So lately some really weird things have been happening with my D relating to the front end and steering. It all started when I hit a curb at about a 45 degree angle with the front left tire going about 5mph hardly felt any feedback in the steering wheel, went to drive off and I noticed the steering wheel is now upside down when I drive straight...any ideas what could have happened?

Took it in for an alignment and the toe was 4 inches off and the camber and caster were all over the place too, inside toe wear was bad on the front left tire but the right front was fine. They said they ran out of tie rod trying to adjust the toe and had to pull the frame to make everything fit, although no one could find anything bent/broken at all.

Today I pulled the tie rods and center link out to check them and all seemed fine. I compared the center link to another one I pulled from a junkyard and it matches perfectly. I'm guessing as for the steering wheel being upside down something had to have slipped maybe the worm gear in the steering gear box, if that's even possible?

Anyone else ever have any problems like this? At first I thought it was a bent frame obviously but the collision shop told me everything measures out to where it should be. Any ideas? Thanks in advance

 

been there, done that, only i was doing 35 at the time trying to get off the highway, brakes locked up and that was it, took out the drivers side rim, both balljoints, tie rod (and both ends) and the wheel bearing was replaced at that point.

 

wow that doesn't sound fun at all, sounds like you probably bent a control arm too and those will make you pay. My rim also got bent a little bit but a a lot of sealant fixed that. I'm surprised I didn't break a ball joint or bend a tie rod or control arm. I replaced the front end with 4 new ball joints, both inner/outer tie rods, 2 new wheel bearings and a new steering box about 6 months ago.

I never understood the front end on these trucks, they can withstand hitting crubs, off roading, mudding, jumping, ect. and yet just hitting a pothole will throw it out of alignment and in my case hitting a curb will cause problems that 3 collision shops couldn't explain. At least I'm not installing snow plows on mine like some people I know have, the front end can barely even hold itself up let alone a plow.

 

nope my control arms were fine, i listed everything that was replaced, and remember the only side with damage was the driver side of the truck, passenger side was fine, i was due for new tires anyway. and if i had gotten the wheel all the way back to straight i would have done next to 0 damage, just too bad it was hit from the vulnerable part (the side)

 

When i was 16 i totaled my parents rice burner hitting a curb at 15-20 mph.

 

well that's good to hear you can break a ball joint and not bend those control arms, always better to have the cheap stuff break.

Update on my situation, I've replaced the steering gear box and the wheel returned to the center, go figure. The previous box was a reman from napa installed by Conrad's for about $600. Picked up the current installed box from a junkyard for $20 and installed it in 2 hours, much easier than I thought, wish I knew more about this stuff 6 months ago haha. Didnt think it was that easy to mess up these kinda of steering boxes but I guess it happens.

 

I had the same exact issue and also wondered if the steering shaft might have slipped with the gear box. Just like yours everything is lined up only thing is the steering wheel is upside down. When you replaced the gearbox was there any damage to the steering shaft did that also have to be replaced

 

Welcome to the forum! My steering shaft was fine and undamaged from what I can recall. I honestly don't think it'd be possible for it to slip either end of the keyed steering shaft with how many splines it has plus how insanely tight they are clamped on at the ends even though they are aluminum. It would also definitely be enough force to violently rip the steering wheel right out of your hands if that happened.

My best guess would be the steering gear/box slipped internally, especially if it was worn or had some play in the wheel while driving. I think I came to the conclusion of a bad steering gear on my truck by turning the wheel lock to lock and counting the turns of the steering shaft at full left, center and full right where it goes into the box and seeing if everything was equal. Just some food for thought. Good luck!

 

a driver hit me while I was making a left turn hit my right side and the knuckle broke off that attaches the tie rod to the spindle. I replaced everything and put it all back correctly did a poor man’s alignment with a string and it was good to go, but then I noticed I have more of a radius turning left then I do to the right like it just stops half way. then I noticed my steering wheel was upside down. So I’m thinking if I just remove the tie ride from the spindles and replace the gearbox and turn my steering wheel 180 to make it upright and then hook up the shaft to the gearbox. You think that’ll solve my problem possibly cause I feel like we had the exact same issue. Thx !

 

I think something got bent.... and for it to require a half-turn of the steering wheel..... That's pretty bent.