Can anyone help with steering question?

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I am in the process of fighting with the wandering steering on my truck. I've been round and round with the dealers and am getting no help (big surprise there) so I'm going to learn what I can and try to fix it myself. The question I have is this... On any 2wd 2500 when the wheels are pointed as they would be when the truck is going straight ahead, is the pitman arm supposed to be pointed straight ahead too? Another question that would help me is are the wheels supposed to be straight ahead when the steering wheel is 1/2 way from either end of it's ability to turn?

Thanks,
Mike

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'99 QC 2500 SLT Driftwood 2wd SB 24v Auto 3. 55 LSD K&N Filter, ISSPRO pyrometer

 

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Mike,
There has been some earlier threads talking about this that you might check out. Just look at the top of the page and click on search and follow the instructions.
This forum is for engine and drivetrain, so I will move you on over to 2nd Generation Ram Forum (no engine and drivetrain disscussions) and see if we can generate some more help for you.
One thing you may check is the tire pressure in your two front tires to see if they are equal.
Good luck!

 

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Search the old threads for a TSB about this. If nothing is broken you can adjust the steering with normal tools.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

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mikel,

To answer your question (at least on my truck): No, when the steering wheel is right-side-up and the front wheels are pointed straight ahead, the pitman arm is NOT in the center of its travel. On my truck I have to turn the steering wheel about 1/8 turn to the right to put the pitman arm in the center of its travel. I don't know why this is but I suspect it's so the wheel will be right-side up when driving straight. It's less than one spline off, so relocating the pitman arm on the shaft would just make it off in the other direction. As it is I can turn a little (very little) sharper to the right than to the left -- If it has to be off, I'll take it off in this direction since right turns are usually tighter than left turns.

 

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Try taking it to a GOOD alignment shop and have them check the caster, thats what makes it go straight and the steering return to center after a turn so you dont have to turn the wheel back after a turn, it self returns to center. Look at a top fuel dragster and the front axle is tilted way back, that is an example of extreme positive caster and its to make it go real straight, the more caster there is the harder the steering effort which is no big deal with power steering. I did frame straightening and wheel alignment for many years and found this works pretty good. If this helps please let me know as there are quite a few posts about this problem and it would be helpful to know if this helps out on these trucks.
good Luck
John

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96 SLT Laramie CC 5spd, 3. 54, no muff, no cat 80gal fuel capacity.
Member NRA/USPSA

 

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Just a little FYI,when driving your vehicle down the road and you change lanes your steering wheel should return to center,if not
your steering is to tight. This is the problem
with most of the new ones are having and the
cause could be one of many things such as a
ball joint being to tight,a bad steering box,
etc. If your steering is not returning to center let the service manager ride with you
so he can see for himself. If this problem is
corrected your Ram will handle altogether
different.

 

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You may look back at the Steering Wander posts about three to four weeks ago. My dealer decided to go ahead and replace my steering gear box last Friday. Guess what... . the gear box that came on my 2001 is a GM Saginaw. Yuk. DC replaced it with a Delphi box. The wonder is completely gone. I would say it drives like a new truck but that's an insult. The mechanic let me watch the "operation". The only problem is that the spline allignment on the Delphi was a little different from the GM and the tow in has to be reset to straighten the steering wheel back up. At least the wander is gone. There shouldn't be a problem from your dealer since this is the recommended repair. It really turns smooth with the new box and it centers correctly. The old box would never center from a left turn but would center from a right turn. The mechanic did tell me (as well as show me all of the units he has removed from Jeeps and trucks) that the GM Saginaw boxes are the culprit of this problem. It will be hard to see the GM stamp in the case unless you use a mirror.

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2001 HO 6 spd 2500, 4. 10 LSD, Towing Package, Electric Brakes, EGT/Boost Gauges, Running Boards, K&N,
Real Backup Lights

 

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This will answer a lot of steering wander issues, read it all the way to the bottom of the page, & see if it helps..... DDG http://www.ecpe.vt.edu/~dfritz/technical/TSB97/19-10-97/19_10_97.htm

 

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Can you give me the P/N for the Delphi steering Box and name of dealer who did it for you , My 2001 has same steering wondering problem 4X4 made in Mexico. Thanks Warsaw, MISSOURI 65355

 

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I don't have a P/N. The dealer ordered a replacement steering box and the Delphi is what showed up. I just returned from the allignment shop. I can't believe I waited this long to finally get it fixed right. With all of the preload and overcenter adjustments, the Delphi steering gear was the real fix. The allignment shop reset camber and toe in and man is it smooth. #ad


That GM steering box wasn't made for a real truck. While at the allignment shop, there was a Cheby Tahoe with the same problem as mine. Go figure.

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2001 HO 6 spd 2500, 4. 10 LSD, Towing Package, Electric Brakes, EGT/Boost Gauges, Running Boards, K&N,
Real Backup Lights

 

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I've been in 3 times for wander, slop, and not returning to center. The first time they had the caster adjusted, which helped for awhile. Last week they replaced the track bar, which was bad. That helped, but it still seems to wander some, although at this point I wonder how much of it is in my head. This is my first truck, so I don't really know what's normal. I think I have to get behind the wheel of another one like mine to compare. They've talked all along about replacing the steering box, but it hasn't come to that... yet.

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2001 2500; SLT; 4x4; QC; LWB; Auto; 3. 54 LS; 265s; Camper; Tow; Sliding Rear Window; Travel Convenience Group; Cab Clearance Lamps; Forest Green

[This message has been edited by Fireman Dave (edited 08-07-2000). ]

 

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I can tell you that my wander problem was so bad that each adjustment that was made before replacement of the steering box helped and made it drive alot better. It would drive good for several days and then return. I made an 80 mile round trip on I-75 last night and was impressed by how much easier the truck is to drive now.

