Steering rack bushings cheap options and alternatives. Reviews pending!

[Tex]

I like simplicity as much as many...but for me, having a couple extra Oetikers on hand (especially considering other clamps on our vehicles use the same 10 dollar tool) is not a big hardship. It takes me less time to use the same tool to squeeze hard enough to break the old clamp as is does to unwind a screw clamp all the way to remove it from the vehicle...and way easier to tighten the Oetiker clamp one-handed from beneath than to keep a screw clamp from rotating with one hand while turning the screw with another...and no long tail leftover. Screw clamps are particularly problematic on anything that expands and contracts, not an issue with our rack bellows but definitely on hoses...but Oetikers are meant to hold tension. Lots of good qualities with Oetikers (including low cost and durability). I tried to resist but I have multiple vehicles that use Oetikers so I learned to embrace them...

You're absolutely right with thermally cycled parts, constant tension clamps are the way to go in that regard. The toughest worm drive clamps on the planet will still leak because the excess tension will deform the rubber and cause it to lose tension. Re-tightening will be a short reprieve, but eventually you run out of soft rubber on the hose or whatever to conform and make a seal, and now your hose needs replaced too. I'd love to find some spring type clamps for the boots because they're possibly my favorite type of clamp in general, but I've already looked and they don't make any thin enough.

A trick for worm drive clamps...use a socket instead of a screwdriver if you're having trouble reaching it or tightening it, especially if it's a stupid flathead. I use a little bosch impact driver meant for screws with a long 1/4" extension and a socket on the end. You really don't even have to hold the clamp in place either since you're not trying to push a screwdriver into it. Just enough torque to snug it up and not overdo it, takes less time than what it took to read this sentence.

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[broncorik]

You're absolutely right with thermally cycled parts, constant tension clamps are the way to go in that regard. The toughest worm drive clamps on the planet will still leak because the excess tension will deform the rubber and cause it to lose tension. Re-tightening will be a short reprieve, but eventually you run out of soft rubber on the hose or whatever to conform and make a seal, and now your hose needs replaced too. I'd love to find some spring type clamps for the boots because they're possibly my favorite type of clamp in general, but I've already looked and they don't make any thin enough.

A trick for worm drive clamps...use a socket instead of a screwdriver if you're having trouble reaching it or tightening it, especially if it's a stupid flathead. I use a little bosch impact driver meant for screws with a long 1/4" extension and a socket on the end. You really don't even have to hold the clamp in place either since you're not trying to push a screwdriver into it. Just enough torque to snug it up and not overdo it, takes less time than what it took to read this sentence.

That is a good trick. If speed is what we are after, I posit that while crawling under a hot Bronco after repairing something on the trail that it is still easier and faster to throw an Oetiker clamp on (one-handed if need be) and to also use the simple pincer tool to tighten it (also one-handed if need be). The worm dri. ve clamp has to be unwound all the way and then have the end of the clamp fed through the worm drive mechanism and then held in place to keep it from spinning while you line up a and then you need to hold it with one hand and tighten with the other hand to keep it from spinning as it gets snug (and it is easy to overtighten a worm drive clamp especially with a socket and to compromise the structural integrity of the flange of the bellow). In addition, the pincer tool is cheaper than the impact driver/extension/socket (and it is less likely to be lost in the depths of a tool bag). My hope is that I don't have to repeatedly pull the clamp from my bellows on and off again...because hopefully the current setup I'm running won't break anytime soon. If the need does arise to remove and reinstall a bellow clamp for anybody in the forum, hopes are that whatever tools you need will be in your tool bag and that you'll make it out of whatever situation in which you find yourself!

