2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Dreaded Steering Wander

[Wellsp]

I have been battling the dreaded “steering wander” for the last few months. First Dodge installed a new steering gear box covered under warranty, then I installed a DSS, Luke’s Linked the trac bar and slapped on new rancho steering damper. I then did the “ Over-Center Adjustment” on the steering gear box. The steering is a bit tighter than before, but is still wanders. I have four Luke’s Links on hand, but I am leery of putting those on the tie-rod ends. Should I try the “Bearing Preload Adjustment” next or replace the trac bar with a DT?

 

[jandtjil]

The makers of the DSS now offer a trac bar kit. I plan to install one in when I return home in Sep.

http://www.solidsteel.ca/news.htm



JJ

 

[fox]

When mine was new it wondered too. I checked the toe with a tape and it was 3/8 inch out. I brought it in to 1/4 in. This really helped it. Now with 50,000 miles and I'm tired of the pull to right issue which it has had since new, I plkayed with the ball joints.



Guess what? There is an eccentric that turns and allows adjustment. I brought the right side out too 1/2 pos. camber, it was 1 neg. Now she will go almost straight and is easier to drive.

I need to get the left side loose to reduce it to 1/2 pos, it is 1 1/2 pos now.

It will drive as nice as a 2 wheel drive truck.

I also intend to get the DSS.

Start your fix with a good alignment.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

After doing alot of searching around here, I decided to try using positive caster. My truck now tracks better than it has ever been since new. The oddest thing about it was that I had taken it to the dealer for pullin to the right. When I adjusted the caster with the lower link I noticed that the right side was set as far negative as it would go!? In addition the right front wheel was noticably farther forward in the wheel well than the left.



Now both wheels are at about the same spot in the wheel well. I know that this really means nothing since the fenders aren't laser aligned or necessarily "true". The caster eccentrics are adjusted to approximately the same setting and the truck tracks truer.



The return to center is just about the same as it had been and there is no perceptable increase in steering effort. Another plus is that I no longer have a slight rubbing at full lock. After I put the 295's on I had a very slight rubbing on the lower link at full left lock. Now it is gone.



If you do a search on "Front End Alignment" there are plenty of things to try. I believe that grabbing more caster is cheap, easy, and gives good results. Try it nad post your results.