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Steering box support?

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Nope, you will continue disagree in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I will continue not caring one way or another. Your issues seem to be with SSI and it is pretty clear what they think. Let's just have that again to make sure it is clear:

The DSS, also known as the "Darin's Steering Stabilizer" is designed to eliminate steering wander in the Dodge Ram pickups. It does this by adding an additional bearing to the bottom of the steering box sector shaft and by adding an additional cross member tying the frame rails together eliminating frame flex. In other words, takes the slop out of your steering.

Wow.....I clearly gave you an out to run with your own opinion and let me have mine, but you chose to circle back. Are you always this way?

So again, in midst of the debate, I don't believe frame flex was the number one reason, but you obviously do, as so quoted:
"The steering brace is to stop the twist in the frame where the steering box mounts that contributes to steering deflection"
"frame flex was the original problem the design addressed"
"the original DSS was built with one goal in mind. Ancillary benefits were realized by supporting that long leverage point without a doubt. However, it was still developed primarily as a response to the deflection that occurred with that design"

I instead believe that shaft deflection was the original intent of the steering box brace, with the added bonus of reducing any frame flex due to the additional cross member. Otherwise all the stabilizer would have consisted of was another cross member.....AND they would have called it a frame brace instead of a steering box support. But I guess using your line of logic DSS just added the addition shaft support bearing to his new frame brace simply because it was close to the frame brace and looked good.....? Why not right?

Again, we can agree to disagree but clearly you would rather not while continually trying to beat everyone into submission and follow your theory that the SBB built by DSS was solely conjured up as a frame brace, not shaft deflection. Even especially when the SSI website lists the reasons for the steering box support as deflection first and frame issue second.

That said, I do agree that frame flex is always going to be a variable when a steering box is mounted to only one side of a frame.....especially when larger heavier M/T tires over that of stock sizes are part of the equation. But frame flex cannot attribute to sector shaft deflection alone as there are no additional stresses placed on the steering box when the frame is flexing. Rather the tires themselves having the ability to move left and right freely, and the joint movement of the drag link to pitman arm removes all that stress. But the load pressure transmitted back from the tires to the pitman arm as the steering box tries to turn them left and right is where the deflection comes from.

Also, frame flex transmitting back to the steering box can ONLY happen when the steering box brace is used as the shaft is now forced to move along with the twisting action of the frame which is now connected to the brace. So if all you have is SSI's website marketing sentence then I'm not sure I'd be so bold as to call that "overwhelming evidence". But feel free to run with it.

I am still trying to figure out what you are disagreeing with ??

Hopefully that above answers where my disagreement lays. :)
 
But frame flex cannot attribute to sector shaft deflection alone as there are no additional stresses placed on the steering box when the frame is flexing. Rather the tires themselves having the ability to move left and right freely, and the joint movement of the drag link to pitman arm removes all that stress. But the load pressure transmitted back from the tires to the pitman arm as the steering box tries to turn them left and right is where the deflection comes from.

This statement in itself is a conflict, what you are suggesting is not physically possible without catastrophic component failure. In other words you will BREAK something; mounting ears on the box, sector shaft, pitman arm, etc.

You are not thinking the process thru with the design in mind. There is a long leverage point on the box with a relatively small mounting area on a rectangular frame rail with no support on the at said leverage point. The combination of the weight of the engine, the design of the steering system and the force applied by the pump all combine to create defection at the point of leverage BY flexing the frame. You are trying to explain the problem by looking at the symptoms not the cause so you miss the real reasons for the DSS design. The frame where the box mounts ROLLS as force is applied, the more force the more roll which increases deflection at the leverage point. This roll of the frame rail increase with age and conditions, it is called metal fatigue. When it fatigues enough and the conditions flex it enough it cracks or breaks the frame rail or mounts.

