Sector Shaft Brace - SteerSmarts bolts to frame or MetalCloak bolts to crossmember?

[chorky]

I've had the Synergy with the oilite bushing and now I have the steer smarts installed.

With the synergy, I noticed every now and then it would "pop" which I found out later on it needed re-greased. One thing I really hated about the synergy was the sector shaft bushing plate that bolts in was a real pain to get the bolts started. I had to bend and pry to just get the bolts started. I had concerns with this since the bushing plate was made from aluminum. I felt like it was putting alot of torque on the bolts just to get them to go in and this was due to the threads binding in the steel track bar ears that the bushing mounts to. Then that worried me that I was messing up the threads on the bolts which could have lead to the threads getting messed up in the bushing plate. I ended up taking it off and going with a steer smarts. I did some bending on the synergy and installed it fine on my wifes JL. Its been pretty silent and great since for her. But she barely drives 500 miles a month.

Now on to the steer smarts. I liked the fact that they used a sealed bearing. I didn't do my research much on it and just pulled the trigger. It bolted up fine for me but I did notice there was alot of clearance between the bearing plate and the ears on the track bar brace where it bolts to. It made install easy and the bolts started easily but again I had to torque down on the bolts to pull them in so there wasn't a gap. I have similar concerns about messing up the threads in the bearing plate. I had it installed for about 6 months maybe and I noticed a pop again when I turned the steering wheel. I took out the bearing plate and inspected the bearing only to find out it was shot already. In addition I had multiple issues of the bolts holding it in coming loose. Even with some of the new orange loctite. I skipped the blue and went to orange because it had the hold strength of red but removability of blue. Steer smarts customer service was amazing. They sent me a new one out and I reinstalled the new bearing. I've had the new bearing in for about 6-8 months now and its been pretty trouble free. One thing I did that I'm not sure i would recommend is i put some never seize on the pitman arm nut. I recently had another popping noise and uninstalled the bearing plate to inspect it as i though another bearing went bad. It was fine but the never seize looked like it was all hardened and gummed up. I wiped it clean and reinstalled and haven't had a pop yet. Its going on a month now. I don't know what bearing they are using but i'm wondering if its a cheap junk sealed bearing. it just doesn't look like something that would come from Timken or SKF or a quality bearing manufacturer. The bearing is just a ball style bearing which may be adequite, but i'm wondering if something like a spherical roller bearing would be better suited for the application. I also noticed that my "pop" was coming from the bolts coming loose and since the fit had a lot of slop, it allowed the plate to move back and forth that was the cause of the "popping" noise that i was hearing. Then i discovered the bearing was bad. The second bearing seems to be fine right now. I was also considering getting nordloc washers to put behind the bolts to try to keep them from backing out.

I did notice that Synergy now offers a roller bearing replacement for the oilite bushing. Not sure of the quality of that bushing and if its any better than the steer smarts.

They both have their positives and flaws. I was curious on the Metalcloak design. I about pulled the trigger on it but I ended up getting my steer smarts to work right again.

Just be aware that with the Synergy and Steer Smarts you may end up with some sort of popping noise or failed bearing at some point in time.

its interesting and certainly a concen That this has come up by more than just a few people. I am gonna give it a go with the bearing and if it starts making noises Ill just remove it and not install A new one. At least then the brace will be there to provide more support for the gearbox and track bar.
were you able to tighten the track bar bolt enough to get a good hold on the bjshing? First time i heard the steer smarts being too wide on the track bar part.

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[RodRecket]

I installed the brace only. Used the rancho brace and track bar. I figure some extra rigidity is a good thing but heard to many stories of people with binding, grinding, and install issues to make it sound worth while. Plus, I really haven't had any steering issues.

 

[Minty JL]

Tip: Finding a 42 mm in 1/2 drive can be a challenge.
1-11/16 is a great fit and much easier to locate.

Truth.

I got the 3/4 drive socket and grabbed a low profile 3/4 to 1/2 adapter.

I still have my Metalcloak brace in the garage and my ARB breathers and new airhorn

 

[tysongladiator]

Truth.

I got the 3/4 drive socket and grabbed a low profile 3/4 to 1/2 adapter.

I still have my Metalcloak brace in the garage and my ARB breathers and new airhorn

I had to tighten my pinion nut a few years ago and that's what I did. Got a 42mm nut and adapter from Amazon. I actually bought two of each just in case.

 

[kabookie10]

its interesting and certainly a concen That this has come up by more than just a few people. I am gonna give it a go with the bearing and if it starts making noises Ill just remove it and not install A new one. At least then the brace will be there to provide more support for the gearbox and track bar.
were you able to tighten the track bar bolt enough to get a good hold on the bjshing? First time i heard the steer smarts being too wide on the track bar part.

It wasn't the track bar portion, maybe I mispoke. The two ears that bolt the sector shaft bearing brace plate in had quite a bit of slop. The track bar was fine.

