Very Dangerous Steering Box Problem
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2003
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Very Dangerous Steering Box Problem
Hello all,
A few weeks ago, my employees were driving home one of my work trucks, a 2001 F350 7.3 4x4 Crew w. 130K miles. They were on a straight road in a small town when the steering went completely out. The truck veered into a telephone pole. Thankfully no one was injured. The truck has major damage to the front passenger's side.
I finally got the truck back to my shop today. It is quite evident what caused the problem. The gear/splined shaft that protrudes from the steering box and is connected to the pitman arm sheared completely off. I can't seem to find this problem anywhere else on the 'net. Has anyone heard of this before??
I can get some pix tomorrow if anyone is interested.
A few weeks ago, my employees were driving home one of my work trucks, a 2001 F350 7.3 4x4 Crew w. 130K miles. They were on a straight road in a small town when the steering went completely out. The truck veered into a telephone pole. Thankfully no one was injured. The truck has major damage to the front passenger's side.
I finally got the truck back to my shop today. It is quite evident what caused the problem. The gear/splined shaft that protrudes from the steering box and is connected to the pitman arm sheared completely off. I can't seem to find this problem anywhere else on the 'net. Has anyone heard of this before??
I can get some pix tomorrow if anyone is interested.
Last edited by deckpros; Mar 25, 2009 at 09:03 PM. Reason: clarity
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
Fully inspect the rest of the steering system including the pump, hoses tierods etc... It may be that another part of the system failed first causing the accident. My guess is the accident may have caused the shearing of the shaft. Did the passenger tire take a hard hit? Check the box for cracks.
It would be hard to think the shaft broke on it's own, It takes quite a bit of pressure to shear it off. How is the truck generally used?
Also ask your guys if the steering went loose or did it get hard?
It would be hard to think the shaft broke on it's own, It takes quite a bit of pressure to shear it off. How is the truck generally used?
Also ask your guys if the steering went loose or did it get hard?
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,924
Likes: 6
From: Richmond BC
i think maybe, just maybe ur employee's arent being competely upfront..
i bet teh accident happened and THAT caused the steering to sheer..
ask yourself:
what are the odds the steering failed first just in time to cause the truck to hit a pole ???
now ask yourself:
what are the odds the truck's passenger side hit the pole first, thus causing such stress to the steering gear it sheered the sector shaft off the steering box...
not saying anyones lying here, just the story doesnt seem right to me...
i bet teh accident happened and THAT caused the steering to sheer..
ask yourself:
what are the odds the steering failed first just in time to cause the truck to hit a pole ???
now ask yourself:
what are the odds the truck's passenger side hit the pole first, thus causing such stress to the steering gear it sheered the sector shaft off the steering box...
not saying anyones lying here, just the story doesnt seem right to me...
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
I have to agree with everyone else. The force to sheer that big splined shaft should have bent the drag link or tie rods first.
Although, you may want to look at the direction of the sheer and grain of the metal. I can't remember right now, how the direction goes though. I think it will ripple be perpendicular to direction of sheer, then the angle should show the vertical direction of it.
Although, you may want to look at the direction of the sheer and grain of the metal. I can't remember right now, how the direction goes though. I think it will ripple be perpendicular to direction of sheer, then the angle should show the vertical direction of it.
Super Moderator
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From: Central Coast of CA
Stewart
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 69
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From: Stahlstown, Pa.
I had my steering box splined shaft (sector shaft?) shear on me on my 99' with 38" tires and a 6" lift. The current truck that I just picked up, an 03' with a 7" lift and 37" tires also had the shaft shear. It seems that with larger tires and lift that its compounds the stress on the steering box.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
The only time I've heard of this has been on trucks with a lift. Seems like there's a different arm you can buy to come off the steering box to prevent this.
You didn't mention if the truck had a lift. I've got a half dozen 99 - 03 trucks, none with miles that low, and have not had any steering linkage issues.
You didn't mention if the truck had a lift. I've got a half dozen 99 - 03 trucks, none with miles that low, and have not had any steering linkage issues.
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Freshman User
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Hi all,
Thanks for the replies. The truck is not lifted. And my employees lie to me?? NEVER!! Ok, it wouldn't be the first time... or the second, third or fourth..
