2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 94-01 Steering Wandering Count!!

[GTX]

99 2500 4X4 QC
new balljoints (should have stopped there)
new steering gear (worse than before balljoints)
adjusted steering box (better)

 

[Pine Sap]

no problems... looks to be associated with 4x4 from most of the post, good idea to do this.

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2001. 5, QC, 2500, 2wd, auto, 3. 54, 4 disc, long-bed, all the stuff, heated leather, patriot blue over silver, stock4now!

a real "country cadilac"

 

[Pit Bull]

I realize that big 4x4's with solid front axles don't steer as straight as trucks with independent front axles. BUT I now drive a Toyota Landcruiser with full floating solid front and rear axles, it has heavy duty springs and it drives better than a new 3500 4x4 that I test drove at a dealer. I then went to another dealer and drove another 3500 4x4 and it drove like a dream, thought I was in a Mercedes. After reading all of the posts on the steering problems I feel now that it will be a real crap shoot if I try to order the 3500 that I want. I might get lucky and get one that steers well or I might not. The one I drove that was bad had the snowplow option, the good one didn't. Does this seem to make a difference? Is my only option to buy one already on the lot that is close to what I want and drives straight? I guess I am spoiled, my Landcruiser has 100,000 miles on it and I have never had a problem. Which is good because Toyota dealers are not any better than Dodge. It would be nice that when you spend over $35,000 on a truck you could count on getting a good one. Sorry for the long reply but I am not happy with what I am experencing and seeing, ( BUT I LOVE THE DODGE 3500 LOOK AND THE CUMMINS ENGINE )

 

[David Oxland]

Steering vague and imprecise; wanders; slow to react Dealer evasive and independant alignment shop claimed this was a poor design

Originally posted by Nollie Neill Jr:
Wanting a Count of how many have had Steering Problems with 2500 & 3500 trucks!
There's been a lot of talk about how to fix etc.
*****************************
I want to just see a count, no need for long replys, just model # & year!
******************************
Maybe if we show just how many, then DC will take notice. Remember how long it took Ford / Firestone to put figures together. My father in-law is starting Lemon Law paperwork on his 99 2500 4x4.

 

[Komik]

1994 2500 2X2 Okay
1998 1/2 3500 4X4 Wandered
2000 3500 4X4 Wandered

Both with less than 3000k miles

[This message has been edited by Butch Kraus (edited 11-28-2000). ]

 

[DaveO]

Wandered from day 1. Thanx to info from this site I performed the "OTC" adjustment. This helped a lot.

Recently had to adjust bearing preload. Then readjusted the "OTC". MUCH BETTER. These are both on the steering box.

The truck NOW drives very good in a straight line. But I have adjusted it 3 times in 20K miles.

If you haven't adjusted the box, have it done(or do it yourself)!

'01 2500 4X4 SB QC Cummins

Dave

[This message has been edited by DaveO (edited 11-30-2000). ]

 

[smitty]

new track bar, balljoints, torsion bar and tie rod ends. Front end is now practically brand new. it does steer better.

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1996 RAM2500 4x4 5. 9 Cummins w/5sp 3. 54 rearend. 8ft Diamond plow. Scotty type k&n filter. New truck bed(crunched my other one) Hope to add 4" exhaust soon. Silencer ring reinstalled Cat fell off and ran into the woods. Can still here the turbo just fine. Truck now sounds better and runs better! New linex spray on bedliner!

 

[WCrovo]

Maybe I'm used to it. My 99 seemed better than my 2001. 5. Both 4X4's. I will pay serious attention tonight on way home.

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2001 2500 tow, camper, SWB, ETH, Bright white.

 

[Davison]

About 4500 miles and no problems. Born August 3, 2000 in St. Louis. Knock on wood!

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2001. 5 2500 SLT+, QC/LB 4x4, ETH, 6spd, 3:54 LSD, camper/tow equip. , NV241HD, Bright Silver, Snug Top, Ispro w/3 pod pillar w/tweeter, Pyro, Boost & Mag Hytec cover w/temp guage

 

[Davison]

About 4500 miles and no problems. Born August 3, 2000 in St. Louis. Knock on wood!

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2001. 5 2500 SLT+, QC/LB 4x4, ETH, 6spd, 3:54 LSD, camper/tow equip. , NV241HD, Bright Silver, Snug Top, Ispro w/3 pod pillar w/tweeter, Pyro, Boost & Mag Hytec cover w/temp guage

 

[Guest00]

funny #ad
that this thread started out wanting a head count of people with steering problems and seems to have mutated into a count of those that did not have any problems

 

[Nollie Neill Jr]

Thanks for everyone's replys. Wish this had just been the one's with problems. I printed this off and took to dealer we are working with. They almost laugh at me, said that out of the thousands of members TDR had, it looked like only a couple of dozen were having problems, so they said their wasn't a problem. Guess we will have to wait until someone gets killed, like the tire companies before they will consider recalls!!

[This message has been edited by Nollie Neill Jr (edited 12-01-2000). ]

 

[Ramtough]

Originally posted by Nollie Neill Jr:
Wanting a Count of how many have had Steering Problems with 2500 & 3500 trucks!
There's been a lot of talk about how to fix etc.
*****************************
I want to just see a count, no need for long replys, just model # & year!
******************************
Maybe if we show just how many, then DC will take notice. Remember how long it took Ford / Firestone to put figures together. My father in-law is starting Lemon Law paperwork on his 99 2500 4x4.

My '01 w/15K mIles drives like it has 150K



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'01 Black extended cab 4X4 SLT+ 6 spd. Westin grille guard, nerf bars and bed rails. ISO Pro guages, Line-X bed liner, Westin kick out steps.

 

[Jammar9082]

My '96, 2500,2x4 has wandered from the day I drove it off the dealer's lot. Supposedly nothing is wrong with it but it certainly doesn't track correctly. I just have to be careful and "drive it" all the time. This is just another one of DC's "no Problem" tricks.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

http://www.ecpe.vt.edu/~dfritz/technical/TSB97/19-10-97/19_10_97.htm

 

[Shleets]

2001, QC, 4x4 (Manufactured in August 2000)

 

[Shleets]

2500, 2001, 4x4

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Mark Schlueter
2001, QC, 4x4, ETC, K&N, White sport package. Kodiak Sidewinder Steps. Mag Hytec rear dif cover. Wet Okole seat covers. Gauges on order. Mag Hytec Trans pan is next.

 

[rickhans]

98. 5 4x4 wanders a little, but not as bad as all of the Chevy straight axle 4x4's I've owned since '71. It's the nature of a straight axle to wander some, but sounds like some have other problems that create similar symptoms. There are several threads about this. Search back through the last 6 months. Are some detail specs for correct alignment to help.

 

[vc]

'97 2500 4X4,on second steering box,still wanders and ofcourse pulls left when stopping.

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'97 Ram,automatic,3. 54 limited-slip, 4x4,smoothie,BD fuel plate,Prime-Loc.

 

[The patriot]

Had the track bar clunk since I picked it up.
I finally got the mechanic to find it.
At another visit, not related to steering, I got it back with 6" of play in the steering wheel. #ad
Dealer made good on it, but it was never the same (as tight) as the 1st one, and it pulls to the right now.
My wife dont know how I drive it, guess I'm used to it. #ad

I'd go back for another one, but I have 62K miles now. Out of warrantee!