Chunk of steel in front of steering gear

[Anthi4078]

I was putting a set of tow hooks on my truck today, and had to pull the steering gear to get access for a couple bolts. In front of the gear up against the core support was a big hunk of steel held down with 1 bolt through the bottom. It wouldn’t fit back in with the new bolts so I just left it out. I can’t find any mention of it anywhere online so I was just curious what the point of it is?

[fiatslug87]

It’s the steering box spacer, put it back.

#30

[watchamakalit]

I've never seen that piece. is it a non power steering only piece?

[Gjeep]

Stopped in HO era.. that's a piece of Renix history.

 

[Anthi4078]

Ah so it does exist on paper! Mine does have power steering so I guess both types got it. 

[fiatslug87]

3 hours ago, Gjeep said:

Stopped in HO era.. that's a piece of Renix history.

 

Interesting, it still shows up in the 91-93 parts manual, #42.

[Gjeep]

A guaranteed nope. Neither my 91 or 92 MJ had it and I just replaced the 91’s steering box a couple months ago. 

[Gojira94]

Confirmed present on a 96 XJ in my local boneyard a little more than a year ago. Question came up when I showed it in my build thread. Disappears from the parts catalogs in 97.

[watchamakalit]

Hmmm.  I just changed my steering box and never encountered this spacer....

[Gjeep]

Interesting -- possibly it only left the MJ not the XJ? My '89 MJ did had it when box was removed. 

[dasbulliwagen]

I remember seeing it on mine, but I don't remember if I put it back in. 

[Htchevyii]

Funny, I just took that thing off when I welded in frame stiffeners inside and out.   Although  I've had the box out several times, I had never noticed it before, (it's a lot more obvious with the radiator out). It just has one small bolt holding it on, so I'm not sure what it could really be adding? I thought that it some sort of dampener like the ones that I've found in various places in 60's Chevys. Anyways, mine doesn't fit there anymore now. The T&M inner spacer/reinforcement looked like the best one to me.

https://www.t-mfab.com/store-3/?model_number=4761900

 

[Lewis E]

I swapped the steering box on my 91 last summer. I didn't notice it.

[watchamakalit]

I'll look at mine again today while I pull out the leaky cardone unit to replace it with a lares.....

[watchamakalit]

Look what I found.....

I tried to document location and orientation for future reference.