2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2nd Gen Steering Box Questions....

[Hammer]

We are looking for a good steering box to fit a 01. 5 2500 4x4.



PSC has quit making the 2nd Gen boxes and so far the Napa and Cardone boxes have proved to be POS's. I know people who have used the Mopar boxes and are having issues with them also.



So my question is then,With PSC NOT making boxes for our rides now,does anyone know of a manufacturer that makes a quality steering box for the 2nd generation owner?. This truck is lifted with a long arm kit 6" over stock and its a lady who drives this daily and we are trying to get the wander out of her truck so she can enjoy driving it again.



Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated as I am out of ideas... ..... Andy

 

[DFerverda]

Hey Hammer,I bought my box from Chip at power steering service, Springfield Mo. It was a 3 turn and works great. His # is 417-864-6676
Talk to him, he knows his stuff and will tell you what will work best for you.
Dirk

 

[KYOUNG]

Second on the PSS box, made my truck drive better than new!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA - Red-Head Steering Gears Home
They have an excellent reputation in the Seattle area and they ship to all 50 states. I have done the DSS and the 3rd gen adjustable track bar and a Red Head 3 turn steering box and I can honestly say that my truck steers as tight as my 90 Corvette did. I have had this setup for at least 30K. The box has loosened up over time but still has no play if that makes sense.

98 12V 4X4

 

[fest3er]

Andy,

1. Power Steering Specialists, Inc. (Power Steering Specialists, Westerville, OH, top side of I270) for a rebuilt gear. I've had one in my truck for a good many years, including 30K or so before I installed the DSS; it's held up pretty well.
2. Solid Steel for an output shaft stabilizer (DSS).
3. Turn off the engine and crank the wheel hard side-to-side. If there is any wear evident in any ball-n-socket joint, replace it.
4. If there's over 80k-100k on the suspension bushings or the truck takes bumps 'hard', replace the bushings, even if no movement is evident. (Road shock coming straight through to the frame is a good indication the bushings are shot. )
5. If there's any play in the steering shaft ujoints, replace the shaft.
6. If the tires are L/R D, install L/R E tires. If they are L/R E, replace with a stouter set of L/R E tires, or with 14-ply tires.

After replacing my bushings and steering shaft (I almost used abbreviations there, but it might've been TMI, and Ms. Robin might've been shocked. Shocked I tell ya!) the truck steered almost solidly. There's still a little wear in a couple sockets (pittman and the other end of that bar) and in the track bar. But very little steering correction is needed any more. (Thanks, Jim! Wish I coulda been there to help you cuss out the bushings!) I still need to replace the rear bushings.

And years ago when I installed the DSS, I had to re-learn how to drive the truck. It took that much slop out of the steering.

 

[Hammer]

N... .

The suspension on this truck is all new. 6" over long arm lift from BDS so all the control arms stuff is new. The truck has had new ball joints also installed and new sway bar bushings.



It does not have a DSS yet and since the sway bars are dropped to accomodate the lift this may be an issue. However I will call EEP this week and have one sent in to see if that fit and if so it will be installed.



Steering gear is finished business as it has enough play in it there no way to even get close to adjusting it out. Looks like RedHead Steering will be the place we will get it from as after chatting with the owner,I was very impressed. Who knows,maybe one may even find its way onto my truck since mine is the original box yet at 220k(the DSS brace I am convinced has allowed it to live so long).



Her tires and wheels are also new and the tires are a load range E. I am not a fan of the offset on them but she likes them and its going to be tough to talk her into changing them.



Time will tell how it works out. I wish the guy who made the kits to convert to the 3rd generation steering boxes still did the kits as hers is a prime canadate for one. His website is gone,email is a dead address and his last activity here was back in Jan 09 and his last post was Jan 08. So we go with what we can for now until a better idea comes along... ... Andy

 

[BILLVO]

I just installed a 3 1/3 turn box on my 02 from PSS to replace the worn out 4. 5 turn box and so far so good Part # 55-313. I bought it through Inland truck parts and service.



It now feels and steers like my 05.