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

[GMincher]

'98 2500 Standard cab... . Read "Sudden light steering" if you have the time. I can't understand how a supposedly modern truck can handle so poorly. This is really my only major complaint. Greg

 

[gtobey]

In for some repairs...

My '02 2500 has been slowly getting some play in the front end, and most noticeably on a windy day, or on a contoured roadbed, or when the contours change abruptly. You'd better be ready to catch the front end as it takes off on a course all its own.



Well, back to the alignment shop, and we found the track bar had developed play as well as the tie rod ends. So, I ordered the DSS adjustable track bar, and bracket kit, and hope to put that on tonight. The tie rod ends will be put on when I get it aligned on Thursday. I hope to post a reply as to how it does after all of this...

 

[KNaugle]

2000, 2500, LWB



Kirk

 

[GKainz]

'97 2500 4x4 ... like an old hay wagon going down the road

 

[me4osu]

1998 24V 3500 AWD with 2. 125" Skyjacker front end lift

 

[KYOUNG]

I just replaced my steering box with a rebuild from PSS in Springfield ,MO. What a difference that made!!! I went from driving with two white knuckled hands to being able to drive with one finger!!!



Took care of my trucks wandering!!

 

[WDixon27]

shhh don't tell my truck that but that's one of the first things i did after i bought it, i think the reason theres this big thing about not adjusting the box is because you can do it wrong and possibly create a dangerous condition, i've been adjusting boxes for years on euro cars and it's about the same on all of them, get the front wheels off the ground and slowly turn the lash adjuster a little at a time and turn the wheel till you feel it start to bind then back off a about a 1/2 turn, the biggest thing is to not have it bind as that can wear out the box quickly

Power steering boxes can not be adjusted in the truck.

 

[CumminsPower98]

I agree. I adjust boxes all the time in a similar way and it works fine.

shhh don't tell my truck that but that's one of the first things i did after i bought it, i think the reason theres this big thing about not adjusting the box is because you can do it wrong and possibly create a dangerous condition, i've been adjusting boxes for years on euro cars and it's about the same on all of them, get the front wheels off the ground and slowly turn the lash adjuster a little at a time and turn the wheel till you feel it start to bind then back off a about a 1/2 turn, the biggest thing is to not have it bind as that can wear out the box quickly

 

[DBazley]

I just got a huge decrease in my 'steering wander' problem, by performing the 'lower steering column bushing' rebuild using a part my dad & I made. Report & pics here:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1521307



The decrease was a plesant surprise - I just did this to get rid of that super annoying 'clunk, rattle or poping' our trucks develop in the column.



What I didn't expect was the increased feeling of direct control that resulted.



Makes sense, my whole front end is new with all the stuff you guys already know about or have done :



Darin's Steering Stabilizer, Lukes Link Track Bar, Poly Control arms & sway bars, New Rancho 9000's, etc



I guess what this did was: with the stock steering column, when steering the truck, the steering column 'inner shaft' was skewing sideways, before actually moving the steering box main shaft.



I think the clunking was the noise that results from the shaft also skewing sideways inside the outer shell of the column when road shocks were transmitted back up the line to the steering wheel.



My road wander is now at 0 % better than even when it was new !



Too bad it took 9 years of R & D and all the help you guys could offer to get it that way !!



David B.

 

[kbryan]

2001 2500 Quad Cab

 

[CumminsPower98]

I just built new controls arms and when I installed them I added more caster and my wondering has gone way down. My biggest problem was that when the last alignment was done after changing the axle, they gave it only about +2. 32/2. 64 deg. of caster. Then later after reading the TDR I figured I would add more caster but got confused and ended up going the wrong way. Mine was still wondering even with all new parts from the firewall to the wheels except ball joints, which are still just fine.

 

[kenny61]

96 2500 4wd 150,000miles ball joints 3x

 

[JMead]

1996 2500 replaced track bar, steering box

 

[BSowers]

1997 2500 4x4

lower driver side ball joint and panhard bar move.

 

[6naline01]

01 3500 Eth/dee

 

[6naline01]

forgot to add no problem.

 

[Jschafer]

94 From Day one The Ferd I replaced with the new Dodge wandered less it had 225 k on it.



All parts except steering box have been changed many times 340 k I am used to it

 

[LDPetersen]

95' 2500. 170k no wander until i had the rest of the front end fixed 5k miles ago.

 

[Tomscreek]

I'm going to try to get my steering corrected only because my truck is paid for, in great shape, low miles and not worth much in trade in. But I can tell you if I were to buy another truck I wouldn't buy another Dodge if it was the last ******* truck on the planet. Yeah the Cummins is nice and has good torque, big deal. This truck drives like my 47 International dump truck and I'm sick of it!! I just installed a new "correct ratio" PSC steering box and if anything the steering is worse. Guess I'll just keep throwing parts at it and hope something works before I go broke. Next truck, GMC 3/4 ton GAS engine truck.

 

[JGelinas]

97 1 ton yep