Four problems related to steering gear box shaft pitman have been reported for the 2006 Dodge Ram 3500. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
While driving the right tire lower tie rod ball joint came a part. Had to replace the sterling linkage, tire rod, arm pitman.
Truck has had extreme lane excursions since about 30,000 miles. Steering linkage was replace under a Dodge recall, the wandering and lane excursions were not corrected. Upon inspection the steering gear pitman shaft and bushing has worn out. This is a defective component and has been well known by Dodge for some time. They have designed and issued a heavier steering gear part number 68170214aa but have not offered any financial assistance. This may have caused accidents in the past but may not have been identified as the real cause. Consumers should be able to assume that such a critical component in a new vehicle has been appropriately engineered.
Tie rod end failure at the pitman arm/ inner tie rod conectionon a 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 quad cab 4x4 truck. The tie rod stud sheared off completely under little to no load after only 23,000 miles of having the h46 recall completed. The angle at which the tie rod end and the pitman arm connect is too extreme. The pitman arm needs to be built with less angle, this would decrese the load on the tie rod end.
Steering linkage loud clunking noise at pitman arm and drag link. Joints loose and possible failure imminent. Noise is heard during turns and when input from highway. Chrysler replacing entire steering linkage with steering damper with updated product at customer expense. Steering linkage on my vehicle does not fall under recall of steering linkage with similar complaint according to dealer because of steering damper attachment to drag link.