Like your steering? What are your alignment specs?

[Superdawg]

I'm always trying to make the steering better and I am getting closer.

My truck is a 2004, 4x4 quad cab 2500 short bed, stock wheels/tires. I know the range of alignment specs have been covered before.

If you have a similar truck and really like how it steers and tracks, can you advise what the alignment specs are for your truck?

I realize that if your truck steers well, you probably did not need to get it aligned and wouldn't have the numbers.

thanks in advance.

Tom

 

[cerberusiam]

The quality of steering is dependent on so much more than alignment specs it is hard to quantify just that part. Shocks, ball joints, track bar, control arms, etc, all contribute to steering feel. Caster at 3. 5 to 4. 5 and 1/16 of inch toe in is standard for decent steering. From there it all depends on wear of the rest of the parts for degrees of good.

 

[Superdawg]

Well, I made sure there was no grease pressure on the Carli ball joints, check. I checked the toe in- it was 1/4" toed in. Too much. Made it 1/16" toed in. check.
Looked in the power steering reservoir, not much movement in the fluid with the engine on, even at full lock. Flow control valve stuck? I replaced the flow control valve with one from an extra ZF pump (doesn't everybody have one?). Now I have a little movement in the reservoir. Power steering assist got a little better.

For those with the new ZF pump/reservoir, do you see a lot of movement in the fluid at idle / full lock?

Test drive: Better, less darting from right to left. Easier steering right to left and better tracking.
I'm good for another week, then I will complain about something else. #@$%!

 

[Jaybo745]

I used to have a 99 2500 Diesel 5spd. When I finally replace the steering box with a Borgeson I was amazed at the improvement. I wish I had done it sooner. It felt almost as light as a Chevy. I now have an 03 3500 automatic and am considering upgrading its steering box. I wonder if anyone out there has done that.

 

[cerberusiam]

Yes. Borgeson box makes a world of difference in road feel. Almost too much at times, you have to get used to it. My son is used to 01 with a worn stock box and his first impessions were WOW! Steering is so much lighter and exact that it is no comparison, even with a larger truck and larger tires.

 

[Jaybo745]

Do know anyone else who put the Borgeson steering box in an 03 or 04. What did they have to say. Sounds like you may have put one in.

 

[cerberusiam]

Do know anyone else who put the Borgeson steering box in an 03 or 04. What did they have to say. Sounds like you may have put one in.

There is no difference between an 03 and 05, same stock steering setup. Yes, I wore out the stock box on my 05 and replaced it with a Borgeson box from Geno's.



I started with sloppy steering. The box was wore so bad that when I took the slack out of the pitman shaft it was sticking crossing center. Bad ju-ju. Replaced the box with the Borgeson and updated the sway bar links with MAXX links and poly track bar bushings. Much better, fresh alignment and it was easy to steer at road speeds with one finger on decent roads.



When you got into rough roads and highly crowned surfaces steering was unpredictable at any speed. Lots of random wandering. Ball joints had way too much play. Replaced them and shocks with Bilstein 5200's, another large impovement.



Steering was still unpredictable in uneven surfaces and rough roads. Upgraded the steering to the newer t-type style as tie rod ends had slack, not huge amount but they were worn. Added steering brace at the same time. Another improvement, the biggest difference is the steering is exact now with good road feel. You can feel the suspension working on uneven surfaces and when you turn the wheel to steer there is no over\under steer like before.



I am running 5 degrees of caster with almost worn out MT tires. Also, lower control arm bushings are worn and driver side is creeping on caster adjustment. A set of lower control arms and new tires should effectively make it almost race car tight again. should be able to back it out to 4 degrees caster to save bearings and even out steering response a bit. I am even running without steering damper at this time and it still rock solid. Need to get the dual stabilizer kit for the updated steering bar as it is so much larger.



FYI, Borgeson has the new pitman arm for the 08+ steering setup also. They don't have it on the site or listed yet but have it available.



Steering feel and performance is not just box. Every single piece plus laignment has made a difference.