Patent ID: 7290778

Claim:
A replacement steering assembly for a rear steer vehicle wherein the rear steer vehicle includes frame rails and preexisting mounting holes in the frame rails for supporting an original steering system of the vehicle, the replacement steering assembly comprising: a) a replacement steering system; and b) a cradle for supporting the replacement steering system, the cradle including: 1) spaced apart first and second side plates and a center support extending between the first and second side plates; 2) the first side plate including a mounting portion having mounting holes to affix the first side plate to a left side vehicle frame rail; 3) the second side plate including a mounting portion having mounting holes to affix the second side plate to a right side vehicle frame rail; 4) the mounting holes of the first side plate being aligned with preexisting mounting holes in the left side vehicle frame rail and the mounting holes of the second side plate being aligned with preexisting mounting holes in the right side vehicle frame rail; 5) a pair of mounting feet extending from the center support toward a rear of the vehicle, the pair of mounting feet supporting the steering system such that the steering system is offset rearwardly of the center support; and 6) the cradle center support being offset vertically below the mounting portions of the side plates to provide for clearance of the replacement steering system with respect to an undercarriage of the vehicle and the cradle center support being offset vertically below all of the mounting holes of the mounting portions of the side plates.