Since you used to see them towed in frequently, what typically happened? When one side broke, did the other break at the same time due to the increased stress? Do you lose complete steering control when one/both break? My '75 had not been repaired, and when I took it in there were no signs of cracks. As a result, they said they would weld the plates on. They did one side, but said the other was bent slightly and it wouldn't fit. I looked at it, and it is bent/curled right where they weld the plate on...looks like somebody hit something. So, I have one "safe" side and one not, so I'm not sure just how dangerous it is to be driving it since there are no signs of cracking.