Minor Crash Turns Major

[twolf913]

Three weeks ago I was following a car that signaled to turn left. They pulled into the left lane and then started to turn into a street on the left. Suddenly they changed their mind and turned back and tried to turn right, broadside right in my lane. The crash was at less than 40 mph and looked like minor damage to my Ram. After the State Patrol left I found I could not steer to the right. Took it back to the dealer and the steering gear is broke, the axle housing is bent and they want to replace all rods and joints. This makes me wonder how tough the parts were when new. Has anyone else had a steering gear problem?

 

[Ramafid]

I'm not sure about the steering box but I find it hard to believe the front axle is bent. A Dana 60 is extremely tough. A Dana 44 front axle is tough to bend ( have seen them bent) and it takes a real good hit to do that. I would get a second opinion on all of the damage if you can.

 

[swamp rat]

Wasn't a Dodge, but on my '74 Chebby BLazer I had the weld on the tube and carrier break when I slid into a curb with brakes locked on wet pavement. It literally twisted the tube 90 Degrees inside the carrier, which caused the right wheel to lay over on teh inside sidewall of the tire when I turned left, and it was nearly impossible to run right until I took it to whom I consider to be the best Front end alignment specialist in the better part of Tennessee,(Shameless & Blatant plug coming) Calvin Stigler & Son Alignment in Memphis near Summer and National. He zeroed out specs to near perfection and charged me $25. First time I hit the brakes hard again, the tube spun again. Returned to Stigler, he realigned everything NO CHARGE, and sent me to a welding shop, and had me return to him afterwards to make sure it was still deadon. It was, and never had another problem. My next trip to Mem, I have an appointment for him to align my 2500!



If by chance your axle tube has slipped, an easy way to get it back close enough to drive it is to put her into 4WLow, slip it into reverse, and hold the brake hard while someone watches the tube. back up until it comes back around as close as your partner can eyeball it to level, and then stay off the brakes AMAP till you get it aligned and welded.



Good luck in any case.