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

[JFitzgerald]

Mine is fixed for good. Sold it. We'll see if the GMC does better.

 

[stlowry]

98. 5 3500 4x4

 

[Scott Lowe]

2000 Quad Cab, 2WD. 70K miles, mechanic states that I need new ball joints, but can't get them due to a nationwide backorder... to me it sounds like a systemic problem... maybe a recall is in the works?

 

[steved]

99 2500... trackbar and steering box adjustment solved it.



Adjusting the steering box was the best improvement... 222k and still straight as an arrow!!!



steved

 

[TFlower]

95' 2500 4x4

Wonders so bad I am used to being dizzy.

 

[ScottDunn]

00 2500 4x4 Wanders all over the North 40.



Scott

 

[muchsnow]

AGR steering boxes, be very aware, warning, warning,

Dont wast your money on a AGR.

I've had 4 bad out of the box steering boxes from these folks. (no steering center, drives to one lock on it's own, zero effort w/no center, binding, etc. ) The one with the stripped mounting lug I actually have installed in my truck w/ an sae bolt in one ear.

This is a nice variable steering box.

On my wifes truck I went through four (last one replaced w/oem from dealer due to failure while I was on the road) $$$$$$ lot's and gallons of power steering fluid.


AGR has severe Quality assurance issues. their boxes may be or, are good expensive cores.


It would take a lot to convince me otherwise.

 

[LOtero]

2001. 5 Not Too Bad Got Better By Tightening The Box, Wheel Doesent Move As Much.

 

[litespeed]

01 3500 QC Sport Only 57000 miles and all over the road? Stock

 

[JTeekell]

Year 2000, 3500 4x4

 

[Todd F]

02 2500 4X4. Added a DSS and that it helped correct the over-steering but the truck still wanderings. Funny how the dealers and Dodge say nothings wrong... .

 

[Burns]

wandering

three(3) 1998 2500s, 2 long bed-1 short

 

[hammersley]

This was started on 10-19 2000!!!!!! That's right 5 Years AGO!!!!! This has got to be a record for a THREAD!

 

[sam616g]

And no arguments. :--)

 

[hammersley]

BTW - See my latest Post - solved this problem.....

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143797

 

[CTD12V]

And no arguments.

:-laf :-laf





1998 12v QC longbed. 121,000+ miles. Trackbar replaced at least once (according to the previous owner), I have adjusted the steering box twice, wander is getting worse.

 

[steved]

In all my dodge trucks... a 94 1500, and two 99 2500s, wander was caused by one of three things... bad track bar (which can only be truely diagnosed with the front axle "hanging" on the suspension... like on a frame lift), steering box that needed adjustment (TSB outlines that adjustment), or funky tires. I have heard of people experiencing wander from bad bearings too, but mine never caused a wander (might not have ever let them get that bad).



In my 04. 5, the wander stems from having the front axle spinning all the time... variations in the road surface must require the driveline to speed up/slow down and this inturn causes drag on the fornt wheels... which causes a wander sensation... if you don't believe me, take your front driveshaft out and run down the road for a few days... then reinstall the driveshaft... you will hate it. This would apply to all of the 01 (?) to present trucks...



One thing (I didn't read this entire thread), when you change the trackbar out, you MUST get an alignment even of there seemed to be no change in steering... these trucks being out of alignment will very quickly kill a trackbar... ask me how I know...





steved

 

[CFAR]

Unfortunately, there are more than three possible causes of wander.

If you find one thing that clears it up, great, but don't be suprised if another does crop up.



1. Garbage steering box. Dealer did alignment, I tightened till binding occured, still not right, move input to box, pitman doesn't move. (New PSE box did the trick)

2. Bushing on steering box output shaft. (DSS will cure, or prevent)

3. Track Bar. (Profab)

4. Ball joints, I suppose if they are bad enough.

5. All those there tie rod end thingy's.

6. Tires sure can cause a problem, but not the majority of 4x4's.

7.





I have done 1, 2 and 3. My next change will be from the y steering to the t. with all new parts. Oh yeah and ball joints. They told me I had excess up and down play, no side to side. They told me that at about 40k, still running them at 107k



Right off the dealers lot, you could move the steering wheel 3 inches left or right of center without any movement from the tires. Dealer did alignment and was willing to replace box, but I was about 1000 miles away then. 2 other dealers said "thats the way all of them are". So I ordered a PSE box. Turn the wheel and the pitman arm moves. Unfortunately the tires don't. DSS was put on years ago, back when I was in Mass. The Dodge front end on the 4x4's has a lot of weight on it, but that doesn't excuse the slop right off the assembly line. If you sit under mine your going to hit your head, but if you lay down and look while someone slightly turns the wheel you will see the slop in the tie rod ends. I'll get to them someday, but then I won't be the wanderer.



On the 4x4's, if you stand outside the drivers door with the window rolled down, you can see both the steering shaft, pitman arm and tires. This helps in diagnosing where you slop is comming from, besides the dodge trough.

 

[PKanick]

99 2500 in atl ga

 

[rmcnamee]

1997 2500 4x4... .



Since I bought the truck (Sept. '05 with 84K miles), I've had sticky steering, low assist and poor to no return to center following a turn. To date, I have done the following and have only been able to cure the sticky steering:



Replaced box with new Delphi unit

Right & left upper/lower ball joints

3rd Gen trackbar

Alignment

Changed to synthetic PS fluid



I like this truck a lot, but the poor assist (at least it seems poor to me) and lack or weak ability to return to center are killing me. Can't seem to figure these out. For the poor assist, I may drop a pump in it and see what happens. As for the return to center, if anyone has any ideas, please let me know. And yes, I've adjusted the caster which helped somewhat, but I had to put so much +caster in that it made the truck much harder to turn.