I have a low mileage (>27K) 2007 2500 (5.9L) 4x4 with a damaged steering box. A problem with the steering was noticed about 10 miles after hitting a boulder hidden from my view by tall grass.

Description of Boulder Hitting:
While trying to negotiate through a very narrow section of a campground road (which was not designed for a goose neck trailer), I hit a hidden boulder with my front left tire. My rate of travel was slow enough (idle while braking) to allow my wife walk from the end of the horse trailer to the cab. The tire hit the boulder straight on and with an impact similar to hitting a parking stop. About 10 miles later along the main road, I noticed that the steering was becoming very sloppy.

I took it to the local Dodge dealer (Folsom Lake Dodge) and explained the situation. I was later informed that the steering box was damaged and that it would not be covered under warranty as the damage was caused by the impact with the boulder. As no other damage was reported, I question whether impact at the speed I was traveling was sufficient to waste the steering box. The Service Advisor said it could have. The bill for the repair was $1270.00 (+ tax).

If this is the case, is the steering box design weak? If it isn’t, why were no other components damaged and why would the Dealership deny my warranty claim?


Katman

 

Yes the steering box is a week design, however your problem isn't caused by a worn steering box, it was a collision.
Had you gone to the dealer and told them only that your truck is steering funny, they would have replaced the unit.
Since it was a collision, your comprehensive insurance should cover it.

 

G to different dealer and make no refrence to the rock you hit. Tell them about the loose steering and hopefully they will replace it under warranty.

 

Thank you for your replies.

However, I am still concerned that the guts of the steering box could be damaged simply from the tire hitting something. The only thing that contacted the boulder was the front left tire. The boulder was sticking out of the ground about 6 to 8 inches. It just happen to be about 3 inches from the pavement at a very sharp bend in the road. The road I was on was paved, none of the tires left the pavement and as I stated before, I traveling at a speed at which my wife was able to walk up to me.

Is there a plausible explanation for this damage to occur from just the tire hitting something at idle speed on flat ground? Should I not take the truck off pavement or on roads w/ pot holes (like Interstate 5)?

-Katman

 

You may have been travelling slow but you had the collective momentum of the weight of the truck and trailer behind you. Depending on how big your 5th wheel is that could be like hitting the boulder at 2 or 3 times your speed unloaded.

It is strange that nothing in the steering linkages bent. I would chalk it up to a fluke.

Did instaliing a new box fix the problem?

 

Unless the gear box was physically hit by the boulder, it doesn't make sense that a front on impact would hurt it. A front force impact is not absorbed by the gear box at all.

I could understand ball joints, or a hub bearing being damaged with significant impact. Did your steering wheel whip hard to one side when you hit?

--Eric

 

They can say what they want to, but I have hit numerous things with my second gen, heck had the wheel almost ripped out of my hand, and no problems with my 100 plus thousand mile steering boxes. These are not lifted trucks, so if yours is lifted, it might make a difference.

They always said the second gen box isn't as good as the third gen.

Did it ( the impact ) rip the wheel out of your hand?