace alone be ok.

 

[HankScorpio]

It should be fine. I have one on my K5 with 38" tires, works great. Don't have one on my V3500 with 37" tires, its fine but has a thicker frame. I also drove a K10 for over a decade with 36" tires and no brace and it was fine. A close to stock truck with a plow and a brace should work great.

 

[JOES89K5]

Ok great

 

[89 jimmy]

I have the ORD bolt on brace as well that I installed years ago. Works fine. If I remember correctly you will have to drill a hole to mount a large bolt in the cross member. It took a little fedanglin to get all the bolts to line up properly but definitely a DIY project. NO Way I would pay $650 labor if not needed. Just use the bolt on one.

 

[diesel4me]

So far the three GM 4x4's I've used to plow,had no steering box frame issues,and I believe it was due to the Fisher plow push frame being so thick and beefy,that it kept the frame rail from twisting and acted as a gusset...
I had a '71 K1500,a '77 K2500,and my current '82 K2500,all got well whipped plowing,but the frames never cracked at the steering box--the '77 did have several cross member rivets shear though,from being abused off road with 36" tires,that I replaced with grade 8 bolts..

The other trucks frame section at the steering box was still perfect,when I scrapped the '77 due to rust,I torched out the frame section where the box bolted on,in case I end up needing it to repair another frame someday..(probably never be able to do it myself now though!)...

 

[Deuling]

When you factor in time to remove a 30 year old box, clean the frame, weld the frame and brace on (which is probably a high liability thing from a mechanic etc) and then install everything back up, I can see why they would quote you $650. Labor isn't cheap, and neither is liability insurance.

 

[86454K30]

When you factor in time to remove a 30 year old box, clean the frame, weld the frame and brace on (which is probably a high liability thing from a mechanic etc) and then install everything back up, I can see why they would quote you $650. Labor isn't cheap, and neither is liability insurance.

Agreed, most labor rates are pushing $100.00 per hour.

 

[swettysblazer]

Hey Joe,

I am the one who gave you the quote on this. Like has been said above, our labor rate is 105 per hour, and we figure it to be about a 6 hour job to do the weld in portion of the brace. This would include patching the inside and the outside of the frame, as well as painting where we welded the new portion in and bolting everything back up. I didn't know you were a member of CK5- I can give you a 10% discount on the parts. If it does not take the whole 6 hours to do the job, we will also not charge you if we have any extra time. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach to me through here or through email. Thanks!

Brian