Broken steering box shaft

[RPalermo]

We recently added a 06 CTD 2500 4wd to our three other trucks. Today the steering shaft broke off at the pitman arm. Luckily the truck was just leaving the driveway when it broke. It looks like it was cracked halfway for a while judging by the rust at the break. Has anyone else had this happen? Any recommendations on a replacement box? Also this truck has a 3" or 4" lift.

Thanks

Rick

 

[WoodChuck]

PSC has a nice upgrade to the later larger box.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Redhead! I just purchased one, haven't put it on yet. It has needle bearings instead of bushings and is supposed to really tighten up the slop caused by sector shaft wobble. I'll post a little more after I get it put on.

 

[seafish]

X2 on the RedHead... heard ONLY good things about them...

Essentially an old school company making good by doing things the right way not the cheap way !!

Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA - Red-Head Steering Gears Home

 

[WoodChuck]

Red Head was my first choice till I found out about the PSC Upgrade,

03-08 Dodge 2500/3500 Extreme Series Steering Kit : Dodge Truck Steering Components | Steering Gears | PSC Motorsports - performance power steering

Aparently this is what is going in the '10 and up trucks.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Red Head was my first choice till I found out about the PSC Upgrade,



03-08 Dodge 2500/3500 Extreme Series Steering Kit : Dodge Truck Steering Components | Steering Gears | PSC Motorsports - performance power steering



Aparently this is what is going in the '10 and up trucks.

Apparently you don't mind more than double the cost either? It doesn't do twice the work? I like the idea of a larger sector shaft but is it bushed or supported by a bearing?

 

[WoodChuck]

Apparently you don't mind more than double the cost either? It doesn't do twice the work? I like the idea of a larger sector shaft but is it bushed or supported by a bearing?

Don't forget we're talking about a new versus rebuilt box here. I also like the fact that it has a 26. 5% larger piston (for more power assist) which anyone with oversize tires like myself will definitely want. So I guess you could say it does do more work but not double.

My other option was a ram assist which costs a lot more and adds complications. I prefer simple if given a choice.

I just called Red Head (again) and asked what the difference was on the 3rd Gen box and what they do to it, he said the OEM box does have a caged needle bearing on the sector shaft (not a bushing) and the big difference in their box is that they hand select the perfect size BB to work in the recirculating ball portion of the box and that's how they eliminate play.

I have read on these forums that our boxes have a bushing on the sector shaft but RedHead told me on two separate occasions that we have a bearing so until someone opens one up I'll believe what they tell me at Red Head before hear say on the forums.

I don't want to start a steering box war but want to try and make sure that everyone can make a choice based on facts not hear say.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I'll take mine apart before I send it back to Redhead for core. Should be this week.

 

[brods]

Thanks for posting the upgrade info WoodChuck.

I spoke with Harvey from RedHead when shopping for a box a while back and can confirm that what WoodChuck says is correct. I specifically asked Harvey if their box should last longer than the original and he waffled and would not give an answer one way or another. Mind you I was not looking for a guarantee, just want to know that the extra money spent on his quality product would probably mean some extra longevity. I got the impression that while their box may be set up tighter/better than new, it has no improvements meant to increase its durability.

A brand new stock box can be bought for less than the RedHead. But..... if the stock box has not lasted as long as it should, then why simply replace it with another one (new or rebuilt)? Up until now there weren't any bolt in options for better strength and/or durability. Now there is. Not everyone will want or need the upgrade, but the fact that Dodge made the upgrade to the 09 and up trucks tells us something, doesn't it? Maybe this new box will have its own issues, time will tell.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I've changed boxes before but this one is proving difficult. None of my pullers previously used will pull the pitman arm off. My truck had the newer pitman arm installed as per a chrylser recall and there is less than 1/16th inch clearance between the pitman arm and the bottom of the gear box. I'm going to have to pull the box off with the pitman arm on it and seperate it on the bench, somehow? A pickle fork won't even fit in the gap... ... ..... This may take some thinking.

 

[KMyrick]

I agree with Andres. I cranked on my puller and nothing happened, so I tapped it lightly with a hammer and it came right off. I installed one of those Redhead boxes and have had no problems since doing so.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I might give that a try tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[EDankievitch]

I had to do some grinding on my puller to make it fit. even then I had to use the smoke wrench and some tapping but it POPed off. Trick with the smoke wrench is to use some flashing to protect the seals from the heat then cool the shaft after so the heat don't travel up it.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Ok, did some thinking and decided since the box was going in for core anyway, I pulled the adjusting nut off the top of the box and turned the adjuster as far as it would go... ..... BINGO!!! The sector shaft dropped more than enough to get my puller on WITHOUT grinding on it. Pulled the pitman arm and changed out the box. All I can say is there is huge improvement in my steering now. No more wander on rutted roads and almost zero slop in the wheel.



I did pull apart my old box and it does in fact have a needle bearing on the sector shaft already so Redhead's info on the web site is a little fuzzy regarding the boring of bushings and being replaced by needle bearings. With that said, I don't know what they do different, but my old box had sector shaft play and now the new box has none. This truck didn't drive this good new and now I feel as though I wont need a steering shaft support like I was originally thinking of going with. My wife even noticed how good the truck drives and she wouldn't notice a nuclear explosion under the hood if she was looking for it. :-laf

 

[brods]

Ok, did some thinking and decided since the box was going in for core anyway, I pulled the adjusting nut off the top of the box and turned the adjuster as far as it would go... ..... BINGO!!! The sector shaft dropped more than enough to get my puller on WITHOUT grinding on it.

Great idea. When upgrading to the 08 steering linkage I wound up cutting the old pitman arm off rather than grinding down the puller. There is even less room for the puller with the 08 pitman arm so your trick should work great if it ever has to come off.

...

I did pull apart my old box and it does in fact have a needle bearing on the sector shaft already so Redhead's info on the web site is a little fuzzy regarding the boring of bushings and being replaced by needle bearings.

Harvey said it was only certain steering boxes that have bushings which they upgrade to bearings. Their website is a bit misleading in that respect.

With that said, I don't know what they do different, but my old box had sector shaft play and now the new box has none. This truck didn't drive this good new and now I feel as though I wont need a steering shaft support like I was originally thinking of going with. My wife even noticed how good the truck drives and she wouldn't notice a nuclear explosion under the hood if she was looking for it. :-laf

Lol, when my wife mentioned how bad the steering was in my truck I knew it was time to do something! Thanks for the feedback. Everyone seems very happy with their RedHead boxes. Let us know how it holds up.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Got about 900 miles on it with some plowing and a couple of days at -40 with no leaks... ... ... It's already doing better than the stocker. I'll be really happy if it holds up. Harvey did say that he likes the sector shaft stabilizers so I may end up with one yet. I still can't believe the difference in my steering.

 

[MelvinPierce]

I have the new Borgenson steering box for the 03, o4 ready to go on this week. Also, a new Borgenson steering shaft. Will update after put on.

What do you guys think of them?

 

[WoodChuck]

I have the new Borgenson steering box for the 03, o4 ready to go on this week. Also, a new Borgenson steering shaft. Will update after put on.

What do you guys think of them?

I like it and will be getting one myself. I need the extra power assist and the fact that it's variable makes it even better.

I posted a link previously in this thread to PSC that has the same box (but I believe brand new) for $699.