Red head & ORD brace install

[Ron Sebastian]

Took me all day but swapped out my original steering box and hoses as well as installing the ORD steering box brace. Test drive in the morning!

 

[Camar068]

Mine is on a K10. Let me know if you've got a popping sound when u start up and crank the wheel the first time. Mine does that and I have the ORD brace as well as the small bracket on the other side of the crossmember. It's a thunk like someone tapped the bumper with a hammer.

Also how close is that brace to your brake proportioning valve? I swear I've got maybe 1-2mm clearance.

If I have to change this warrantied steering box again, I'll be sending RedHead a "new/rebuilt" box in exchange.

 

[hoagster]

Almost no room to get at the proportioning valve on mine!

 

[Ron Sebastian]

Yes that proportioning valve is buried now. In fact, had to disassemble that brace to get to the lower steering box mounting bolt. I pushed the brake line up and it now rests on top of the brace mount. It was pretty stiff right there. It gets easier every time you do it. Have not heard the popping sound, and I don't know if it's my imagination but I think I'm seeing some wetness from around the steering shaft output. It might just be shiny metal.

 

[Ron Sebastian]

Mine is on a K10. Let me know if you've got a popping sound when u start up and crank the wheel the first time. Mine does that and I have the ORD brace as well as the small bracket on the other side of the crossmember. It's a thunk like someone tapped the bumper with a hammer.

Also how close is that brace to your brake proportioning valve? I swear I've got maybe 1-2mm clearance.

If I have to change this warrantied steering box again, I'll be sending RedHead a "new/rebuilt" box in exchange.

You sure you bled the system of all air? I heard the bubbling while I was bleeding it.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Mine is on a K10. Let me know if you've got a popping sound when u start up and crank the wheel the first time. Mine does that and I have the ORD brace as well as the small bracket on the other side of the crossmember. It's a thunk like someone tapped the bumper with a hammer.

Also how close is that brace to your brake proportioning valve? I swear I've got maybe 1-2mm clearance.

If I have to change this warrantied steering box again, I'll be sending RedHead a "new/rebuilt" box in exchange.

Bolts and rivets that move that shouldn't, usually develop a powdery rust ring around them, check for that. Check the engine crossmember bolts and check the front crossmember rivets.

No vehicles like dry turning really, especially straight axles. Sounds more like a drag link, I've had drag links make popping noises before.

 

[Ron Sebastian]

Mine is on a K10. Let me know if you've got a popping sound when u start up and crank the wheel the first time. Mine does that and I have the ORD brace as well as the small bracket on the other side of the crossmember. It's a thunk like someone tapped the bumper with a hammer.

Also how close is that brace to your brake proportioning valve? I swear I've got maybe 1-2mm clearance.

If I have to change this warrantied steering box again, I'll be sending RedHead a "new/rebuilt" box in exchange.

Did you put the original front brace back on after the ORD piece?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Did you put the original front brace back on after the ORD piece?

I did. Just hogged out the front bolt holes very slightly and put a bigger washer on. Thought it would be dumb to not put it back on, which I've seen.

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[Ron Sebastian]

I did. Just hogged out the front bolt holes very slightly and put a bigger washer on. Thought it would be dumb to not put it back on, which I've seen.

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[Ron Sebastian]

It's not dumb if it works.

 

[Ron Sebastian]

I have to say steering is tight. A job well done if I don't say so myself.

 

[Ron Sebastian]

Yes that proportioning valve is buried now. In fact, had to disassemble that brace to get to the lower steering box mounting bolt. I pushed the brake line up and it now rests on top of the brace mount. It was pretty stiff right there. It gets easier every time you do it. Have not heard the popping sound, and I don't know if it's my imagination but I think I'm seeing some wetness from around the steering shaft output. It might just be shiny metal.

Was not the brake line that I moved out of the way, it was the fuel vapor line going into the charcoal canister.