Sector shaft support style braces?

[A-man930]

As I was perusing this month's COTM I noticed Ironman4x4fab's XJ(MJ) Steering Box Brace With Sector Shaft Support.  

I'm currently dealing with the beginning stages of the typical loose/breaking-away steering box in my truck and have been considering how to address it.  

And there's much to consider indeed!  What are the thoughts out there on bracing the box in this fashion as opposed to simply beefing-up the left "frame rail" area?  

[MeanLemons]

Don't forget Boostwerks also made one too. In fact it was his idea and then everybody else started making it.

[A-man930]

Yea I saw that with some more reading.

[A-man930]

Ok so the Boostwerks "Ultimate XJ Steering Brace" does look like the original based on the time frame I see forum activity.  Keeping in mind I don't have either one of these in my hands, I'll go on record saying I think the Boostwerks piece looks to be a bit overbuilt.  Let me explain:

I've come to believe that I am indeed less of an engineer than the folks at AMC who designed the truck in the first place; if we're honest this probably applies to the majority of us...  Are there poorly executed or "weak" areas in the XJ/MJ literally and figuratively?? indeed there are, that's why we're having this discussion.  But adding what's essentially a super beefy, boxed Xmember across the front of the "frame" seems like a recipe for some other area of the unibody to suffer.  

By comparison, despite being .250 thick, the Ironman4x4 "flat plate with a lip formed into it" design probably accommodates more of the natural "twisting" movements of the chassis while still helping to hold the box in place; perhaps this is an overall better scenario for a truck that doesn't have any aftermarket frame plating, braces, roll cage, etc and probably never will.   Perhaps I'm wrong on this though, and I've been known to overthink things.  :hmm:   

 

Big picture: What I'm pondering here is if the approach of suring up and/or repairing the driver's side with a steel spacer between the box and the chassis, some sleeves in the rail for the 3 mounting bolts, and perhaps a bit of plating on the outboard (C-ROK??) in addition to a sector shaft brace is a more complete approach to this chronic XJ/MJ problem than some of the others out there.  

[A-man930]

Now this looks intriguing... wonder when he's going to be able to release it.

[shelbyluvv]

While they may be the first to build an XJ brace. The design has been around since the mid 90s. There is a VERY similar design used on the solid axle Dodge trucks. I currently have one on my 2008 Dodge and it does make a difference.