Some of the CF regulars have welded the Steeroids brackets to strengthen them. Does anyone have pics or a lnk to pics?

 

I welded my own brackets to the frame. They are also 3/16" plate steel.

 

Anyone Else?

 

ttt

 

I just installed a steeroids setup for a friend, the brackets indeed are a bit flimsy. Didn't do any welding to them but they sure could use some more sideways support so that they don't flex under steering input. The way to do that is to add gussets that strengthen them in that direction.

 

TT, you gotta be kidding, you sure ithe the brackets, or the flimsey FRAME that's flexing, my brackets are a LOT lighter than the steeroids setup I saw, same as pix shown here over the years....and MY 3 bolt leg with diagonal brace is all 1/8 inch boxed in 1" angle iron forming a bent leg, and a ~3" long diagonal up to the outer forward steering arm bolt only 5/16 diameter.....been on there since '01 now, and so far when turning wheels either manually or power, on the rough driveway surface, nothing slick, I see the frame move, and feel NO movement from my brackets, I just put my fingers on the bolt joints and feel nothing....

at some point I want to put that cross support between the upper a arms, but have to move the p/steering reservoir first, it's a serp drive off a '88 vette with stock tank in near stock location,....ie..in the way...

another freaking greasey plumbing job....in a tight location, something I would rather AVOID....PIA....


GENE

 

It's the brackets, checked it right after installing, lying under the car checking for leaks. The kit went in pretty smooth, apart from the low pressure return hose being way too small ID. The brackets do visually move. I checked the welding on the brackets, the welds are nice and uniform. The steel however is kind of thin, I would have used thicker steel.

Your box sections and angle iron is a lot more rigid than the thin stamped steel.

 

Your box sections and angle iron is a lot more rigid than the thin stamped steel.[/QUOTE]


The steeroids I THINK I remember seeing was 1/4 inch steel plate with a triangle under the frame catching the both if not all 4 of the bolts going to the old steering ram, plus the 3 on the original box....

I know it was triangulated to the outer/lower part of the frame...

my silly little 1/8 inch thick with only the front two bolts from the original box, making a dog leg down and to the front, and then a 3/4 x 1/8 inch thick steel bar welded to it, and then into the frame with the above 5/16 inch bolt simply can't be as strong as the steeroids setup....

so you are saying the steel is thinner now than it was at 1/4 inch??

or is my memory fond, and they changed production to some thin stamping?? what you describe and what I remember seeing, and what I think the pix showed....are two differant animulebobbles....

GENE

 

It was no way near 1/4" even with the heavy layer of powdercoat the bracket look really flimsy, I didn't measure the thickness but my best guess would be 1/8, note that this kit was bought 3 years ago and just now installed so maybe they changed the brackets in the meantime

Look at this pic



The sections where it's doubled seem reasonable but the rest???

Eyeballing it from the pic the thickness looks like about 2/3 of what the frame is made of

 

i did not weld my steeroids set up....just installed it like it was designed and have been using it successfully ever since.


Twin Turbo, did you like the setup of the components and driving feel?

 

No testdrive yet, there are still some other issues to sort out. Installation was okay, not complicated. There was a manual supplied, didn't use it (too much reading LOL). The kit was missing all the nuts for the rack brackets and all the washers...if any were supposed to go on there.... but that wasn't a big problem (but little stuff like 2 cotter pins was included). The kit obviously uses a lot of parts directly from speedwaymotors like the sleeves, rod ends and the adjustable tie rod adapters. The return hose didn't fit but not a big problem. What bothered me the most was that the kit uses rigid crimped hoses that doesn't allow one to clock the hose end resulting in some wrestling with the hose to get the tube nut engaged. Also the tube nuts were kinda tight making it hard to get them started by hand, starting w/ a wrench on them in the confined space doesn't really help. Hoses with swivel ends would be nicer, especially on the hi pressure one.

Also the kit uses a lockwasher directly on the rod end pivot ball and no spacer between the rod end and center bracket. A longer set of 5/8UNF bolts a backing spacer between the rod end and bolt & plate would have been nice, misalignment spacers aren't expensive at all. The bolts are secured w/ locktite anyway so the lockwasher is useless, even more so because it locks on the pivot ball.

Overall the install went smooth, no header clearance probs w/ hooker super comps, no issues w/ aligning the input shaft although to get the steering wheel on straight I had to install the 3 pc. joint so that the lock screw does not thread against the flat spot on the column, it's at a slight angle. That's the problem w/ using a double D shaft, there's no way to clock it. Nicer would have been a normal section of shaft with either one side welded ot both sides splined so you can precisely clock it and have a perfectly centered steering wheel.

The one thing I would really chenge is the brackets, for a cruiser they will work nicely but ig you have done serious mods to stiffen frame and suspension and want to corner harder and have a more direct feeling and input..the brackets are too flimsy.

 

size .138in with powder coat. So about 1/8in. Not very thick! but works so far.

 

Since mine is a one of....prototype in other words, I built it of 1" angle iron 1/8 thick, making a box and a buddy welded it up....adding flange for rack, and so forth...with just ONE diagonal bar....

I fail to see any increase in strength in mine over steeroids, since mine must weigh much less....anyway, I know the frame flexes before the bracket I made up....

GENE

 

I doubt the frame is flexing. I used 1/4"plate with gussets. I had a friend turn the wheel stopped on asphalt and nothing flexed. it was solid.
this is with 255 R17 Kuhmo Ectsa's on asphalt, so there was a lot of resistance!

 

Any pics of welded or strengthened installations?

 

Well, about all I can say is when the bottom of my bracket moves side to side, I see the frame flex a proportionate amount also....never bothered to check that point on the stock setup, as anyway the stock assist cylinder was putting the stress on the bottom of the frame in a differant spot....so all comparo was invalid, IMO....

but yes I checked for bad welds also...nothing so far, I am well aware of this car being 35 years old now, and so keep inspecting every few months...no frame cracks yet....tmrw is another day however....

glad a have a well qualified welding buddy....

GENE

 

flynhi,
Is this what you are looking for?
These are not steeroids brackets, but my own creation


More pics and text here;
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/427v8/c3randp.html

 

That's what I mean, that looks a lot sturdier. The box section has 3 more sides than the steeroids bracket right there, the metal for the rest is thicker also.

 

I just installed a Steeroids rack on a '68 frame. I thought the brackets were sufficient, These cars are not going to do the work of a truck, but as you can see I have got the Vette finished to test it.
Here some pics.
Dan


http://www.vetteworksonline.com/stee...teeroids1w.jpg

http://www.vetteworksonline.com/stee...teeroids4w.jpg

http://www.vetteworksonline.com/stee...teeroids2w.jpg


http://www.vetteworksonline.com/stee...teeroids3w.jpg