erratic steering

[Wyo Horsehauler]

I know this has been hashed to death in here about steering wander but I am a newbie to the forum and can't find any past posts that do me any good. When you drive at highway speeds and hit a bump or bridge approach you can feel the front wheels yank against your steering wheel and then we go all over the place. Dealer said ALL Dodges drive like that but they did find the alighnment out a little on the toe-in. Adjusted that today and NO change. They suggested putting a Rancho steering shock on it which I will probably try but can you guys that have had or have this prob help me out on what to do? I love the truck but this takes all the fun out of it. Thanks---Still wandering in Wyo!!

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2001,2500 Quad LB,4x4, Auto,3. 54LS,all options,stock "cept for gauges and convertor lock-up switch.
Will be towing a 13,000 lb,37foot 5er.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Jim,
It sounds like you are experiencing caster shimmy. Apparently, there is now a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that recommends SPECIFIC settings for our trucks. The factory manual has a very broad range for the caster spec. Have your dealer check the caster against the TSB values.

Do a search on my name and you'll come up with my saga on the steering stabilizer, track bar approach to fixing the problem I had with my '96 gasser.

Brian

 

[LSMITH]

If the dealer told me the truck I just spent 30K+ on has parts on it that are not adequate to make it drive well I would blow up. If I have to add aftermarket parts to make it drive decent I do not want it. That is not an acceptable answer. If it needs a Rancho steering stabilizer on it it should come that way. Make them let you drive several others and see what they are like. If they do not jump around they should fix yours.

 

[Guest00]

How much play do you have in your steering wheel??????

 

[Wyo Horsehauler]

Originally posted by JNutter:
How much play do you have in your steering wheel??????

Maybe about an 1 1/2 back and forth play in the steering till you feel it moving at highway speeds. I forgot to mention it has 4000 miles on it>

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2001,2500 Quad LB,4x4, Auto,3. 54LS,all options,stock "cept for gauges and convertor lock-up switch.
Will be towing a 13,000 lb,37foot 5er.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Jim,
Some trucks come with a Delphi Steering chuck. A member's dealer switched the OE Delphi with a Saginaw. This cured his wandering. Its tough to say if your steering box is to blame.

See this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum17/HTML/001619.html

 

[Wyo Horsehauler]

Originally posted by Brian Meadows:
Jim,
It sounds like you are experiencing caster shimmy. Apparently, there is now a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that recommends SPECIFIC settings for our trucks. The factory manual has a very broad range for the caster spec. Have your dealer check the caster against the TSB values.

Do a search on my name and you'll come up with my saga on the steering stabilizer, track bar approach to fixing the problem I had with my '96 gasser.

Brian

Thanks Brian--anything will help... I'm running out of hair!!

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2001,2500 Quad LB,4x4, Auto,3. 54LS,all options,stock "cept for gauges and convertor lock-up switch.
Will be towing a 13,000 lb,37foot 5er.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I'm not sure where the TSB is on the alignment, but here is a good thread written by a Dodge Tech on alignment specs:
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum4/HTML/003807.html

 

[Guest00]

Originally posted by Jim Lola:
Maybe about an 1 1/2 back and forth play in the steering till you feel it moving at highway speeds. I forgot to mention it has 4000 miles on it>

How much plat when you are parked and turn the wheel untill the tires just start to move, That is play , what you were describing was response which is different as that can change with grade of tire and air pressure, etc. If you have more than 1/2"+/- 1/2" it is a steering gear problem.

 

[Wyo Horsehauler]

Originally posted by JNutter:
How much plat when you are parked and turn the wheel untill the tires just start to move, That is play , what you were describing was response which is different as that can change with grade of tire and air pressure, etc. If you have more than 1/2"+/- 1/2" it is a steering gear problem.

JNutter---It has 4000 miles on her and same for the 265/75 16 Michelins. Sitting parked there is about1 1/2" of slop before you see the wheels move. The dealer was going to change gear boxes today but he said there wasn't enough slack to do that. My '94 8600GVW chubbie has 230,000 miles on it and drives better than this one. I have heard about Saginaw and Delphi boxes but it doesn't seem to make much difference. I'm grasping for anything 'cause this thing will scare you on ice. Thanks---Jim P. S. I've played with air pressures to no avail. --Worse with weight in the back(500lbs)

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2001,2500 Quad LB,4x4, Auto,3. 54LS,all options,stock "cept for gauges and convertor lock-up switch.
Will be towing a 13,000 lb,37foot 5er.

 

[Wyo Horsehauler]

Originally posted by HEMI®Dart:
Jim,
Some trucks come with a Delphi Steering chuck. A member's dealer switched the OE Delphi with a Saginaw. This cured his wandering. Its tough to say if your steering box is to blame.

See this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum17/HTML/001619.html

Hemi--Thanks for the specs--I will take her to a pro on alignments and put her on these specs_-_-Jim

 

[NVR FNSH]

Jim,
Have the tie rod ends, track bar, control arm bushings and ball joints been checked for slop? If you've got 1. 5" of rotation in the steering wheel before the wheels move it sounds like bad linkage somewhere.

Brian

 

[Murle]

Talked to my 5 star dealer today about my steering problem on my 2001. I have only 3,200 miles on it and it has 2 to 3 inches of play. He will be picking my truck up next Tues. and changing the steering box. He told me that they are replacing a lot of the gear boxes. Also this 5 star dealer will be leaving me a Dodge diesel for me to drive while mine is being fixed at no charge. The dealer is Bruner Motors in Stephenville, Texas.

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1998 4x4 2500. White. Regular cab. Not bombed. Gear Vendor(9 forwards)
2001 4x4 3500 White Flat bed. Has BD Plug in Power. I represent Murle's Gunsmith Shop and Sporting Goods.

 

[Dane]

Replace your steering damper before spending (and possibly wasting) a lot of time and effort on other parts.

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

[Ramtuf1]

Darn! I have been pulling my hair out about the handling in the snow of my 2001, 3500. Put 800 pounds of weight in and still terrible. Have driven many trucks in snow and this truck the worst. Wasn't till I started reading through these postings that You finally hit on it. When going through snow it wants to go and oversteer causing you to have to over correct and all that. I'm going to check with my 5 Star dealer and see what they have to say. Thanks.

2001, 3500 diesel, flame red, 4x4 auto with 4. 10 RE. Access roll cover, Line-X BL, CB/Scanner. Ordered everything but leather.