Dodge steering fixes

[LT.]

I broke my steering today while out wheeling. I may have actually began to break it in Moab this last October. Does anybody know of any good ways to fix the bracket that holds the steering box to the frame? I am looking for a solid fix that would not cost a lot of money. Thanks in advance for your time.

LT.

 

[astjp2]

What year dodge? post some pics..Tim

 

[LT.]

Mostly a 85 Dodge Ramcharger. Here are some pics.

LT.

 

[Tacoma]

I think he means "pics of the break."

Chevys have reinforcement plates and braces available.... maybe making something similar for the Dodge would help??? hard to say w/no pics though.

 

[774x4ram]

do a cross over and get rid of the bracket , I have a 2 wheel drive gear box that I bought that will work also has the steering arm all you would need is the link, arm for your knuckle and some ends
here is what it looks like on my RC. I also know all the stuff that will make it work for very little $$$ PM me for my number if you want to talk.
Just so you know that link broke and I made a new one that was straight.

 

[tv_larsen]

I highly recommend going to crossover steering. I also recommend boxing the frame at the steering box mount when you do.

If boxing the frame just isn't possible, a steering box brace might be enough.
http://www.dodgeconnection.com/catalog/item/2901766/4541374.htm

 

[LT.]

I think that I found the kit that I am going to use. I will post up if I decide to go with it. But, it comes with the high steer arms (both sides), all the tie rod ends, drag link, tie rod, bolts, nuts, cotter pins, steering arm, and everything needed to do the cross over steering set up with the high steer. I am going to think about it over the weekend and make sure this is what I want to do before I just jump in and pay for it. The system is from Off Road Design and it looks to be a high quality kit.

LT.

 

[Tacoma]

It is, with a correspondingly high cost. But, it's all in one box, so...

 

[LT.]

Here is the only cell phone pic that I have of the damage.

LT.

 

[tv_larsen]

I have the ORD crossover steering on my Ramcharger and I've never regretted it. You don't have to do the whole high steer at once if you don't want to. You can add the driver's side arm and tie rod later. Also, you may have enough lift, but I had to switch to a stock 2wd pitman arm for less drop because the ORD dropped too low and the drag link TRE was hitting the leaf spring.

I was thinking, I think I read somewhere that Dodge started making that 4wd steering box mounting plate thicker at one point(probably when they started putting the Cummins in the trucks) but I'm not sure.

 

[ChestonScout]

So is it the actual steering box that is broken or just some sort of bracket?

 

[tv_larsen]

So is it the actual steering box that is broken or just some sort of bracket?

It's a separate bracket.

On Dodges, the 2wds and ('78+)4wds use the same steering box. On the 2wds the box mounts directly to the frame, on the 4wds they use a separate bracket to mount the steering box in a different location.

It looks like there is a newer, thicker plate available at the dealership. Should be p/n 52037876 for about $20. Pre-'85 Dodges may need larger mounting bolts. But if you go crossover you won't need the new plate at all.

 

[LT.]

I went and took a 70 drive to the Jemez Mountains and back so that I could take more pictures of the broken bracket. The photos really don't show all of the damage because the steering box is still mounted to it. I just broke the bracket not the box, so I will be able to reuse the stock box. I just need to remove the bracket, shorten my steering shaft, and pony up the bucks for the high steer kit that I want. I want to do the high steer kit at the same time as the cross over because I am going to want to mount the hydraulic ram up as high as possible to avoid bending in out on the trail. I figured if I was going to do this I should do it all at once and be done with it.

In the first photo you can see a piece of the broken bracket hanging down just to the right of the pitman arm. You can also see its shadow in the fifth photo. In the second photo you can see there is a mark on the end of the box where it has hit the spring perch mount. It is all so visible on the third photo. The box rocks back and forth because of the broken bracket.

LT.

 

[stackedoffroad]

Hey ive got an 88 ramcharger and ive got most of a crossover set up but i cant finish it because turning my pitman arm to use the cross over would have my pitman arm hitting the frame rail and idea how to fix that ive got 6 inch springs i want to put on but my drag link is too short. i got the lift from a friend who works at a salvage yard upper crossover bar and arm springs for the fron blocks for the back and shocks for $50 but i need to figure out my steering any help would be much appreciated pm me if you can help. thanks

 

[LT.]

Hey ive got an 88 ramcharger and ive got most of a crossover set up but i cant finish it because turning my pitman arm to use the cross over would have my pitman arm hitting the frame rail and idea how to fix that ive got 6 inch springs i want to put on but my drag link is too short. i got the lift from a friend who works at a salvage yard upper crossover bar and arm springs for the fron blocks for the back and shocks for $50 but i need to figure out my steering any help would be much appreciated pm me if you can help. thanks

If the pitman arm is hitting the frame then you have the wrong pitman arm. I ended up getting all my parts from Off Road Design including the pitman arm. Give them a call. I know that they are solid axle Chevy experts but, the difference between the Chevy and the Dodge are very few. Do not try and heat the pitman arm and try to bend it. For the drag link I highly recommend you just get a long piece of tubing. lengthening may be an option (if you are a great welder) but, it still won't look right. Again, when I did the cross over steering I ended up getting everything from Off Road Design. They are a one stop shopping place where you can find everything you are looking for.

LT.

 

[leorn]

So you have probably already got your mods in progress, but I'll throw it out anyway. After strengthening my frame at the steering box, I still felt like I needed more beef, but chose to do hydro assist instead to take a load off of the frame and drag link and put it onto the tie rod where I want it to be. Yes I drive a toyota, but it's the same issue on a different scale.