I forgot to reply to the above question about which dealer replaced my box.

Childre Dodge, Milledgeville, GA 1-888-452-5535. I don't think the Delphi box is going to have a peculiar P/N. I would imagine that all of the replacements right now are Delphi. GM was used in production. Good luck.

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2001 HO 6 spd 2500, 4. 10 LSD, Towing Package, Electric Brakes, EGT/Boost Gauges, Running Boards, K&N,
Real Backup Lights

 

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Howdy,

First of all I want to say thanks to everyone for the great advice. I've tried adjusting the steering box several times, and have gotten it to drive better, but still not "good" by any stretch of the imagination. I talked to the dealer and they will replace the box, so I may do that, but I'm kinda worried about them making it worse (not sure how, but it is DC... . ). I also talked to AGR and they are supposed to have something out for these trucks in about 3 months or so, so I will probably wait for that.

Thanks again for all the help,
Mike

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'99 QC 2500 SLT Driftwood 2wd SB 24v Auto 3. 55 LSD K&N Filter, ISSPRO pyrometer

[This message has been edited by mikel (edited 08-10-2000). ]

 

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Originally posted by Alan Reagan:
There shouldn't be a problem from your dealer since this is the recommended repair.

Does anyone have any information, like a TSB from DC about the replacement steering box? I've been fighting this problem since I got the new truck, and my dealer said (about 4 weeks ago) that "there is no replacement for the steering box, and that they wouldn't do it as they have tried that before with no success. "

I would like to be able to go back to the dealer with some solid information.

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'01 HO, 6 speed, QC, light driftwood, 4x4, camper package, 265X16, mag wheels

 

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On the new trucks... . If the dealer contacts DC about the problem, DC replies that there are no adjustments that can/should be made on the steering box. That's what the mechanic at the dealership told me. He said that DC says if there is a problem with the box (and there is) that the recommendation from DC is to replace the box. They had several on the floor at the dealership that did mine (stacked like firewood) so I believe the mechanic.

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2001 HO 6 spd 2500, 4. 10 LSD, Towing Package, Electric Brakes, EGT/Boost Gauges, Running Boards, Fog Lights, Real Backup Lights

 

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Originally posted by chuckar:

Originally posted by Alan Reagan:
There shouldn't be a problem from your dealer since this is the recommended repair.

Does anyone have any information, like a TSB from DC about the replacement steering box? I've been fighting this problem since I got the new truck, and my dealer said (about 4 weeks ago) that "there is no replacement for the steering box, and that they wouldn't do it as they have tried that before with no success. "

I would like to be able to go back to the dealer with some solid information.

I took 9 mo. to get my 5 screw dealer to do something. 7 times to get the same answer " checked alignment and in spec's. steering normal". Service manager also said thats the way the 4x4 are, nature of the beast. I searched all the steering posts and took it in and changed the nomenclature of the complaint from wander,squirllie. loose. sloppy etc, etc. to EXCESSIVE PLAY IN WHEEL they did not even check it, just went in and ordered a new gear box pn 52113500ac and said they would call me when it was in. 2 days later it was installed (delphi) AND IT STEERS LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE FROM FACTOY. When i backed the service writer in a corner he said you have to have the proper description to get the proper repairs.

Thanks to all the tdr members who led the way for me and thoes to follow.

isb broken, towed to dealer today

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2K,2500,Laramie +,Quad,4x,"slushbox"250 rpm drop wot shifts,everything cept leather and clearance lites, reese 15k 5th slider,

pullee #1 26' Arctic Fox 5th
#2 22' car hauler w/ 76 Pinto 392cid or 68 Cyclone GT Cobra Jet FB

[This message has been edited by JNutter (edited 08-21-2000). ]

 

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Where do I start? I have had two new dodge trucks. One was a new 2000 and the other was a new 2001. Both trucks wander. the first 2000, dodge bought back because they said it could not be fixed. So I ordered another. It still wanders and I have become so fed up with dodge that I told my dealer that I thought I could fix it. Will after nearly 500 dollars of my money spent with AGR to rebuild my box and a aftermarket track box it is better but not right. I understand that the problem is in the steering box and has to do with the casting of the box and then maybe the casting not being machined right. Maybe the new Delphi box is the cure!!!! I sure as hell hope so. Has anyone thought about a class action lawsuit against dodge? It sucks to spend 35000 dollars on a tuck that drives like crap. Also what about down the road when we try to get rid of these trucks. If they drive bad , who will want to buy them. If anyone else has any ideas please post them or e-mail me. I am serious about a class action lawsuit or at least maybe a letter writing campain to dodge or chrysler to get some action. There need to be a recall notice to us that are haveing problems. Thanks

 

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Originally posted by Fountain38:
Where do I start? Maybe the new Delphi box is the cure!!!!

where Are you going for service?? you might want to try a Tulsa, Ark. , KS. or MO. dealer...

took me 9 mo. but its done. Delphi is a different box . My saganaw had almost a 1/4" of lateral play in the pitman shaft after doing the TSB adjustments ( it was worse ) which equated to 3" of play in the wheel.
The Delphi has a longer pitman shaft the pitman arm sets lower on the shaft and I dont recall any one who has recieved a Delphi box have any thing but good results.
see post above yours////// and others

ISB still broken and 5 Screw dealer hasnot looked at it yet>>>>> they only have one diesel mech. and he is backed up w/ diesels.

[This message has been edited by JNutter (edited 08-22-2000). ]

 

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Has anyone had this problem with older trucks? I have a low mileage 97 4x4 that has the dreaded wander, at the dealer they said that it drove the same as a new truck, now I know why! Dose anyone know if the steering box is common back to 97?

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1997 2500 Std cab LB 4x4 AT 3:54LSD
K&N