[69Mach1351w]

The power sttering just broke on my car for the third time but this is the worst. The first 2 times it was the dropdown bracket for the power steering ram. That one was an aftermarket one that was supposed to keep the hose from burning on my headers. So then i put another of those on and it broke again./ Then i put the orriginal bracket on, and it has held up even until now. This time, the bracket didnt break, the damn bracket was ripped out of the frame, and so now the hole which the bracket bolted into is too big. So what to do now? If i weld it, and it breaks again then im screwed even more. Probably just use a biger bolt, but the bolt has to fit throught the bracket hole first. The rack and pinion is way to expensive for me right now, so looks like im welding? but if you guys have any better ideas please tell me

Thanks
Mark

[Acooljt]

I think a better question here, is WHY is it doing this. Obviously it shouldn't be breaking brackets and tearing part of your frame out. I think you're sniffin up the wrong tree.

[goelze]

You will have to obviously get it repaired by welding. One thing I was told that could be done is to have the frame reinforced and/or have the bracket welded to the frame for support, if you don't do it a local weld shop should help or someone else on the site might have some pics of what they did. I would also have to agree with Acooljt, look for other causes. If you used the original steering bracket with headers that might not have been long enough for that ram to clear the headers while turning. All of that alignment takes on a little different angle with the tires on the ground. Also, I was told to not dry steer the car or try and put a spacer or drop that aftermarket bracket down anymore or it will add undo stress to the frame. Good luck.

Chris

[Acooljt]

I would definitely weld 2 reinforcement on it. By all means it shouldn't be doing this, but if it is, it needs to be reinforced. I'm not sure how the bracket looks in conjunction to the frame so my thoughts may alter a little bit, but it should definitely be reinforced.

But once again I can not stress enough how much you need to check things out for alignment problems and what not, because this definitely shouldn't be happening.

[Quick66]

odds are the reason the drop bracket kept breaking is because when you lenghthen the distance from the point of attachment to the point of resistance(the cylinder to bracket joint) you inherently add more stress on the bracket and frame due to leverage. That is why the idea of welding the drop bracket to the frame is a good one. By doing that you effectively spread the load the cylinder over a larger area of the frame than just where the bolts are attaching it. The issue of the frame ripping out with the orig bracket is probably a matter of the frame being fatigued from the drop bracket problems. With all this being said, I would put on a new drop bracket, weld the perimeter of it's base to the frame all the way around, and then add a gusset from the furthest point of the drop bracket from the frame back to the frame . This will triangulate the bracket and greatly reduce the stress on the bracket dropleg, the frame rail, and also reduce the unwanted flexing and movement of the bracket assy. Any time you turn your wheels with the car not rolling the pressure of the cylinder pushing against the bracket is greatly multiplied due to the friction of the tires against the pavement.