2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission front end rebuild with T steering complete!

[telliott]

I bit the bullet and rebuilt the steering.

-Converted to T-style with all Moog

-Maxx links sway bar links

-Borgeson steering shaft

-Rock Solid Ram Steering bushing

-New to me steering box

-Bilstein 5100 shocks all around

-Mopar steering damper



All in all, the rebuild went pretty well, with a few minor issues.



I did attempt to install the Rock Solid busing with steering column in truck, however i'm sorry i did. It is a tight space and awkward to get at, especially if you have all the ABS lines in the way. But it can be done. I however, ended up fitting the bushing in too tight, and i couldn't get it out with the minimal space i had to work with, so I ended up pulling the column anyway to redo it:{. In my opinion, pulling the column is not as hard as i thought it would be. Wish i would have done it to begin with.



I know the steering damper is not really necessary, especially with the T style, however i ordered one anyway. I do have a bit of a problem with that now. Because the long tie rod on the T steering set up does not have a mounting hole for the damper, you have to order a bracket from mopar to make it work. However, I tried ordering it, and was told the bracket has been discontinued and no longer available#@$%!. (Mopar part #52039179AB) So now i'm going to get a little creative with a welder and the old mounting hole off the old tie rod, and see if i can make my own bracket of some kind.



As for the steering box, I am aware the factory units are not desirable and i hesitated to replace a crappy box with another crappy box, but it had way less miles than mine did and best of all it was free so i put it in for now. will plan to replace it with a better unit in the future.



Right now, the steering is actually a little too tight. The alignment is obviously way off, so i'm hoping once aligned, it will loosen up some, plus putting a few miles on it should help. I really haven't driven it much yet until it is aligned.



As for the short test drive i did take, I cant say i'm thrilled with the improvement yet, but i'm also holding out for the final product with the alignment and damper before i make any final judgements. I did notice that i feel a lot more feed back in the steering wheel while going over small bumps in the road, I was dissapointed with that. Its not a bump steer type feeling, but more of a clunk type feeling that i didnt have before. I've also heard some guys get the clunk when the rock solid bushing is installed with the borgeson shaft. Maybe i'm one of those guys?



I did ball joints recently, so the only thing left is control arms and hopefully i will be in good shape for a while.

 

[AEdelheit]

I bit the bullet and rebuilt the steering.



I know the steering damper is not really necessary, especially with the T style, however i ordered one anyway. I do have a bit of a problem with that now. Because the long tie rod on the T steering set up does not have a mounting hole for the damper, you have to order a bracket from mopar to make it work. However, I tried ordering it, and was told the bracket has been discontinued and no longer available#@$%!. (Mopar part #52039179AB) So now i'm going to get a little creative with a welder and the old mounting hole off the old tie rod, and see if i can make my own bracket of some kind.



.

Glad it made it all better, as far as a stabilizer is concerned unless everything is perfect there pretty damn necessary, doesn't matter what kind of steering you have you want a good stab on there

 

[JMcCoy]

It should loosen up in a few hundered miles. The steering stabilizer should also help with road feedback. Keep us posted.

 

[telliott]

pulled the column out again and sanded the bushing down more, now the steering resistance is much better. Also, alignment done, and definitly drives and steers a lot better now. I still haven't got the stabilizer mounted but i hope that helps with the feedback. Feedback seems pretty bad to me, i can even feel it in the brakes when slowing down on a bumpy road. gonna do some more investigating and wiggle some stuff around. maybe i've got something loose.