Steering gearbox spacers location

[zciman]

Hi, I bought a 82 K20 a year ago and the bolts on the steering gearbox broke soon after. I bought new bolts and found the spacers on the frame and on the ground. It seems like the bolt should go through the spacer, and then through the frame and then into the gearbox. This is what I did a year ago and now the bolts broke again, and now someone is telling me the spacers go between the frame and the gearbox, but that way seems like it pushes the gearbox out of line.. Can someone confirm where the spacers go? Thanks!

 

[bucket]

You had it correct, they DO NOT go between the frame and box. The spacers simply give room for more bolt stretch, so they don't break.

What grade bolts did you use, what did you torque them to, and have you checked the frame for cracks?

 

[ucs75]

I was wondering about those spacers myself. Would I even need them with new Grade-8 bolts?

 

[bucket]

I was wondering about those spacers myself. Would I even need them with new Grade-8 bolts?

Yes. For even grade 8 bolts to do their job holding such an important piece to the frame, bolt length is critical. The shorter the bolt, the less room it has to stretch and the more likely it is to break.

 

[CalSgt]

You had it correct, they DO NOT go between the frame and box. The spacers simply give room for more bolt stretch, so they don't break.

What grade bolts did you use, what did you torque them to, and have you checked the frame for cracks?

^^^^ This

The ones on the cross member too

 

[ucs75]

I guess I'll need longer bolts then....
No cracks on my frame, but I welded the side brace on anyway.

Will start sanding and painting the spacers this weekend.


The irony is, that when I watch videos of replacing steering gearboxes, I never see the spacers on disassembly.
Weird.