2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2nd Gen Steering

[bubba_zanetti]

DSS did wonders to my truck. Laying underneath and moving the steering shaft by hand, I could see the pitman arm go side to side in its case (not rotate). So about 7 years ago I put on a DSS. That alone improved the steering.

For the dreaded wheel shimmy, I replaced the trackbar with a Moog unit at the same time... so 7 years later it is time to replace another trackbar...

It is also time now to replace the steering gear, pump, and steering wheel shaft.

 

[CRWilliams]

Sorry to jump in, but where do I find the PSC steering box?

 

[WPeschel]

Sorry to jump in, but where do I find the PSC steering box?

Here is the website. . PSC Motorsports

 

[WPeschel]

I just put on my 3rd gen track bar bracket and trackbar... Man did it fix the problem... . I dont think I really need a new steering sector but I think I will end up buying one for the 3 turn efortless steering... It apears on PSC's website that the box is 430$ but you get 100$ back when you send in your core. . I think I will buy one next month... Thank Dave M for all your help... Wesley

 

[Suprmn]

http://www.wildhorsesuspension.com/



Here is the 3rd gen steering box conversion. I have one sitting on the floor ready to go in. The guys that have done this upgrade say its the only way to go.

 

[Joe Mc]

Hey Guys & Gals,

Thought I'd chime in here, you know add my $0. 02 from my wonderful experience (or should I say expense) with my 99 4X4 steering.



Here goes:

* 3-Moog Lifetime replacement track bars (in under 50k miles!!!)

* upper & lower ball joints

* Steering dampner shock replacement

* Bilstein shocks (yellow & blue)

* 2" steel front spring spacers

* Wild Country upper & lower tubular control arms w/orange bushings and grease fittings on all ends (8), only use marine type grease - green and real sticky

* Axel Shaft u-Joints (@150k - just to eliminate as a possibility)

* Finally dumped the POS stock design Moog and went w/3rd gen adjustable track bar (SWEET!)

* While inspecting the last Moog trackbar joint I noticed the sector shaft was wobbling side to side as the wheel was being cycled. BINGO, see next item.

* DSS Steering stabilizer

* Basically the Partridge "and" the Pear Tree



Bottom line - "Oh, Baby" Oo. :-laf



I feel the items having the most impact to correct the blasted front end were:

1 - Control Arm Replacement - tubular are way stronger than stock stamped steel, orange bushings are replaceable and able to be greased ,

2 - 3rd gen adj trackbar - no more blasted joint to wear out, can replace bushing (if you ever need to), made it possible to center the housing, versus DCs method of throwing a 3 or 5 mm spacer behind the wheel and stamping "do not remove" on it in an attempt to provide correct geometry, and

3 - The biggest improvement item, DSS Steering Stabilizer - really made the steering, "STEERING" versus the battle to stay on the road. I got lucky @ 152k my sector shaft seal was not leaking at all? if it was I probably would have gone to the reduced lock to lock steering box.



OK there's my $0. 02 (actually more like about $2,000. 00)

 

[hilda]

Spent the money and still wanders

Hi guys: I have been out for a while and have returned to find if there has been any kind of fix for the crappy steering on the 01 4x4. I now have 82k on my truck and the steering still sucks. I pretty much have resigned to the fact that its just the way it is!! I have searched and read about the 3 gen box and some of the other stuff but I do not want to throw away any more money until someone knows for sure what the fix is. Dodge knows good and well that they produced an inferior product and should make it right but - well you know. My dash has fragged like some of the other members and also my lift pump gave out on a road trip and cost me $1100 to repair. I have been a solid Mopar enthusiast for over 30 yrs and still have my "70 Cuda" but I am not impressed anymore. If I could convince Toyota into installing a Cummins in one of their trucks I think we would have something. Besides Toyota is made in the USA while my Dodge was made in Mexico!!

Sorry to rant but I have just about had it up to my eyeballs!!

I just spent well over $1000,00 and the truck still wonders. 3rd gen track bar t steering and the truck is still all over the place. My tie rods were all shot, and the track bar was worn, but to replace all that and still have the truck wandering all over the fwy is very disappointing. I guess my next step would be a DSS and then maybe a steering box. You may want to start with the dss.



Hilda

 

[Joe Mc]

Oh I forgot to mention, I also replaced "all" of the steering linkage joints (rod ends) they're not cheap either . . .

 

[WPeschel]

I just spent well over $1000,00 and the truck still wonders. 3rd gen track bar t steering and the truck is still all over the place. My tie rods were all shot, and the track bar was worn, but to replace all that and still have the truck wandering all over the fwy is very disappointing. I guess my next step would be a DSS and then maybe a steering box. You may want to start with the dss.



Hilda

The DSS will do you wonders dont hesitate... Then to top it off would prolly be a new steering box... Mine is almost perfect the only next step is to put the PSC steering box in...

 

[Dave M]

Unfortunately... what it takes to fix each trucks steering varies between each truck but can be traced to the commmon list of components defined on this site. It's frustrating when it takes a lot of parts to finally resolve the offending trouble (sometimes duplicate problems ... in my case) but in the end you have re-designed a brand new front end that can last a LONG time providing vastly improved steering over the stock design. The alternate is to replace worn parts with stock (and usually mutilpe times... like track bars) and still suffer with marginal performance.



I have spent $2000 at least but finally fixed the "death wobble" (with new front rotors). Each part I replaced provided vast improvements over stock design. I feel better about replacing parts with performace parts than allow a shop to put poorly designed OEM parts in and suffer with steering that sucks.



I expect to get improved and longer lasting parts with my truck now... . and even if they didn't last longer, the improvement in steering puts a big on my face every time I drive it. I don't mind spending money if it improves the handling.



