Steering Box Broke off Frame

[surfbeetle]

Has anyone had this happen? My 2016 Ram 2500 4wd had the bolts holding the steering box to the frame break yesterday leaving it with no steering. Fortunately, my wife was just pulling out of a parking spot at work and heard a pop and had no steering. She said that on her way to work the steering seemed a bit sloppy.

 

[petersonj]

Usually when a fastener breaks, it is because it has been loose for a very long time. Since there are at least three fasteners holding that steering gearbox to the frame, I would suspect that either the wrong hardness grade of fasteners were being used, or the fasteners were never torqued properly, or the wrong length of fasteners were being used.

You definitely need to find the cause and effect.

What is the history of the truck - especially the steering?

- John

 

[surfbeetle]

Truck is stock, 108,000 miles. Minimal off road 4wd use and when we do go, I'm slow. We have also used it to tow our boat or fifth wheel.

 

[petersonj]

the bolts holding the steering box to the frame break yesterday leaving it with no steering.

Can you give more detail regarding the damage. Photos of the steering gearbox before removal and photos of each mounting bolt after removal would be very helpful. Your answer as to what happened will come from closely evaluating the damage and the condition of each mounting bolt, the frame member, and the steering gearbox.

- John

 

[Jim W]

Make sure you take pictures of the fastener head. Most SAE bolts either inch/metric are marked as to what grade they are. Such as this:

• No marking – Grade 2
• Three radial lines – Grade 5
• Six radial lines – Grade 8

Or if Metric it might say 9.2 on the head or higher/lower.

 

[crazy jerry]

steering box fell off but couldnt be bother for a photo ?
i saw aliens but couldnt find my phone

guy on the other forum said his draglink broke. well of course it did because the jam nut was probly loose for the last 3yrs

 

[JackFate]

Has anyone had this happen? My 2016 Ram 2500 4wd had the bolts holding the steering box to the frame break yesterday leaving it with no steering. Fortunately, my wife was just pulling out of a parking spot at work and heard a pop and had no steering. She said that on her way to work the steering seemed a bit sloppy.

This happened on my E350 van a few years ago. Repair wasn’t an option as there were so many other things also in need of repair . What still bugs me is the engine/ drivetrain still worked great but was crushed : (

 

[surfbeetle]

It’s been raining a lot here lately and was muddy where the truck was parked. I didn’t care to get underneath it in the mud. Also, the drag link was welded at the nuts

 

[John Albanese]

Has anyone had this happen? My 2016 Ram 2500 4wd had the bolts holding the steering box to the frame break yesterday leaving it with no steering. Fortunately, my wife was just pulling out of a parking spot at work and heard a pop and had no steering. She said that on her way to work the steering seemed a bit sloppy.

 

[John Albanese]

This happen yesterday on my 17 ram 2500 4x4. Felt a snap backing in straight to park got out and looked on ground under truck to find the box dangling under the truck. Did you find out what cause this, and what have you done to fix?

 

[surfbeetle]

I paid a shop to repair it as I was unable to due to my schedule at the time. They replaced the four bolts. I plan to get rid of this truck soon as we bought a class A and no longer need to tow the fifth wheel. If I do need to move the fifth wheel, I still have my 1995 Ram.

 

[John Albanese]

I paid a shop to repair it as I was unable to due to my schedule at the time. They replaced the four bolts. I plan to get rid of this truck soon as we bought a class A and no longer need to tow the fifth wheel. If I do need to move the fifth wheel, I still have my 1995 Ram.

 

[JLandry]

They replaced the four bolts.

Interesting.

The parts diagram only shows 3 flange bolts… 2 different lengths.

No damage to the frame I presume?

John L.

 

[surfbeetle]

My mistake, I thought there was four, I didn't even bother to look. I am assuming the frame is good. Unlike my 95 Cummins (wehre I did everything), other than fuel filters, installing the fifth wheel hitch and replacing the turbo actuator myself, I have let others do the work.

 

[GSP7]

It’s been raining a lot here lately and was muddy where the truck was parked. I didn’t care to get underneath it in the mud. Also, the drag link was welded at the nuts

Huh ! Who ever owned the truck before you ***** *****

 

[surfbeetle]

Huh ! Who ever owned the truck before you ***** *****

Me, first owner. The dealership in La Mesa did an alignment, then we had the steering wheel start shifting counter clockwise. They fixed it. Then later there was a recall on the drag link performed by them which I later found out was to weld the draglink. My wife and I bought a gas class A motorhome so we don't need this Ram anymore to pull the fifth wheel so we will be kicking this one on down the road at some point soon.

 

[Regcabguy]

Me, first owner. The dealership in La Mesa did an alignment, then we had the steering wheel start shifting counter clockwise. They fixed it. Then later there was a recall on the drag link performed by them which I later found out was to weld the draglink. My wife and I bought a gas class A motorhome so we don't need this Ram anymore to pull the fifth wheel so we will be kicking this one on down the road at some point soon.

Enjoy your travels. Get Good Sam's or AAA Premier RV towing.

 

[Derril]

YEP. Broke off last night!

 

[Ozymandias]

You only had two bolts holding it on for quite some time. One was gone before.

 

[surfbeetle]

I'd be curious to know if others have experienced this issue. I traded in the RAM that I had this happen to started this post about. I only have the 1995 12 valve Ram now.