2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2002 steering box

[RHoblitt]

I have a 98 3500 2wd and at 80,000 miles the second gsteering box is going out, the sector shaft has elongagated the bushing again, i want to install a 2002 box as they cost 200 more and i think they have a lower sector shaft bearing instead of the bushing. Have any of you looked into this or done it. My friend has a 02 and i do know it steers better than my 98. Thanks for any help RichardOo.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

MY 2 month old pricey " 3 Bearing Cummins Special" AGR box is going back for major slop. I'm not re-installing it either. Playing Musical Steering boxes is not my kind of fun.



I ordered a rebuilt box from Dave Mitchell @ Enterprise Engine. Doug told me they have a local rebuilder (that is well aware of the OEM Dodge box shortcomings) that changes some things in the box when he goes thru them. He said everybody is happy with the box. Nice & tight and STAYS tight. I am planning on installing it New Years Day. I will post on how it steers.



Not sure if I answered your question though.

 

[RHoblitt]

Thanks Bill for the info, well look for your post on the new box. Think i will get ahold of Dave and talk about what you are getting. Can't beleive the stealerships when they tell me that i am the only one with steering box play. Junk is junk. No matter who makes it and the 98 boxes are under built for the weight of our trucks. Richard:-{}

 

[Dane]

Ditto Bill, we're awaiting your report...

 

[CFAR]

They are all underbuilt 98-02!

 

[HEMI®Dart]

The steering gear swap will have to wait 'till Sat Jan. 3rd.



I ordered 2 quarts of Royal Purple EZ Max Synthetic Power Steering Fluid From Texas on Dec 20. Still not here. Due to be delivered Thurs. UPS drags their feet during the holidays.



RHoblitt,



I meant to add in my first post that by searching the archives and reading old posts, the '02 steering box does not seem any better than the other years. Trucks that have a Delphi box seem to be good. Not sure which model year has them.

 

[Jeff Knight]

My 02 truck has a Delphi steering box on it. It doesn't steer bad at all. Theres 22,000 miles on it. Jeff

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Where do you look to see what make box you have?

 

[Jeff Knight]

Looking down from the top Delphi is cast in the box casing. Jeff

 

[SnoKing]

My late 2001. 5 has the Delphi box. Build date was 5/01 in Mexico. Are the Delphi steering boxes suppost to be better???? SNOKING

 

[SnoKing]

Back to the top, are the Delphi steering boxes suppost to be better than older ones???? SNOKING

 

[Jeff Knight]

I believe the older boxes were Saginaw and I do believe the Delphi boxes are better. Jeff

 

[Dane]

Jeff,

When you grab the steering shaft and wiggle it, does the input shaft have much play? Also, if you look from under the truck while someone turns the steering wheel back and forth (engine off) does the output shaft have lots of play also?



If you could check for us? Mine has too much play on both input and output shafts.

 

[Jeff Knight]

Dane, It's been snowing all day here. I will check the first chance I get. Jeff

 

[snowracer69]

Bill R

I'm curious as to how I go about getting ahold of Dave at Enterprise Engines... I have some major problems with my steering box (self-induced) and WILL NOT pay the stealer $718 for a new one. I believe I trashed something inside the box, or cracked/tweaked the sector shaft. My steering wheel is turned 90* to the right when going straight... alignment is still perfect though... dealer mechanic told me I "jumped a gear" inside the box... HAHAHAHA Good laugh from that one.



Also, if you don't mind, how much $$$ for the box from Dave?



Thanks for any help. Josh.

 

[Jeff Knight]

enterpriseengine.com or 740-246-6329 Jeff

 

[Badunit]

I didn't find the Delphi to be any better than the Saginaw, at least not when they are new. Maybe one holds up better than the other but both have lots of slop in the pitman shaft. The AGR units I had had the same slop but it was masked a little by the easier steering from their valving. The poor steering was the major reason I got rid of my 2001; I hope Dave truly has a fix for it (though it's too late for me). The 2003's steer like a dream.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

snowracer69,



See Jeff's post above. Ask for Doug @ EE. I have not installed mine yet. Hopefully this weekend. Get yourself some high quality power steering fluid to go with your new box. Valvoline Synpower is good stuff. I am going to try Royal Purple EZ max synthetic this time.



Royal Purple PSF thread:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...hreadid=58391&highlight=Royal+Purple+steering



Cost $275. This is pricey for a rebuild. It better hold up.



Badunit,



The AGR I have on the truck now (2 months old) has NO pitman shaft side-to-side or in-&-out play. The box still has MAJOR slop.

 

[snowracer69]

Hemi....

Thanks for the info... $275, even though you say it's expensive for a rebuild, sounds a heck of a lot better to me then $718 for one from the Stealer. The injectors and exhaust will have to wait. Thanks for the great info.



Josh.

 

[Badunit]

Did the older boxes use a bushing for the pitman shaft instead of a needle bearing? I had considered rebuilding one of my boxes with a custom-made bushing to replace the bearing but wasn't sure how it would hold up. From what I found in looking at the boxes I had (including the new ones), the pitman shaft was too small for the needle bearing. There was twice as much play as the bearing manufacturer recommended. A custom bearing would have been expensive but a custom bushing would have been relatively cheap. My concerns were that it wouldn't wear well and that the wear products would collect at the seal and scratch it up over time.



There are certainly other areas of the box that can cause play other than adjustments and designed-in bearing clearances. Wear in the recirculating ball system is one. Also, the basic design of the power assist actually creates something that resembles play; there is some "give" in the steering to make the assist work. This is most noticable when the engine isn't running.