Dock Holiday

I am looking a for a nice back cap for the Bravo XZ Drive
with the bracket made to it for the hydraulic steering to mount up.

Currently I have Latham Steering and they make a polished cast stainless unit, but they are out of stock and the price is $403.00 each.

Any suggestions on who make a nice one?

mcollinstn

Check out the matching top cap and back cover for an ITS twin setup - it has bosses for tie bar, and can prolly be made to work for your steering system. Go to Bam's parts website. Seems that the cap AND rear were less than the price of the Latham back cover.

The top cap is much stouter than the stock cap and essentially functions like an aftermarket billet cap (except that it is cast).

Viper31

I think IMCO's setup is pretty much the same as Latham"s. Try calling them.

mcollinstn

Check these and look at the top cap and back cove for the ITS twin. It is the one with the boss for the tie bar...


http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...X%2FXR%2FXZ%29

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...X%2FXR%2FXZ%29

Dock Holiday

Thanks for the link, but this will not work because the ITS system has the internal steering system.

I still have to deal with the steering and the tie bar.

This is not the best picture, but latham developed this set up so the riggers would not have to drain the drive and pull the back cap off. It hooks to the back screws and has a plate that goes over the top of the drive.

This setup looks great and works great, but make it VERY difficult to add an after market billet top cap that is not the exact size of the stock cap in height.

I have found a very nice top cap with drive shower combination, but will have to remove the Latham mounting plates that are on there now.

Hope this picture will better show what I mean.

Dock Holiday

Not the best pictures, but I don't have my camera here at this time.

mcollinstn

No, you didn't look closely at the pix.

The ITS twin top cap and rear cover have a boss for a tie bar which can be used double duty for a cylinder mount also.

I know the ITS has internal steering.
And the single ITS has no special top cap or rear cover, but the ITS twin setup has the special cap and cover.

The link should show what I'm talking about, but it might not work cause the offset might not clear for the steering cylinder at full lock...

Dock Holiday

Thanks mcollinstn


I see now what you are talking about. Will check into it.

Dock Holiday

Update:

I found IMCO to be the best way to go.

They have a nice cast alumium power coated unit the has the ears just on the inside of each cap for a clean look on the twin setup. The price was $285.00 each.

The other thing that set them apart if that they are a five bolt setup instead of three. Their unit comes with templete and special drill bit to drill and tap two additional holes.

Ron at IMCO Neveda said it would not lift off the back if one steering ramp was out of adjustment from the other at max left and right turns.

He claims Mercury has praised this design.

Should have them in a few days!