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

[fest3er]

I'll throw in my tuppence-worth.

My '98 used to wander all over the road. An alignment by a *good* technician eliminated a lot of it. Putting on the Yoko 225/70-19. 5 tires removed more wander. The steering shaft (Flaming River?) from Rickson may have reduced the wander a bit. Replacing the steering gear (with a rebuilt from Power Steering Specialists in OH) eliminated most of the remaining wander; the OEM gear had a failed bearing. I can actually drive in a straight line with needing much steering input at all.

Eventually, I'll replace the track bar again. And, as I'm at 90K miles, I'll likely replace the front bushings and the other steering components by around 110K miles. (Or sooner. There's a nasty clunking rattle in the front end when it's jolted. Could be the KYB shocks - they do have 75K miles on them now... . )

When you do replace the steering gear, be prepared for some slack in the gear. My replacement had about 5 degrees of play for a couple thousand miles. Seems there was still a bit of air trapped in the gear that took a while to be purged. And trapped air will also cause the new gear to feel rather stiff; when that air works its way out, the steering becomes much easier.

Fest3er

 

[dmurdock]

01 3500 4x4

 

[WCrovo]

The sobriety comment is funny but could come true. My 2001. 5 is worse than my 99. It all makes sense, there are times when it is true as can be and times when you feel like Stoney Burke.

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2001 2500 tow, camper, SWB, ETH/DEE, 3. 54 Bright white,4 wheel discs.

 

[Nollie Neill Jr]

Since I started this Topic, thought I'd post what I did this past week.

Went by a dealer that I don't do business with. They had a new 2001 2500 QC 4x4 6speed long wheel base, just like what I'm considering.

Got a young salesman and we went for a test drive! Guess what the steering was all over the road, and it was a bran new 4 lane road.
I let the salesman drive it back and he thought something was wrong also.
We got in a 1500 QC and went back down the same road and the steering was fine.

He took the 2500 to the service manager and the service manager acted like he never heard of any steering problems on any Dodge trucks.
I told them if they could get it fixed I might consider buying the truck. They said they would call me next week. I'm guessing I'll never here back from them.

My father in law has decided to trade his 99 2500 4x4 QC 5 speed, since they can't seem to fix the steering. He will never own another Dodge and is looking at the Chevy.

Keep posting your complains maybe someone at DC will listen!!

 

[Murle]

4,000 miles on my 2001 one ton. Got the steering box replaced last week. No questions asked I just told the dealer the steering was bad and they relaced the box. They said they have replaced 40 or 50 of the steering boxes lately.

 

[Un-Hemi]

See the signature. 40,000 mi. Alignment bang-on. I've Been champing at the bit to post this!

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Tom Glover - VE7DQ, C-GWTG
99 QC SLT, LWB 4x2, ETC/DGP, Wht/Agate, etc.

 

[Bad Brad]

My steering sucks!

 

[Bad Brad]

My steering sucks!

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2000, 3500 Driftwood, 4X4, Quad Cab, SLT+ Laramie, Tan Leather, 6 Speed, 3. 54LSD, Tow Package, Camper Package, All Possible Options, Rancho RS 9000 Shocks, Linex Bed Liner, K&N Air Filter, Husky Floor Mats, Geno's Smoothie, Chrome "Down and Out" Exhaust, Stainless Steel Fender Trim Kit, Geno's Charcoal Air Filter, Mopar Bug Deflector, Whisler Radar Detector, AirLift 5000 Air Bags, Smittybuilt Polished Stainless Steel Nerf Bars, Sylvania Cool Blue Headlights, Pro Flaps, 1999 Lance Fiberglass 1010 Legend, TV, VCR, Air, Generator, Solar, max'ed out all possible options, sleeps 5. Ya Baby!

 

[Gregg Mig]

MY steering sucks too. The problem is not only in the box but also in the balljoints on the ends of the tierods and particularly the pitman arm. I posted this last July about all the in and out movement these parts have when you turn the steering wheel back and forth. Do this with the engine running with an assistant turning the steering wheel while you are under the truck. Dealer said thats normal. I also went as far as replacing these components with moog problem solver,these parts had just as much play. Also drove new 2001 off dealer lot and observed the same in and out play in the balljoints. I then took out an F 250 4x4 PSD drove like a dream. I checked the balljoints on the ends of the tierods,and pitman arm and there was absolutly no play at all in them,not to mention they where a lot beefer also.

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Gregg Mig

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

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[azgearpro]

yep 1996 2wd 3/4 ext. cab long bed with wondering steering and bad bad brakes.

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96,2WD 3/4t ext. cab-DC,just added DTT torque convertor with valve body,tst #4,full pillar guages,5th wheel setup
wanting to add 2-3 lift, and rig style volosity stacks. Dynoed Horse power?

 

[MLynn]

97 2500 4x4 wanders all over the place. Totally stock at this point. Will try the TSB work when weather breaks. May also change track bars.

 

[mariah]

2001 2500 4x4

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2001,2500,qc,slt,swb,4x4,auto,3. 54's. Cummins 5/00 assembly 7/00 Mexico.
NRA life member.

 

[Big-D]

99 2WD no problems yet

 

[Archive]

2001. 5 2500, very sloppy.

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2001. 5 (del'd 1/31/01)2500 SLT 4x4, ETC, auto trans (DGP), tow pkg, camper pkg, MOPAR bedliner...

 

[canblue]

99, 2500 4x4. Real bad. Replaced with an 03 track bar and bracked.

 

[Bart]

I had a lot of steering wonder. I was changing the front discs (going to EGRs) I reviewed the shop manual for my 98 and it said to use a dial indicator to bring the in and out motion of the rotor down to a maximum of . 001 to . 002" This is the first time I've ever done that!!! Well I did and the steering is a lot tighter.

 

[msperos]

2001 2500 quad cab 4x4

 

[Woodenhead]

'96 2500 4x4. Ball joints and tie rods are tight, new track bar (3rd one 220,000 miles) plenty of wheel play and the people driving behind me probably think I'm loaded. After reading Fishin'Fool's post I send an email to Marv at Windecker machine to get one of their stabilizer kits for the steering box sector shaft. Hope that works.

 

[FArnold]

99 4x4 3500 Cummins