Has anybody ever tried putting a brace in the engine compartment to tighten up the steering a bit? I have a 1999 Durango 4x4. I had put a brace on my grandfathers 66 mustang and that made a world of difference even though it had come stock with a brace, but the new one was better designed.

 

Edited - Didn't understand question.

 

that's not what he means. Braces go across the engine compartment to stiffen the chasis and increase handling on sports cars. I've never heard of them for Durangos or any trucks for that matter. These are trucks and aren't meant for handling, so I doubt you'd find any unless they were custom fabricated.

 

Thats what i thought. Well has anybody had custom ones made?

 

What exactly are your goals? Are you driving the Durango past it's handling limitations and simply want to improve them or are you just looking for something to mod?

The stock frame is quite stiff...much stiffer than comparing it to either an old or new Mustang frame. All that brace does is keep the frame stiff and in place and the stock frame should be just fine.

If you're trying to improve handling, you'll have to go in other directions...I believe, than a brace connecting the shock towers. Lower it, lighten it, lower profile tires, adjustable suspension, and fresh rubber or poly bushings all the way around.

However, as mentioned, these trucks weren't designed for aggressive handling. They're trucks.

 

I had found some old braces off a 60's chevy my grandfather had and kept and i was going to throw them on with a little bit of modification. Basically im just trying to find something to do and i just set them up and it looks cool. I know it probably wont do anything at all.

 

really it probably won't do much at all id anything since our trucks are body on frame and not unibody.

 

Yeah. Itll just be a cosmetic thing.

 

Bracing won't do anything. If you wanna do something why not something that will do more than "look cool" trust me the frame needs nothing. If your steering is loose get the gear box rebuilt

 

the gear box is fine. it needs all new bushings and steering linkages in the front though. But that will happen when i have the time and money.