Plating the frame by the steering box?

[DieselBuzz]

Last weekend I went to my friend's body shop and he welded my frame around the front hole for the steering box. It was cracked from the dip in the top of the rail down to the hole and out the hole horizontly towards the front bumper about an inch. Once I got back he said that he spoke with someone who said we should have added a backing plate(s) to the frame.

Has anyone plated the frame and if so how?

Yes, the steering was bad. The rivets were working loose on the spring mounting bracket too, my friend welded the bracket to the frame also. Needless to say the steering was much improved.

My concern is that the stress that broke the frame in the first place will break repair welds. I am thinking that I should reinforce it somehow. Has anyone else reinforce the frame?

Thanks

Art

 

[Greenleaf]

Our snow plow truck here at the school suffered the same fate. The maintenance guy who drives it said the steering is a bit "loose" and asked if I could investigate. What I saw was the frame cracked around the back side of the gear box. I suggested having a body shop plate the frame as welding will only serve to be a band-aid. I don't have time to fool with it as there are 27 school busses I have to keep on the road by my lonesome



I'm not 100% on this but, isn't there stipulations as to welding vehicle frames? I know I lengthened OTR truck frames w/out difficulties but, I was under the assumption you can't weld on our car/truck frames. Just thinking out loud.



Scott

 

[AMikonis]

I had this happen on my old W250. It cracked so bad a small chunk fell out and the bolt pulled through the frame. Saved the the piece and had an experienced guy weld it up, and then we got a hold of a huge washer to that was at least 3/8ths thick, maybe more, and @ 3" across. Don't remember if he welded it in place, but it fit neatly in between the frame channel, and seemed to be a clean and strong repair. Truck's still on the road last I heard...



Andy

 

["Mad Max"]

Frame composition

I'm not 100% positive but aren't our frames made of a 'special' hi-carbon steel? If so there may be some voodoo involved when welding these frames. I'm in central California, and I'm planning to box the front half of my frame, so I'm going to do some research to find out as much as I can about welding on these suckers.

Good question - I wouldn't have thought of it if I hadn't read about this one.....

On the steering, the 4x4's have (I think) a separate big azz ole' honkin' plate that bolts to the frame that the steering box bolts to, and maybe that is the plate y'all are referring to?

I have a California truck so I have next to zero rust, but I would think that reinforcine the frame to account for steering shouldn't be necessary. I try never to turn the steering wheel unless the tires are at least slightly rolling. I think the stress of turning the steering wheel with the truck at a complete stop will put a ton on stress on that area. If it get's worse try to only steer while the truck has some amount of motion - I think that'll take a lot of the stress out of the hardware. My two cents...

- Sam

 

[formula]

FWIW, here's some pics of the 4x4 steering gear mounting plate. It doesn't appear to be there for added strength, rather to properly locate the steering gear relative to the 4x4 drag link and steering arm. Some of the pics also show the typical cracks that occur on this plate.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&userid=13886&albumid=776



Sean

 

[AMikonis]

On the steering, the 4x4's have (I think) a separate big azz ole' honkin' plate that bolts to the frame that the steering box bolts to, and maybe that is the plate y'all are referring to?

Mine broke the frame AND the plate. The plate (yes, it's 4x4 only) seems to create extra leverage and causes these problems. Heard of a few over the last few years. Haven't heard of any problems with 2wd trucks...

 

[Hutchew]

All those rivets holding the spring perches and crossmembers together have a tendency to loosen up, too. I popped all mine out and replaced them with bolts.

 

[Paychk]

Originally posted by Hutchew

All those rivets holding the spring perches and crossmembers together have a tendency to loosen up, too. I popped all mine out and replaced them with bolts.

If you do this the factory manual suggests reaming out the holes to the next larger bolt size and to use conical, not split ring, lock washers. Nothing less than grade 5 hardware.

 

[Hutchew]

I drilled out to 1/2" and used grade 8 bolts & locknuts.