2005 Ford F-350 Diesel

So, I'm not sure if this is exactly the problem since I've never messed with this. but, the other day my wife was driving my truck (yea I know, bad idea) and it lost all power as she was going around a round about and she couldn't stear it well she hit the curb really hard, took out some signs and all that good stuff well now my steering wheel just spins. I got some pictures and to me it looks like the steering column is out of the gear box but, I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for and if this means something else is broken or if I need a new gear box.

 

It appears the worm shaft is broken, but the only way to be sure will be to remove the steering box and check it out. Two options, open box and replace and adjust new parts or get another steering box from a salvage yard. A thorough inspection of the entire steering linkage is step two now. The front end took a hit and everything needs to be checked for any other cracked , bent or broken parts.

 

The front end can take a pretty good hit, but usually the weak spots are the the input shaft as yours, or the sector shaft (output) will 'twist' usually seen by the splines twisted if the steering slammed against the stop/s.

Another thing that may have happened is that if the steering wheel has been allowed to 'spin' (too many rotations) it may have damaged the clockspring (sliding contact) for the drivers air bag..

 

Well, haven't had much of a chance to work on it.. But, hopefully this weekekend I will first thing I plan on doing is checking my clockspring and making sure I didn't screw up my wires and if I did seeing what I gotta do to get that fixed. Next I'm wandering, if I do have to replace the gear box if the end of the stearing column (if that's even what it's called; the part thats supposed to be in the gear box but is not) how am I supposed to get that back in there? I mean either way the gear box is still where it's supposed to be and so is the steering column so, I'm kind of confused about that part. Thanks for the help guys.

Also, I have checked my front end out I haven't seen anything wrong. Mostly all of my steering and suspension components are Fabtech so, not as weak as stock but, I will probably still have it double checked after I get it up and running again.