Just A REMINDER

[Smokeless2007.5]

This is a picture of where a steering splined shaft has broken.
This is to keep Dodge Ram 2500 /3500 aware to inspect this at each oil change. This is Not to scare you. But in reality this is an issue that can get you hurt. My sister n law lost her life.

 

[MichaelOverfield]

This is why the after market sells the steering brace that eliminates side load torque on that exact location. It's a modification that is highly advised to any one with one of these trucks.

 

[MichaelOverfield]

This is the one I used, there are others who make this as well:

https://www.hellbentsteel.com/shop/..._lwm-WSyWXUqjAzpSaLji0W0_f_zDLgkaAsENEALw_wcB

 

[MichaelOverfield]

Inspection is ok, but frankly that kind of brittle fracture is unlikely to provide much warning before failure. When it goes it will be sudden.

 

[Smokeless2007.5]

I am aware of this, but you would be surprised about how many people are not aware. I just hope that it might help someone, that's all.

 

[Smokeless2007.5]

Good point! I know most people are putting their money into performance and looks. I think it's okay to keep newbies aware of this.
These trucks last so long that there are always newbies.

 

[jgillott]

I am aware of this, but you would be surprised about how many people are not aware. I just hope that it might help someone, that's all.

Please give the entire story. I'm not a new at these things by any means, but I'm not aware of this issue off of the top of my head. Please elaborate. Is this the same steering parts that Dodge recalled over the years?

 

[MichaelOverfield]

There have been recalls and redesign. My 09 has had 2 recalls, but not specifically this steering box to pitman arm shaft. The issue in this is the bending stress imparted on this shaft in addition to the shear (twisting) stress. Due to the distance from the frame mount bolts of the steering box to the connection to the steering linkage. The brace I linked eliminates that stress and stiffens the steering as well. I don't know that there have been a large number of shaft breaks, but there's been many tie rod end failures (that was one recall) and there was failure involving the track bar.. both of mine were replaced under recalls.

 

[Wiredawg]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I had one of those Hell Bent Steel braces on my 2003 2500 until I replaced the worn out factory steering box with a beefier and larger steering box. The brace no longer matches, but I might have my master welder brother in law modify it to fit. I never thought about a total failure situation like sheering the shaft, I only thought about increased wear on shaft bearings. Not sure if they make one for my 4500, but will check. Again, sorry for your loss. Ron

 

[sag2]

That looks like the pitman shaft. The brace that is sold would not have anything to do with the forces acting on the shaft. I'm sure there is more to this story that might better explain the broken shaft.

 

[NIsaacs]

This is a picture of where a steering splined shaft has broken.
This is to keep Dodge Ram 2500 /3500 aware to inspect this at each oil change. This is Not to scare you. But in reality this is an issue that can get you hurt. My sister n law lost her life. View attachment 101236

Please don't take this as being insensitive to your loss. However, we need more info. What year and model is the truck? Any mods, such as lift kits or larger tires/aftermarket wheels? Any history of death wobble (sorry)? Are you saying the shaft broke and that is what caused the wreck? Or did it break because of the wreck? What did the investigation reveal? I see the picture was taken about 2.5 years ago.

Nick

 

[MichaelOverfield]

That looks like the pitman shaft. The brace that is sold would not have anything to do with the forces acting on the shaft. I'm sure there is more to this story that might better explain the broken shaft.

The brace would eliminate bending stress on that shaft, leaving only shear stress from torque. It therefore does affect forces acting on that shaft, in fact the brace includes a bearing that is in direct contact with this shaft.. maybe we are not seeing the same thing in the picture.

 

[cerberusiam]

Considering the tire in the background of the picture says BFG I would consider THAT a large tell, may not be the actual scenario is referencing but that isn't clear. Then again, some will absolutely not accept BFG tires as the source of problems.

AFAIK, no recall on pitman shaft and it is very rare it breaks, a wreck or sever DW would be the common source for that type of breakage. Unless one caught it when deflection was causing a visual cue it would be hard to see that before a complete break.