The slop allowed the sector shaft bearing brace plate to rotate when the bolts came loose. Then when I would turn I would hear it popping back and forth. I tightened them up and it went away. I considered nordloc washers to prevent the bolts from coming loose.

 

[cjoanzy]

I've had the Synergy with the oilite bushing and now I have the steer smarts installed.

With the synergy, I noticed every now and then it would "pop" which I found out later on it needed re-greased. One thing I really hated about the synergy was the sector shaft bushing plate that bolts in was a real pain to get the bolts started. I had to bend and pry to just get the bolts started. I had concerns with this since the bushing plate was made from aluminum. I felt like it was putting alot of torque on the bolts just to get them to go in and this was due to the threads binding in the steel track bar ears that the bushing mounts to. Then that worried me that I was messing up the threads on the bolts which could have lead to the threads getting messed up in the bushing plate. I ended up taking it off and going with a steer smarts. I did some bending on the synergy and installed it fine on my wifes JL. Its been pretty silent and great since for her. But she barely drives 500 miles a month.

Now on to the steer smarts. I liked the fact that they used a sealed bearing. I didn't do my research much on it and just pulled the trigger. It bolted up fine for me but I did notice there was alot of clearance between the bearing plate and the ears on the track bar brace where it bolts to. It made install easy and the bolts started easily but again I had to torque down on the bolts to pull them in so there wasn't a gap. I have similar concerns about messing up the threads in the bearing plate. I had it installed for about 6 months maybe and I noticed a pop again when I turned the steering wheel. I took out the bearing plate and inspected the bearing only to find out it was shot already. In addition I had multiple issues of the bolts holding it in coming loose. Even with some of the new orange loctite. I skipped the blue and went to orange because it had the hold strength of red but removability of blue. Steer smarts customer service was amazing. They sent me a new one out and I reinstalled the new bearing. I've had the new bearing in for about 6-8 months now and its been pretty trouble free. One thing I did that I'm not sure i would recommend is i put some never seize on the pitman arm nut. I recently had another popping noise and uninstalled the bearing plate to inspect it as i though another bearing went bad. It was fine but the never seize looked like it was all hardened and gummed up. I wiped it clean and reinstalled and haven't had a pop yet. Its going on a month now. I don't know what bearing they are using but i'm wondering if its a cheap junk sealed bearing. it just doesn't look like something that would come from Timken or SKF or a quality bearing manufacturer. The bearing is just a ball style bearing which may be adequite, but i'm wondering if something like a spherical roller bearing would be better suited for the application. I also noticed that my "pop" was coming from the bolts coming loose and since the fit had a lot of slop, it allowed the plate to move back and forth that was the cause of the "popping" noise that i was hearing. Then i discovered the bearing was bad. The second bearing seems to be fine right now. I was also considering getting nordloc washers to put behind the bolts to try to keep them from backing out.

I did notice that Synergy now offers a roller bearing replacement for the oilite bushing. Not sure of the quality of that bushing and if its any better than the steer smarts.

They both have their positives and flaws. I was curious on the Metalcloak design. I about pulled the trigger on it but I ended up getting my steer smarts to work right again.

Just be aware that with the Synergy and Steer Smarts you may end up with some sort of popping noise or failed bearing at some point in time.

Thanks, that's a lot of info to digest. Seems both styles have issues. I like the Steer Smarts thickness and bolting to the frame, but the bearing seems to be the weak link in the setup. MetalCloak seems to have a better bearing setup, but the bracket is smaller and not sure I like drilling my cross memeber to make it work.

 

[Minty JL]

I had to tighten my pinion nut a few years ago and that's what I did. Got a 42mm nut and adapter from Amazon. I actually bought two of each just in case.

Everytime when you think you have every tool you need, you find more LOL

 

[PineCreek]

I installed a SteerSmarts brace shortly after I got my JTRD. It's been almost a year now and no issues with it.

I have a Core 4x4 track bar on order. I like the Johnny Joints on both ends.

Did the Core 4x4 work with the steering brace?

 

[Rusty PW]

Did the Core 4x4 work with the steering brace?

The Core track bar works with the brace. But I had to enlarge the hole on the axle for clearance of the Johnny joint. I used a burr bit on a die grinder.

 

[PineCreek]

The Core track bar works with the brace. But I had to enlarge the hole on the axle for clearance of the Johnny joint. I used a burr bit on a die grinder.

Thank you, I had heard they don’t work together! I appreciate that’s just to clarify what brace did you use? Brand?

 

[Gizmo]

I also have a 22 and I noticed less steering correction with my Synergy brace. I removed the bearing a few times to do some mods and it made an improvement each time I reinstalled it

 

[Rusty PW]

Thank you, I had heard they don’t work together! I appreciate that’s just to clarify what brace did you use? Brand?

I used a Steersmart brace.

 

[XraytecH]

I have a earlier batch SteerSmarts and the bearing has developed a click. Purchased a replacement bearing but haven't bothered to replace it yet.

When MetalCloak came out I was tempted but having to drill into the cross member was a no go for me.

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