 

[Tex]

That is a good trick. If speed is what we are after, I posit that while crawling under a hot Bronco after repairing something on the trail that it is still easier and faster to throw an Oetiker clamp on (one-handed if need be) and to also use the simple pincer tool to tighten it (also one-handed if need be). The worm dri. ve clamp has to be unwound all the way and then have the end of the clamp fed through the worm drive mechanism and then held in place to keep it from spinning while you line up a and then you need to hold it with one hand and tighten with the other hand to keep it from spinning as it gets snug (and it is easy to overtighten a worm drive clamp especially with a socket and to compromise the structural integrity of the flange of the bellow). In addition, the pincer tool is cheaper than the impact driver/extension/socket (and it is less likely to be lost in the depths of a tool bag). My hope is that I don't have to repeatedly pull the clamp from my bellows on and off again...because hopefully the current setup I'm running won't break anytime soon. If the need does arise to remove and reinstall a bellow clamp for anybody in the forum, hopes are that whatever tools you need will be in your tool bag and that you'll make it out of whatever situation in which you find yourself!

If I find myself tinkering with the steering and taking the boot off repeatedly to check or replace stuff, I'll probably use a worm drive, but once I'm happy with what I have I'll likely just go with an oetiker. I don't see a worm drive being easy to take on and off after a year or two of hard offroad use.

 

[kodiakisland]

Thank you, very informative. He will be really surprised. In the next few weeks what will be hitting his market base. Made in the California USA. Can't wait to see his next video on YouTube just embarrassing, buy American, support veterans, made in China it was sht show. I was being polite, however you started with can I send you a "candygram". If this is the hill you want to support have at it. Regards E.

What’s hitting the market in few weeks? I was about to order the 3.0 steering rack. Should I hold off a few weeks?

 

[subg]

Not sure how I missed this thread. No wonder there's no popcorn left at Albertsons.

Just in case BB is monitoring this, not judging any pricing models. Like many others stated, I would have paid $100-$150.

 

[BAUS67]

What’s hitting the market in few weeks? I was about to order the 3.0 steering rack. Should I hold off a few weeks?

Might be talking about this??????

https://motorsports.74weld.com/bronco-stage-1/

Don't know when 74Weld came up with this but saw it posted in here the other day.

Quite a bit cheaper than BB but the same idea.

https://motorsports.74weld.com/product/stage-1-bronco-steering-cap-and-bushing-kit/


On another note if you look it states you can use his billet rack with all HOSS models.

 

[NORCALGXP]

Might be talking about this??????

https://motorsports.74weld.com/bronco-stage-1/

Don't know when 74Weld came up with this but saw it posted in here the other day.

Quite a bit cheaper than BB but the same idea.

https://motorsports.74weld.com/product/stage-1-bronco-steering-cap-and-bushing-kit/


On another note if you look it states you can use his billet rack with all HOSS models.

Yes correct. I sent a PM to him with info in response to the message.

 

[Weekends & Waypoints]

I’ve been running the RC bushing set for a couple months without any issues. It is also made in the USA.

 

[Snacktime]

@Weekends & Waypoints This is a forum, you have no street credit with those shiny skids. You do get a props for self installing.

 

[Weekends & Waypoints]

@Weekends & Waypoints This is a forum, you have no street credit with those shiny skids. You do get a props for self installing.

No street cred? Please check out my Instagram @weekends.waypoints and other YouTube videos. I wheel and travel with my Bronco weekly. I’ve also tested the bushing my sending by Bronco airborne. If I don’t use my Bronco I can’t imagine what someone that does would look like!

 

[swooshdave]

No street cred? Please check out my Instagram @weekends.waypoints and other YouTube videos. I wheel and travel with my Bronco weekly. I’ve also tested the bushing my sending by Bronco airborne. If I don’t use my Bronco I can’t imagine what someone that does would look like!

@Snacktime:

 

[Snacktime]

@Snacktime:

Am I suppose to know every youtuber, influencer? @Weekends & Waypoints I apologize I judged you by your sunglasses.

 

[swooshdave]

Am I suppose to know every youtuber, influencer?

No, but it would behoove you to do some research before calling someone out.

 

[vrtical]

No, but it would behoove you to do some research before calling someone out.

pitchforks first, this is the way.

 

[swooshdave]

pitchforks first, this is the way.

And for the slow ones in the crowd remember it's pointy side out!

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