The DSS captures X amount of the force at the leverage point by adding the support bearing low on the sector shaft and transmits that to BOTH fame rails while tying them together and supplementing the strength of a boxed area. The deflection force is then absorbed by all sides of the box instead of a small mounting area of the box. If you have never SEEN the end results it is hard to visualize, but, that does NOT provide lack of proof. I have seen and fixed multiple occurrences on both 1st and 2nd gen trucks, not had to on several 3rd gens. It doe snot happen on all trucks, it is the result of their environment and usage. Your typical DD mall queen is not ever going to see the issues a working truck running goat trials in the wilderness will, does not mean they don't exist.

Knowing that read this again:


The DSS, also known as the "Darin's Steering Stabilizer" is designed to eliminate steering wander in the Dodge Ram pickups. It does this by adding an additional bearing to the bottom of the steering box sector shaft and by adding an additional cross member tying the frame rails together eliminating frame flex. In other words, takes the slop out of your steering

and it becomes obvious WHAT the intent of the design was\is. It says nothing about supporting the sector shaft to stop deflection, rather it identifies the key areas of attachment and the SOURCE of the symptoms that CAUSE the deflection. Of course there are ancillary benefits to supporting the long leverage point on the sector shaft. I pointed that out and you immediately seized on that as some sort of conflicting statement when all it does in reinforce what I said all along, it has benefits beyond what it was intended to address.

Given all that, DOR's offering does NOT address the root cause adequately, it is still a poor imitation of the real solution, a placebo mod IMO. So far all you have done is accused me of slander, generally disrespected what I was saying because you did not understand it, and generally been a jack wagon about something you evidently NEVER considered. You even went so far as the underhanded dig about engineers knowing more than some yokel trying to explain the obvious to you. FYI, the frame rail stiffening has been an ongoing product feature for +20 years if you bothered to follow the trends. Yes there were obvious things that came up thru the production years that the engineers flat out missed or under estimated, the changes to address HAD to come from the field where those of us using the trucks found them, darn sure did not come of the drawing boards in the engineering section cuz they don't change ANYTHING if they can help it. I gave YOU an out to open your mind and consider something OTHER than your demonstrated rather narrow view point considered and your response was "are you always like this". Back at you.


Will the above happen on every truck, no. Is it restricted to 2nd gens only, no. Even in the 3rd gen there are changes across the years for 03 up that can and will make a difference. As one person pointed out it helped on his 03, others have seen the same result as me. The DSS design is not going to hurt anything so dealers choice on whether it is right for the application
 
I'm guessing you think I'm a newbie. But instead I've been a member of numerous Dodge Cummins/diesel forums since 2002. Met lots of good people during that time, and plenty of stubborn folks along the way. In all that time I have seen so few threads about frame cracking that I'm not even sure it would even be considered an issue above more than just random happenstance or due to specific truck modifications obviously beyond stock. I've also been a mechanic since I was 16 and built my fair share, so I'm no stranger to the knowledge of vehicles. Not a mechanic any longer simply because I prefer working on my own vehicles anymore. Decided to re-attend college and acquire my mechanical engineering degree.....

By the way, where you tried to dispute my statement on steering geometry forces is just plain wrong..... Nonetheless, I already know you're going to tell me otherwise again so please dont bother as I dont really care anymore.

And sorry but you never offered me an out either. Rather when I gave you one you decided to take the opportunity to be a douche and say "Nope, you will continue disagree in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary". Thus why we're here having this peaceful dialogue which I'm sure others are tired of reading..... I apologize to all subscribed.

So because I've become bored of arguing with someone who's not only in denial but also wants to deny any other members who dont agree with him..... Have fun with your "frame brace" and I'll have fun with my "steering box support". I'm out.
 
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THAT does explain the attitude, you can always tell an engineer just not much. You still have not produced one salient point of proof your diametrically opposed to common knowledge opinions are worth anything, BUT, they must be because you ARE the engineer.

Try CompD, you would fit right in with that crowd. :)
 
Welp---my steering box brace has worked well for me----been on my 06 CTD 4X4 Laaramie QC w/junk yard flat bed for 10 years--no runs-leaks-errors-wobbles
 
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