 

[AEdelheit]

I have seen about 5 break but every time there was a massive impact on the tire that broke many other parts aswell, never seen one just break going down the road. Pitman arms and tie rod ends are another story but not sector shafts.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[GrantP]

That looks like the pitman shaft. The brace that is sold would not have anything to do with the forces acting on the shaft. I'm sure there is more to this story that might better explain the broken shaft.

It doesn't appear that a brace was used on this truck, but I've wondered whether the brace doesn't put more stress on that shaft when used off road. The brace ties the front frame rails together and when things get twisty off road something has to give. I could see the benefit of a brace mounted to the drivers side frame rail only (as is the steering box) but sandwiching the pitman shaft in the middle of frame flex sounds like a bad plan.

Cerb- We can always count on you to blame BFG's, they've never been a problem for me but I'll admit I did recently switch to Nitto's. I can see how a bad case of DW could put a ton of stress on the steering shaft. Unfortunately the crash was fatal and we may never know what actually happened.

 

[AEdelheit]

It doesn't appear that a brace was used on this truck, but I've wondered whether the brace doesn't put more stress on that shaft when used off road. The brace ties the front frame rails together and when things get twisty off road something has to give. I could see the benefit of a brace mounted to the drivers side frame rail only (as is the steering box) but sandwiching the pitman shaft in the middle of frame flex sounds like a bad plan.

Cerb- We can always count on you to blame BFG's, they've never been a problem for me but I'll admit I did recently switch to Nitto's. I can see how a bad case of DW could put a ton of stress on the steering shaft. Unfortunately the crash was fatal and we may never know what actually happened.

I have ran steering box braces for about 10 years with a lot of hard off road miles and have never had an issue or leak around the sector shaft which would be likely if the shaft was being side loaded. Between the engine cross member and bumper the frame rails are tied together pretty well up there and I dont see the brace causing more harm then good IMO.

 

[MichaelOverfield]

I have ran steering box braces for about 10 years with a lot of hard off road miles and have never had an issue or leak around the sector shaft which would be likely if the shaft was being side loaded. Between the engine cross member and bumper the frame rails are tied together pretty well up there and I dont see the brace causing more harm then good IMO.

Completely agree. If you are running the kind of frame flexing that could ever be an issue you are WAY past too much stress on many other things first. The frame is already tied, the brace is just one more place, and it wouldn't really be very helpful no just one frame rail, I've seen videos of the steering box flex where the frame rail was twisting under the stess. The brace transfers that stess to both sides and eliminates that slop in the steering linkage.

 

[cerberusiam]

I have ran steering box braces for about 10 years with a lot of hard off road miles and have never had an issue or leak around the sector shaft which would be likely if the shaft was being side loaded.

Yep, if there was excessive ongoing stress the bearing and seal in the OE box is the 2nd thing to go, the lash is first.

The new bigger box alleviates all that. The 3rd gen frames are much stiffer and better braced than 2nd gen stuff plus the leverage is different due to pitman arm length. If the fame twisted enough to snap the sector shaft like that there are OTHER serious issues. Rocks, holes, bridge abutments, etc., are hard on steering parts. BFG tires also because every single one of the stupid things I have bought or inherited have been JUNK!!!

That picture looks like the result of some massive collision not the source.

 

[GrantP]

I have ran steering box braces for about 10 years with a lot of hard off road miles and have never had an issue or leak around the sector shaft which would be likely if the shaft was being side loaded. Between the engine cross member and bumper the frame rails are tied together pretty well up there and I dont see the brace causing more harm then good IMO.

I ran one on my 2nd Gen for a long time too, never had a problem. I'm just throwing it out there. I've just never seen a discussion about frame flex and these "steering stabilizers", maybe it's a non-issue.

 

[Smokeless2007.5]

Thank you

This is the one I used, there are others who make this as well:

https://www.hellbentsteel.com/shop/..._lwm-WSyWXUqjAzpSaLji0W0_f_zDLgkaAsENEALw_wcB

Thank you for the link