KOR-7401 Steering Box Brace ZJ (All models)
Regular price $104.97
Unit price per
Hard-KOR Steering Box Brace for ’93>’98 6cyl & 8 cyl ZJs (powdercoated)
***Steering box braces have been discontinued until further notice. Current orders will be filled as soon as possible***
Loose steering can lead to Death Wobble! How long has it been since you've checked your three steering gear mounting bolts? Have you noticed any looseness in your steering? Do your bolts come loose often?
If so, it's probably because you've added quite a bit of force to the system by adding taller and wider tires. Let me impress upon you how important it is to KNOW that they're they tight! Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. You learn that in High School Physics! When you turn the steering wheel to the right, the pitman arm forces the tie-rod to the right, pushing the front of the wheel rightward so you can turn the Jeep. It also pushes the driver's side frame rail leftward at the same time which is where the steering box is mounted.
If you had 28" tire on there, the steering gear has no problem overcoming the friction of the tire's contact patch on the pavement because it's only like 16 square inches of area at correct inflation. By comparison, a 31" tire is nearly THREE TIMES that amount of contact patch area at the proper tire inflation. (when volume of tire increases, less pressure is needed *OR WANTED*, so the tire lays on the pavement more. Proper inflation for a 31" tire is probably around 24psi in the front and less on the rear on most ZJs. Use the chalk-method to insure that your tires are properly inflated and not over-inflated). Have you any idea what a 35" tire's contact patch looks like? It's probably three times a 31" tire!
Have you noticed how many bolts are holding the steering box to the frame? Exactly (3). And, they are all at the top, not down at the bottom where you need them in order to brace the forces of the larger contact patch, not to mention the forces when you're pushing up against a rock or tree when you go offroad. It's essentially a hydraulic-assisted lever with a bracket on only one end to brace it. How long until it fails? How tight are your bolts? Once they are loose, the box will work back and forth under the Jeep (you may not even notice it) until it either shears off one of the three bolts or rips off one of the ears on the box (or both, like what happened to me in Moab).
Now you see the importance of a steering brace for your steering box. Let me introduce our steering box brace for the ZJ, which bolts in on both sides of the front frame rail to the factory skid plate and sway bar mounting holes and clamps solidly to the steering box, keeping it from moving around on the lower end where there is no support from the factory. It increases your steering response (because you have FAR less "accidental" movement), and keep you from breaking tabs off of the steering gear like I did, and also, keep the factory gear bolts tight on the frame because it takes so much force off of them.
The Hard-KOR steering box brace comes powdercoated to resist the elements and includes all the hardware to bolt it right in. No cutting, welding, modifying necessary. This part number is for the 4.0L 6 Cylinder ZJ. You can re-use the worthless front factory skid, but will need to modify the rear tabs ever so slightly so that they don't come inboard as far. You will know what to do when you get it under there. Personally, there is nothing that the front skid really protects once you’re lifted.
NOTE: A sway bar bushing mounting kit WITH FLAT EARS is required since the factory holes in the frame are used. The OE-style sway bar brackets with bent ears will not work with our brace. We recommend the Greasable Energy Suspension version, which will also eliminate some body-roll versus the old OE-style rubber bushings.
Follow the link for how to check your anti-sway bar diameter, courtesy of suspension.com: Sway Bar Measuring Tape
ANOTHER NOTE:
A select few have had fitment issues with respect to width of their frame rails as well as aftermarket lower radiator hose fitment conflicts. If your Grand has been in a front end collision and you'd prefer *NOT* to modify the frame mounting holes by "ovaling" them out, please send the brace back for a full refund in accordance with our Return Policy. Also, our brace is designed with the factory Jeep/MOPAR lower radiator hose, and we've had a few fitment issues with customers who are using non-dealership replacement radiator hoses. It might be time to replace your thermostat and radiator hoses ANYWAY, so keep that in mind when you order and install our brace.