2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Another Theory on Steering Wander?

[Chief USA]

Another Theory on Steering Wonder?

I took my truck in to have the block heater replaced last week and mentioned that the truck wondered from side to side of the road while driving. Not real bad but enough to where you had to keep bumping the steering back and forth the stay on the road. The tech. took my truck out for a test drive and agreed there was a problem.



He removed the steering damper and link that it was connected to and it was like driving a totally different truck. It held the road very nicely compared to before. The tech. said the steering damper and the power steering box were fighting each other and was causing the steering wonder.



I am taking the truck back tommorow morning to have the new steering damper installed. I'll keep you posted as to how the repair turns out.



These guys were VERY professional and eager to work with me. I highly recommend them. Sisk Dodge in Hopkinville, KY. They even did the 3 cylinder warmup activation to boot. The tech said it would take him only about 5 minutes to complete. He also showed me information on reflashes to increase power but we both agreed to not mess with success since the truck is running great and gets 20 - 21 mpg. Only has a tad over 7,000 miles on it.

 

[Chipstien]

I wonder if there are any adverse effects running without the stabilizer if you don't offroad.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by Chipstien

I wonder if there are any adverse effects running without the stabilizer if you don't offroad.

If you hit a pothole or ridge in the road just right it can rip the steering wheel right out of your hands possibly breaking both your thumbs before you run off the road.

If you do decide to run without one hold on tight!

 

[Chief USA]

Update on dealer repairs

I took the truck in today and they installed the new block heater and steering stabilizer. The steering is much improved but the Service Tech Writer said he was not satisfied with the steering performance and is going to replace the steering box. I drove the truck for a week with no stabilizer and it drove fine. The tech told me that the stabilizer was primarily for off road use to prevent bump steer. I'll keep you posted on how the steering box replacement turns out.



Randy

 

[Chief USA]

Update on dealer repairs 2

I took the truck in today to have the steering box replaced. Looks like they did a good job on the install. Maybe it is just me but the new steering box looks beefier and they replaced the pitman arm as well.



The truck steers VERY good now. Almost NO wondering or loosness on the road and tracks well. I can drive with one or two fingers on the steering wheel now.



They also supposedly fixed a mildew smell problem with the A/C to boot. The dealer service dept. team did a very good job over all.



I would highly recommend them. Sisk Dodge in Hopkinsville KY. The Service Tech Writer is Jeff.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Hmm, how many cars & trucks are out on the road right now without a steering damper? How many people do you know of that have had their thumbs broken by steering wheel kickback while on a paved road? A steering damper is for EXTERNAL inputs - ie hitting potholes/rocks at speed. Not to prevent bump steer. Bump steer is due to the geometry of the front suspension and steering linkage. I'm curious how the steering box and steering damper were 'fighting' each other.



My '79 CJ-7 with 33" BFG MT does not have a steering damper and it has never been a problem - even in Baja chasing for a 2-1600 buggy.



Brian

 

[merryman]

What in the world did we seniors do--driving all over, including off road----before we encountered stabilizers??

Well, we did learn to hang on tight!

Vaughn

 

[merryman]

AND, keep your thumbs outside the steering wheel!!!



Vaughn

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by illflem

If you hit a pothole or ridge in the road just right it can rip the steering wheel right out of your hands possibly breaking both your thumbs before you run off the road.

Then you couldn't THUMB a ride. Bummer.

 

[HC]

I see you're at the 7,000 mile mark.



At 125k+, my own past experience suggests that your journey on the search for better steering has probably just begun, and I believe you'll find, as many others have, that there is no one silver bullet that will totally slay this demon. New stabilizers helped some, but not others, and not me. New track bars and products like Luke's Link, Lindstad track bars, seem to help, but a track bar alone was not the total solution for me. New steering boxes always seem to help, but only for awhile, and this should not be a 30,000 mile "throw away" replacement part. A new lower steering shaft from Flaming River helped, but again is not a total solution. I plan to try one of the add-on bearings for the gear box shaft next; I believe it and maybe one more steering box should bring me relief for awhile.



Thanks for the input on what's working for you, and thanks especially for naming a Dealer who cares; I might actually be through your part of the country from time to time and that information is good to have in your hip pocket. It also makes me wonder if there is room for a "dealer reviews" section of this board, where folks could post both positive and negative experiences they've had with local dealers. This would have to be done carefully - opinions would be those of the reviewers, not the TDR, etc.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by merryman

What in the world did we seniors do--driving all over, including off road----before we encountered stabilizers??

Well, we did learn to hang on tight!

Vaughn

Vaughn's got it right. I never broke a thumb but had one hurt for weeks back in the days of no stabilizers on heavy trucks. One handed driving was a bad idea back then. Don't really need one on a light weight vehicle. A stabilizer provides more resistance the faster it moves, makes it so your power steering and eventually your hands on the wheel don't have to fight the forces on the road that want to turn your wheels rapidly. In normal turning you'll never know the stabilizer is there, try to make a very fast turn and you'll feel the resistance increase.

With the way DC trys to save a dime by leaving out things like grab handles you can bet they'd leave out the stabilizer if they could.

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by illflem

Vaughn's got it right. I never broke a thumb but had one hurt for weeks back in the days of no stabilizers on heavy trucks. One handed driving was a bad idea back then. Don't really need one on a light weight vehicle. A stabilizer provides more resistance the faster it moves, makes it so your power steering and eventually your hands on the wheel don't have to fight the forces on the road that want to turn your wheels rapidly. In normal turning you'll never know the stabilizer is there, try to make a very fast turn and you'll feel the resistance increase.

With the way DC trys to save a dime by leaving out things like grab handles you can bet they'd leave out the stabilizer if they could.

Mine came with 2 stabilizers.



HC- "It also makes me wonder if there is room for a "dealer reviews" section of this board, where folks could post both positive and negative experiences they've had with local dealers. This would have to be done carefully - opinions would be those of the reviewers, not the TDR, etc. "



http://dodgeram.info/survey_dealer/Dealers.htm

 

[jman]

Whats a steering box cost to get replaced. My pump groans when they wheels are about half turned like it is binding in a certain spot every time. I have a little wander, but it really isn't that bad or maybe I'm just used to it, but everytime I turn into a parking space is groans. I checked the PS fluid and it is fine and it is also Valvoline Synpower.



Like everything else, I'll probably wait until I just can't stand it anymore and then fix it.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Originally posted by illflem

In normal turning you'll never know the stabilizer is there, try to make a very fast turn and you'll feel the resistance increase.

I highly doubt that you can generate a high enough shaft speed at the damper by turning the steering wheel to get much damping force. The valving would be so heavy that the power steering would be fighting the damper.

Originally posted by illflem

With the way DC trys to save a dime by leaving out things like grab handles you can bet they'd leave out the stabilizer if they could.

IMO a damper should not be needed on paved roads and any dealer that installs the second stabilizer per the TSB to cure shimmy is a complete & total hack - I guess DC would be included since they're the ones that issued the TSB... Unless the steering wheel is moving in your hands while the truck wanders there isn't enough shaft travel in the damper to generate any damping and the damper won't have any effect on curing steering wander.



Brian

 

[Chief USA]

Cost of a new steering box is.........

$780. 00... ... ..... hope you can get that done under warranty. That is the cost that the service writer quoted me when he replaced mine.