DIY Steering Box Brace install

http://www.defianttruckproducts.com/...rt.php?prt=130

<evaluation thread here>

Installed Defiants steering box stabilizer today, the install was easy and done in about 30 minutes

Pics of the Brace as it came out of the box... packaged well, plenty of packing on the ends, all of the install hardware either partially mounted or sealed in plastic. Nice.



Put the truck on level ground.

Using a 1 1/4 open end wrench, remove the sector shaft nut from the steering box


Install the supplied shaft extention and tighten using the same 1 1/4 open end wrench.



Remove the Sway Bar mounting bolts and lower the swaybar. Support it with a jack stand.




Install the sector shaft bearing assembly and tighten the set screws onto the sector shaft extention. this is to hold the bearing in place for now.



Swing the swaybar partially back into place, get a 2nd set of hands to help lift the steering brace into place and bolt the swaybar back into place with the brace up against the frame. do not tighten at this time.

bolt the brace to the bearing assembly and leave the nuts & bolts loose.

Loosen the set screws on the bearing assembly

Now tighten the swaybar into place.


Next tighten the brace to bearing assembly

Tighten the set screws.


put the original bolts & sector shaft nut into a bag & tag it accordingly.


All done!


Take it for a spin and verify that you do not have any steering binding at all, if you do, loosen the bearing mounting bolts, set screws and retighten.

Defiant recommends all of this be done on flat ground and that all bolts be checked after a week of normal driving.

 

Nice....I see a new part in my future when I put my 35's on.

 

Yeah thats exactly why they make it... lifts, big tires etc. puts extra strain on the steering box. I like this design as it tucks in there nicely under the swaybar.

 

I had my sway bar off today to replace the bushings. The old one allowed about 1/8" of play. Not good.

Nice thread. Should be helpful to many people.

 

did you go with poly bushings or stock? I found energy ones for a chevy that worked perfect, for about $10 bux

 

Stock. I couldn't find any others in town and mine were really bad. They were causing a horrible clunking sound so I really wanted to get it fixed today.

 

I thought I saved the container so I could post the p/n but when I went out to look for it, it wasnt where I thought it was. They are a good upgrade over stock.

 

Nice DIY page steve....

 

Nice write up. I'd just like to throw in this. Torque that pitman arm nut on as tight as you can possibly get it. Mine backed out and was finger tight, which caused it to wander very badly. I thought the gearbox and gone out, but when I started removing the parts I found out it was on there finger tight. I have also heard from some other people that the same thing happened to them.

 

Yup, I torqued on it pretty good. the stock nut was not on there very tight either. I just got a followup email from Paul Fox at Defiant offering phone support if needed, I have to say they have awesome customer service there... within 30~45 minutes of placing my order I got a call to find out if I had drop blocks for the swaybar so they could include the correct swaybar bolts, was informed that the shipment would go out that afternoon. Saturday it arrived and sunday it went in.

Thanks to Paul & Defiant!