The front wheel contacted the curb before the truck hit the pole, so that may have caused the problem. I'll check out all the other steering stuff if it stops raining today.
If any of you are good with body work and looking for an F350 diesel, keep an eye on eBay in the near future.
Thanks for the replies. The truck is not lifted. And my employees lie to me?? NEVER!! Ok, it wouldn't be the first time... or the second, third or fourth..
The front wheel contacted the curb before the truck hit the pole, so that may have caused the problem. I'll check out all the other steering stuff if it stops raining today.
If any of you are good with body work and looking for an F350 diesel, keep an eye on eBay in the near future.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2008
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It seems that when Ford or GM or anyone designs a truck, the engineers (that are smarter then I am) understand stress relationships and metalurgy, etc.
Then non-engineers (the customer) mess with the structure and are surprised that the extreme extra stress causes components to fail. Then, it becomes a Ford or GM issue.
My nephew put a 5 or 6 inch lift on his Chevy 2500 2 years ago. The lift manufacturer recommended some heavy duty caps that bolted over the tie rod ends. These parts were not included in the kit but were extra cost. My nephew opted NOT to but the extra parts. While off-roading a few weeks later, a tie rod end failed and the wheel turned sideways are ripped the spindle off the truck, tearing out the febder well....luckily he was not on the hiway when the tierod failed.
He blamed GM for making a crappy truck and now has a Ram with a lift kit....ouch!!
Don't get me wrong, as I really like a great looking lifted 4x4.....but there are thing the need to be considered.
Regarding this specific issue, I concur the the wreck happened first, causing the pitman arm to be sheare off..that just makes the most sense.
Then non-engineers (the customer) mess with the structure and are surprised that the extreme extra stress causes components to fail. Then, it becomes a Ford or GM issue.
My nephew put a 5 or 6 inch lift on his Chevy 2500 2 years ago. The lift manufacturer recommended some heavy duty caps that bolted over the tie rod ends. These parts were not included in the kit but were extra cost. My nephew opted NOT to but the extra parts. While off-roading a few weeks later, a tie rod end failed and the wheel turned sideways are ripped the spindle off the truck, tearing out the febder well....luckily he was not on the hiway when the tierod failed.
He blamed GM for making a crappy truck and now has a Ram with a lift kit....ouch!!
Don't get me wrong, as I really like a great looking lifted 4x4.....but there are thing the need to be considered.
Regarding this specific issue, I concur the the wreck happened first, causing the pitman arm to be sheare off..that just makes the most sense.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
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From: Gilbert
This happened on my 2000 as well. The break happened while parking at work so thankfully nobody was hurt. I had about 5 years of oversized tires so I'm sure it just worn out... Couple of pics below:
New User
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1
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From: Calgary Alberta
Deckpros: Your employes are not lying to you.
I have an 02 that I had the same thing happen to me in my 02 in a parking lot. My truck also has a 12in lift... My buddy has a 99 that only has a 6in lift and his broke goin down the road causing him to go off the road and hit someone's garage. There's not a doubt in my mind that the accident is what they say especially in a work crummy as we all know they take a little abuse. When you put on new steering box (I got mine a reman from the wrecker for a $100) use a little locktite when bolting pitman arm on. Provided I'm running 40 in tires I'm not a small guy and I tightened the hell outta mine and it still turned loose on me..... Hope that helps.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
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From: Isanti, MN
I have an 02 that I had the same thing happen to me in my 02 in a parking lot. My truck also has a 12in lift... My buddy has a 99 that only has a 6in lift and his broke goin down the road causing him to go off the road and hit someone's garage. There's not a doubt in my mind that the accident is what they say especially in a work crummy as we all know they take a little abuse. When you put on new steering box (I got mine a reman from the wrecker for a $100) use a little locktite when bolting pitman arm on. Provided I'm running 40 in tires I'm not a small guy and I tightened the hell outta mine and it still turned loose on me..... Hope that helps.
Please remember to take a look at the date; deckpros posted this one nearly four years ago!
Sorry to hear about your sector shaft breaking, but I can't help but think that your lift and huge tires had something to do with it.
