I couldn't find any signs of movement of the main crossmember on Dad's. Nor loose rivets - except for the odd one that someone called a Huck rivet. It was very loose and rattled, so I replaced it with a hardened bolt.

But, it is still possible that there is some movement that I missed. It wouldn't take much to allow the frame to flex, and any flex will be a problem given the shape of the sector box and the way it is bolted to the frame. The edges of the box are very sharp and hard, so all of the stress is concentrated in one spot.

 

Yea, I would never want to say that they CAN'T crack on an 80-6.

Most of what I've seen people talking about seems to include the newer design. What I wanted to point out was just how much the "updated" frame appears weakened in comparison to the earlier design. Removing that front cross-member and putting in the reliefs are almost as if asking for it to crack right at that lower hole under the steering gear.

 

[QUOTE=KawiRider78;10175151]Ok ford guys how mean of yall have had your inner brace where your steering box bolts up to crack. Well mine has and my dad and i decided to v it out and weld it and also make a bracket that holds the steering box still and distributes the stress some where else. We ended making a bracket that bolts to the engine cross member (yes that means we drilled holes in it ) and it clamps to the steering box. We also seen how much the front left horn flexes when you turn with out a bumper ,then we put the home made bracket we made on and there was little to no flex. I do have one phone pic which is below but i will take more today. Feel free to message me about the brace or post your thoughts on it .[/QUOTE


Was going to see if you are still making these and if so how can i get one.

 

Do you have a photo of the steering box installed?
Trying to visualize this and how it works..

 

hey my frame did the same thing, would you be able to fabricate me one? Or send me the dimensions? So I can have someone else make it. I don’t have the equipment to do it myself.

 

The guy hasn`t been active since 11/30/12




Charlie

 

At least we have his basic design from the pictures.

I'll have to probably have something like this fabbed up when I lift my truck to prevent it from cracking just in case.

 

Can someone make this for an '85 4WD ? i have the same problem and had it welded but i'm uneasy over the welding. i did locate a front cross-member and installed it. Do not know why it was missing in the first place. i'm trying to locate a sway bar bracket to help stabilize the front end and will add a steering stabilizer also.
If anyone has an answer let me know, i'd like to keep this truck it drives sweet and I'd just owned it a few weeks when i found the cracked frame.

 

Is this the bolt-on front crossmember that is being referred to in the comments above: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ossmember.html ?
I've seen numerous designs in the 80-96 trucks but all look like they would stiffen the front between the horns. I like the bracket idea but if the crossmember is good preventative maintenance that may be an easier option for people. From looking under a few trucks (esp 2wd?) it may require drilling 4 holes at the horns but at least they are easy to get to.