Steering Problems! Frame broke. (Help)

[tcolby29]

So I noticed the other day while hauling equipment to one of our many pastures that I had to turn the wheel more before the truck would actually turn. I stopped on the side of the road as I didn't to go into the other lane. I turn my wheel straight and noticed that there was still angle where my wheels were turned to the right. So I turn them until that were straight. I then noticed that the bar in the middle of my steering wheel was pointing at and angle to the floor of my truck when it should be horizontal to the cab. With further investigation of the problem and some time talking with my uncle who owned a similar truck we thought to look where the steering pump is located which it is mounted to the frame. Therefore we found the problem of the frame being broke but not snapped clean apart. My question the the people who view this thread. Has anyone else had the problem or is this just a random occurrence? Thanks, for reading!

 

[cerberusiam]

Nope, you are in a lot of company. Standard problem on these trucks is either breaking the frame or breaking the mount that bolts to the frame. Have to stiffen and plate the frame and\or box it to stop the problems.

 

[DVolk]

One you need to pull the box off and put the peices if any are left and weld them back in .
You will probally need to get a new steering box mount match these holes up all others weld up
Then off of direct connec tion web site get one of the frame stiffeners to help brace it on one truck im useing
a peice of plastic coverd cabel to do the same thing wraped around the box ran to the other side of the truck
if you can a peice of plate welded in side of the frame will help fix the frame as well

 

[Ncostello]

Is this an issues on both W and D series frames? My 1991.5 is showing no signs of cracking or anything in this area. Perhaps a removal of the box is necessary to inspect further. I'm also assuming this would be good to take care of regardless of the current frame condition?

 

[cerberusiam]

The D series mounts the box different so there is not as much pry on the box mount and frame. The 4x4 also frequently has larger tires and that increases the levrage applied to the frame and mount.

 

[Simplysmn]

Or on a w series truck and you have a 4 in or better lift you can go to crossover steering and you take away alot of the stress on the frame . Too this day I have Not had a truck with crossover break a frame and that encludes rolling my last crewcab.

 

[DVolk]

If they would have kept the mounts like they had on the 70's trucks they would have not broke , what happens is that plate keeps flexing of which pulls on the rivots then it softens the frames