Hang in there hilda. You will be all when its finally resolved. You have a older truck that needs maintence now along with improving and upgrading it as you get the maintenace handled that it probably needs anyhow... and look at what you're learning about your steering... stuff most mechanics don't know.



Good luck to everyone on the "Quest for GREAT steering".



Dave

 

[WPeschel]

Unfortunately... what it takes to fix each trucks steering varies between each truck but can be traced to the commmon list of components defined on this site. It's frustrating when it takes a lot of parts to finally resolve the offending trouble (sometimes duplicate problems ... in my case) but in the end you have re-designed a brand new front end that can last a LONG time providing vastly improved steering over the stock design. The alternate is to replace worn parts with stock (and usually mutilpe times... like track bars) and still suffer with marginal performance.



I have spent $2000 at least but finally fixed the "death wobble" and with new front rotors. Each part I replaced provided vast improvements over stock design. I feel better about replacing parts with performace parts than allow a shop to put poorly design OEM parts in and suffer with steering that sucks.



I expect to get improved and longer lasting parts with my truck now... . and even if they didn't last longer, the improvement in steeering puts a big on my face every time I drive it. I don't mind spending money if it improves the handling.



Hang in there hilda. You will be all when its finally resolved. You have a older truck that needs maintence now along with improving and upgrading it as you as the maintenace gets handled... and look at what you learning about your steering... stuff most mechanics don't know.



Good luck to everone on the "Quest for GREAT steering".



Dave

I agree with you Dave. . I hate to be supersticious buy your post count is 666 you need to post again on something...

 

[Dave M]

I agree with you Dave. . I hate to be supersticious buy your post count is 666 you need to post again on something...

WOW!..... I didn't realize I hit that dreaded beastly number (if you know what I mean)... thanks. I've now moved past it... praise the Lord.



And now back to our regularly scheduled thread. Sorry for that interruption.

 

[paniolo]

i installed the adjustable 03 track bar. when they say center axle. does that mean centering the pumkin to the curve in the bar? also to correct the steering wheel i got it to center but on a turn the wheel seems to pivot (over steer) should i back it out to the opposite to return the steering wheel center? i read the mag hytec cover works not so couple of my fins are smashed.

 

[Joe Mc]

i installed the adjustable 03 track bar. when they say center axle. does that mean centering the pumkin to the curve in the bar? also to correct the steering wheel i got it to center but on a turn the wheel seems to pivot (over steer) should i back it out to the opposite to return the steering wheel center? i read the mag hytec cover works not so couple of my fins are smashed.

I centered mine (not sure if right or wrong) as follows: remove the 3 or 5 mm spacer between the hub and wheel on the right side - DCs method of centering? Tape a string with a small nut tied on it for weight to both fenders, draping the string over the wheel house centering it by the wheel hub (center cap) and with the nut just a hair above the tire tread. Then looking at each tire, from the front of the truck, compare how much difference there is. Then adjust the track bar till the strings land the same on both tires. Remember to jog the front end after each adjustment, then re-sight the tread & string/nut.

Like I said, I'm not sure if this was right or wrong, but I know it's not dog legging and steers straight. You will have to re-center the steering wheel, using the adjustable part on the link from the pitman arm to the drag link.

 

[Dave M]

Thats a good method, Joe, for centering. I just put mine on and took it in for alignment and had the frame alignment shop check it. I never understood what "centering the axle" meant either.

 

[paniolo]

thanks guys. i think i'll take it to a alignment shop. i noticed black tread makes in the driveway and scuffing on the outer tire.

 

[wilsonsh]

Thrust angle alignment centers the axel.

 

[muchsnow]

Hi guys: I have been out for a while and have returned to find if there has been any kind of fix for the crappy steering on the 01 4x4. I now have 82k on my truck and the steering still sucks. I pretty much have resigned to the fact that its just the way it is!! I have searched and read about the 3 gen box and some of the other stuff but I do not want to throw away any more money until someone knows for sure what the fix is. Dodge knows good and well that they produced an inferior product and should make it right but - well you know. My dash has fragged like some of the other members and also my lift pump gave out on a road trip and cost me $1100 to repair. I have been a solid Mopar enthusiast for over 30 yrs and still have my "70 Cuda" but I am not impressed anymore. If I could convince Toyota into installing a Cummins in one of their trucks I think we would have something. Besides Toyota is made in the USA while my Dodge was made in Mexico!!
Sorry to rant but I have just about had it up to my eyeballs!!

Good replacement steering box w/oem inverted T centerlink installation made mine better than it was when new... ... do a search for inverted T steering here. .

 

[jandtjil]

Muchsnow
thanks for answering my many email questions on the inverted-T steering swap. I got the truck back from the alignment shop last Sat after installing the inv-T parts the previous week, A pickle fork and smooth sailing!
Unfortunatly I noted that I have a bit of slop in my PSC box (5 years old), but haven't yet tried to adjust bearing preload on the gear box, maybe tonight!
Inverted-T, I love it!

JJ

 

[muchsnow]

Inverted T steering.

Muchsnow
thanks for answering my many email questions on the inverted-T steering swap. I got the truck back from the alignment shop last Sat after installing the inv-T parts the previous week, A pickle fork and smooth sailing!
Unfortunatly I noted that I have a bit of slop in my PSC box (5 years old), but haven't yet tried to adjust bearing preload on the gear box, maybe tonight!
Inverted-T, I love it!

JJ

Great, isn't it?

I can't pitch the mod enough, It was the best thing I ever did to get rid of the steering slop when combined w/a non worn steering box/suspension components.

Good on ya,

Have a good one.