03-08 steering box upgrade

[Yo Hoot]

Very Nice!

 

[Yo Hoot]

Chrysler would not approve a new linkage for me. They did give me 2 years of oil changes.

The steering box came with a new end link. That's the part that's shot on my linkage. I'll inspect it a little closer. Maybe that's all it needs anyway.

 

[Bob4x4]

That end link is not for the new style. Linkage

 

[Yo Hoot]

That figures

They come up with an upgrade box and give you and end link for an outdated linkage. Guess they must have had a crapload of them they needed to get rid of.

That being the case, will this new pitman arm work with the 08-up linkage?

Thanks Bob

 

[Yo Hoot]

Wait a minute... .

WalterJ on this thread... https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?236324-Steering-box-falling-apart

said this...

Yo Hoot: The Borgenson arrived Tues aft. , but I opted for the $700 68170214AA Steering Box '03--'08, as it would only be an additional $200 & would not require "hand machining" flats on the boxs' input shaft. The install began today & went South in a hurry. The new pitman arm had a wierd twist in the end, which when mounted, caused it to contact the 'tie rod' attached to it. The technicians spent several hours of phone calls & research to yield Chrysler's advice from Engineering, that the entire steering linkage needs replacing to maintain proper geometry with this new Steer gear box! Now that's another $600! Tomorrow's another day. We'll take a fresh look at it then.

Remember I questioned what's heavy duty about it? Whew, it's a monster, 25% larger & the sector drive shaft is twice the 2004 diameter.

How is your replacement gear box install going?

Is WalterJ's Chrysler dealership blowing smoke?

 

[Bob4x4]

Yes the pitman arm works with the new style linkage

 

[Yo Hoot]

Well I'm confused.

If "Chrysler's advice from Engineering, that the entire steering linkage needs replacing to maintain proper geometry with this new Steer gear box!" then why would they give me an end link that doesn't fit the new style linkage?

 

[Denzin]

Hey Walter, Let me know what you think about the new SB when youve had it on your truck for awhile, if you would please. Am interested in your input and any problems you might encounter. I like my SB so far and am using all of the original factory steering sans new up grade parts. Thanks, Denzin

 

[Yo Hoot]

OK so does anyone know why Chrysler gives you an end link that only works with the old style linkage?

 

[Yo Hoot]

Ok, first, thank you Bob4x4 for making me aware of the end link incompatibility with the new style linkage (08-up?)



Yes the end link and pitman they sent me in the steering box kit is for the factory old style linkage.



Called the dealer I bought the stuff from. He apologized for not asking what linkage I had.



You can't purchase just the end link for the new style so I had to buy the whole rig.



When I get the stuff I'll expand the part numbers to include what you need if you have new style linkage.

 

[Bob4x4]

The included pitman arm does work with the new linkage

 

[Yo Hoot]

I haven't had anything shipped yet and I think the guy is doing the legwork on that exact question. Hopefully yours and his assessment are the same. I think the deal is if I was going to need another pitman he would swap them. Bob you're saving me a lot of aggravation. It'll be nice having exactly what I need to do the whole job in one day.

 

[Bob4x4]

The only pitman arm available fr Dodge is the one that is in the kit
Last time I checked you could not order the pian arm by itself it superseded to the kit #

 

[Yo Hoot]

I think the parts guy is probably going to figure that out. I'll call or he'll call me tomorrow.

So basically if you have the old linkage the kit bolts right up.

If you have the new linkage then the end link it comes with is unusable. You simply connect your old linkage to the new pitman arm.

If any part of your new linkage is worn, you have to buy the entire linkage assembly.

Do I finally have it all in one post?

 

[Jong]

Has anyone here installed the new box on a Ram with a lift? I have a 4" kit in mine that has the reversed pitman arm where the end link attaches to the bottom of the pitman arm to drop the angle of the end linkage. The lift kit came with the different pitman arm. Can you just get a reversed pitman arm for one of the newer trucks and just use it? My steering box is definitely on its way out with the 35's and plow usage on my truck.

 

[AEdelheit]

I know the pitman arm included with mine worked with the 08+ steering

 

[Yo Hoot]

Yea the pitman arm that comes with the steering box is the only one you need whether you have the old or new style linkage.

I just placed the order for the new linkage this morning. Should have everything in a day or two.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Here are the end links side by side...

The new linkage assembly has the end link already in it. The one next to it is the one that came with the new steering box.

Like I said earlier, the only obvious difference is the threads are different.

#ad


#ad

 

[Bob4x4]

Has anyone here installed the new box on a Ram with a lift? I have a 4" kit in mine that has the reversed pitman arm where the end link attaches to the bottom of the pitman arm to drop the angle of the end linkage. The lift kit came with the different pitman arm. Can you just get a reversed pitman arm for one of the newer trucks and just use it? My steering box is definitely on its way out with the 35's and plow usage on my truck.

Contact strapt performance IIRC he has dealt with this and should be able to give you details I have done many with 3" lifts but none higher using a drop pitman arm.
I have seen too many broken drop arms to want one. They did have a recall on them,hopefully the newer ones are better.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I now have everything I need. Just have to block out a day or two of down time.

Pictures to follow.