I just got back from my buddys shop and my other buddy that has a 06 Dodge megacab like mine lifted shered the arm of his steering box that attaches to the pitman arm off. Luckily he was only driving 5mph or it could have been ugly. I will take some pictures of the steering box and post them tomorrow as the shop was closing and I didnt have my camera. So everyone take a look at your steering box and have a safe weekend. Be safe.

good info...thanks for the heads up

brett

the steering shafts on our trucks are not the best. another weak link.

the steering shafts on our trucks are not the best. another weak link.

I agree but when it comes to my life or anyones else. Im not a fan. Thank god for my cylinder assist steering.

mega could you post some pics of your steering too? am curious of this cylinder assist steering you have. I haul my kids around all the time with my truck and the last thing I need is for something like that to happen.

mega could you post some pics of your steering too? am curious of this cylinder assist steering you have. I haul my kids around all the time with my truck and the last thing I need is for something like that to happen.

I have my cylinder assist but its getting installed Tuesday AM and as soon as its done pictures will be posted. The way my buddys steering shaft broke the only thing I could think of that would help this would be a steering assist. I agree you need to keep your family safe. My problem with this and I know my truck is lifted but Dodge wouldnt pay for any of it and if a steering box goes on national back order that must tell you something and I have read people with stock trucks having the same issues. I just wish dodge would say there is a problem with the steering box.

CBRAHS the company that did my steering assist is PSC motorsports. I cant wait tell its on.

I agree but when it comes to my life or anyones else. Im not a fan. Thank god for my cylinder assist steering.

What is the best system out there, and where do you get them?

Isn't that what the DSS or other brand, same idea products for? that is why I got mine, to save the shaft and prevent the leaky boxes that turn up with lifted dodges. It is a pretty cheap safeguard.

What is the best system out there, and where do you get them?

Its hard to say what is the best system but from what I hear with the steering assist it takes all the pressure off of the box.

is there a website that I could check out

FYI if you didn't know, Superlift had a recall for just that problem. If you call them, they'll send you a new pitman arm and will pay you $75 when you send the bad one back.

The splines on the recalled arm are know to strip. Something about the use of poor grade metals when it was made.

FYI if you didn't know, Superlift had a recall for just that problem. If you call them, they'll send you a new pitman arm and will pay you $75 when you send the bad one back.

The splines on the recalled arm are know to strip. Something about the use of poor grade metals when it was made.

Yes you are right superlift did have a recall for the pitman arm what Im talking about is the shaft off the steering box that the pitman arm attaches to. Not a superlift part my buddy doesnt even have a superlift on his truck.



07MEGA its www.pscmotorsports.com

The steering box seems to be at the "gray" area for reliability on a stock truck. Lifts and offset wheels push them into the "red" zone pretty quick.

The steering box seems to be at the "gray" area for reliability on a stock truck. Lifts and offset wheels push them into the "red" zone pretty quick.

I agree this is just a warning for people that have lifted trucks to look out for.

the PSC site only shows the 94-02 trucks. Darn this thing is going to get expensive [coffee][dummy]

i have the dss stabilizer bar on my truck- my steering shaft is just went south!

yea buddy those system's are not cheap at all!!!!!!! I guess you cant really put a price on your families life.

i have the dss stabilizer bar on my truck- my steering shaft is just went south!

That sucks! Where did the failure happen at the pitman? I thought that the extra support would make a difference.

That sucks! Where did the failure happen at the pitman? I thought that the extra support would make a difference.

I certainly he elaborates a little bit on the type of failure that occured.

....and the "steering shaft" runs from the steering column to the steering box, but I'm thinking that's not the part you are thinking of.

Isn't that what the DSS or other brand, same idea products for? that is why I got mine, to save the shaft and prevent the leaky boxes that turn up with lifted dodges. It is a pretty cheap safeguard.

Exactly.It is very common to snap the shaft off in the snow country when sliding into a bank.I will bet that truck in this thread was doing more than what the mfg would like to see when it let go.[laugh]

Bob

I'm not trying to highjack you with this, I just thought y'all would want to see it. I posted it as a thread a couple weeks ago.



3rd Gen. Aftermarket Steering Component Recall
Make : DODGE Model : RAM 3500 Year : 2004 Manufacturer : L.K.I. ENTERPRISES, INC.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07E009000 Mfr's Report Date : JAN 26, 2007

Component: SUSPENSION Potential Number Of Units Affected : 3350

Summary:http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/images/spacer.gif CERTAIN LKI ENTERPRISES, INC., BRAND NAME SUPERLIFT SUSPENSION, PITMAN ARMS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 2003-2007 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS. DUE TO INADEQUATE HEAT TREATMENT DURING PRODUCTION, THE AFFECTED PITMAN ARMS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE UPPER SPLINED ATTACHMENT ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING OUTPUT SHAFT. MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE PITMAN ARM AND THE OUTPUT SHAFT MAY DEFORM SPLINES, RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR AND FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE AFFECTED PITMAN ARM.

Consequence:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/images/spacer.gif PITMAN ARM WEAR OR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/images/spacer.gif LKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PITMAN ARM, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LKI AT 1-800-551-4955.

Notes:http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/images/spacer.gif LKI RECALL NO. 07-01PIT. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO REPLACEMENT LKI, SUPERLIFT SUSPENSION KITS,AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON DODGE RAM 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV (http://www.safercar.gov/).

I'm not trying to highjack you with this, I just thought y'all would want to see it. I posted it as a thread a couple weeks ago.



3rd Gen. Aftermarket Steering Component Recall
Make : DODGE Model : RAM 3500 Year : 2004 Manufacturer : L.K.I. ENTERPRISES, INC.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07E009000 Mfr's Report Date : JAN 26, 2007

Component: SUSPENSION Potential Number Of Units Affected : 3350

Summary:http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/images/spacer.gif CERTAIN LKI ENTERPRISES, INC., BRAND NAME SUPERLIFT SUSPENSION, PITMAN ARMS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 2003-2007 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS. DUE TO INADEQUATE HEAT TREATMENT DURING PRODUCTION, THE AFFECTED PITMAN ARMS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE UPPER SPLINED ATTACHMENT ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING OUTPUT SHAFT. MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE PITMAN ARM AND THE OUTPUT SHAFT MAY DEFORM SPLINES, RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR AND FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE AFFECTED PITMAN ARM.

Consequence:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/images/spacer.gif PITMAN ARM WEAR OR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/images/spacer.gif LKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PITMAN ARM, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LKI AT 1-800-551-4955.

Notes:http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/images/spacer.gif LKI RECALL NO. 07-01PIT. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO REPLACEMENT LKI, SUPERLIFT SUSPENSION KITS,AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON DODGE RAM 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV (http://www.safercar.gov/).

We are all aware of the pitman arm recall from SUPERLIFT. What Im talking about here is the steering box from dodge...........

Hmmm - I better get mine checked out - my dealership installed the lift before I bought my truck,,, and my steering box is starting to make some strange noises too... hope they cover it.

here are a few pics

A couple more

Ouch!

Should have bought one of these steering stabilizer braces from solid steel. It would have took the load off of the pitman shaft. Exspecially when using bigger rubber on stock componets.
http://klmperformance.com/solid-steel-steering-stabilizer.htm

You metioned that you are planning to purchase a ram assist unit? That's if I read your replys correctly? My opinion on them are they are great for large tires in off road sitiuations, but are a danger when going down the highway if you ever lost your hydraulics; since there is no back up to move the wheels.

Also, steering stabalizer or shocks will not prevent that type of damage. That damage is due to bigger tires which creates more resistant to turn. If the tires get pinched in a tight place and are force to turn. That force is then transfered through the steering system back to the gear box. The box was then the weak spot on the system.

Shawn

Oh yeah, did you missed the memo on how our trucks have had many steering box failures, defective powersteering resevoir caps, viberations in steering wheel due to powersteering hose, weak ball joints, and the famous non-serviceable front hubs? :)

Shawn

Was that truck used offroad, or any other type of severe use?

Was that truck used offroad, or any other type of severe use?

Its my buddys truck he has taken it to the sand dunes maybe 5 times other then that its a concrete cadiliac like mine.

Ouch!

Should have bought one of these steering stabilizer braces from solid steel. It would have took the load off of the pitman shaft. Exspecially when using bigger rubber on stock componets.
http://klmperformance.com/solid-steel-steering-stabilizer.htm

You metioned that you are planning to purchase a ram assist unit? That's if I read your replys correctly? My opinion on them are they are great for large tires in off road sitiuations, but are a danger when going down the highway if you ever lost your hydraulics; since there is no back up to move the wheels.

Also, steering stabalizer or shocks will not prevent that type of damage. That damage is due to bigger tires which creates more resistant to turn. If the tires get pinched in a tight place and are force to turn. That force is then transfered through the steering system back to the gear box. The box was then the weak spot on the system.

Shawn

Shawn Im actually doing a cylinder assist its a lil different then hydraulic assist. I pick it up tomorrow and I will post pics.

Did he break that around the shop, in town, or out in the dunes?

Did he break that around the shop, in town, or out in the dunes?

He was luckily driving down his gravel driveway only going 5mph

Looking at the pictures it appears that the shaft has been cracked for some time, before it finally broke. Good that it happened at low speed.

BTW, I had my box replaced at 100-200 miles, because it was leaking. Some factory worker inserted the pitman arm incorrectly, causing the leak. In addition the pitman arm was forced on the shaft so high, the dealer could not remove it in one piece. [duhhh]

Looking at the pictures it appears that the shaft has been cracked for some time, before it finally broke. Good that it happened at low speed.

BTW, I had my box replaced at 100-200 miles, because it was leaking. Some factory worker inserted the pitman arm incorrectly, causing the leak. In addition the pitman arm was forced on the shaft so high, the dealer could not remove it in one piece. [duhhh]

Well good thing you didnt have any issues.

my shaft broke at the pitman arm after installing the dss brace- it must of been on the way out!

Here they are

Well I got my new shocks put on yesterday and got to do some driving with the truck it sure does turn nice and changes in and out of lanes fast. Im headed to reno this weekend we will see how she does.

It looks like a clean set up. I did noticed that it is only one cyclinder compared to two that you would find on a Rock-Ram cylinder set up. I also saw dual directional fluid feed lines to that cyclinder. However, I was unsure of where you are getting the extra fluid from. I was thinking the Steering Gear Box and stock pump.

If so then, did you put a bigger Hydro-Boost Power Steering Pump to handle the extra flow of fluid to the cyclinder?
What about the resovoir for the extra fluid?
What are you using to cool the system from over heating?

Shawn

how much for that new steering box or remanufactured ones? Not the dealer price either, I have a click when I turn the wheel to the right and its coming from the box itself is what it sounds like