2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission How do I get good steering???

[IngrahamS]

I have a 01 4X4, after driving somebody elses truck I realized how crappy my trucks steering has gotten. I am familiar with the track bar issues, but am curious if this is the root of the problem or if there is a combination of things that go wrong. The steering feels sluggish and it's a struggle to keep the truck straight. I drive a 100+ miles a day and am getting tired of the poor performance of my steering. Any suggestions would be very helpful, Thank you.

-Stew

 

[DBazley]

Steering woes and a few hints to combat them...

Hi Stew:



You're right, the 4x4's have steering & front end woes & weaknesses. My '97 needed fixes bad after 120 k and 8 years old. Now it steers perfect - handling is way improved on our windy mountain roads - (my main danger before was running off the road out of control, now it's getting a speeding ticket for hammering it hard... )



There is hope.



Here's my list of improvments: -(virtually all of which I learned of here at TDR)



-Rancho lift kit 2" - mainly to get urethane bushing control arms & compensate for sagging springs - locates axle properly



-Luke's link rebuilt track bar - the stock bar has a ball joint on the DS which gets loose in 30 k miles - Luke's link is a simple DIY operation to fix that for good ! Now the axle won't 'float' side to side with road forces.



-DSS steering bracket - gives needed support to the outboard end of your steering box mainshaft - elimates flex issues & firms up response



- New Energy suspension sway bar bushings, brackets & end link bushings - cheap & big improvment in anti-roll resistance.



- Steering box is fine - but many have replaced theirs with the faster 3 turn box to quicken steering ratio. I will when my box has trouble.



- The 'Rock Solid Ram Truck Steering Fix' is one thing we researched out here on the TDR and my company now offers as a kit to help fix the lower steering column bushing weakness - over time & miles play develops that allows an inch or two of play on each side on 'center' - so you're constantly 'sawing' on the wheel to maintain straight line. More here: www.RockSolidRamTruckSteering.com



Thus, your comment about 'struggle to keep the truck straight' - all of us here, especially 4x4 guys, have had that problem.



There's many contributing factors to poor steering, so every component in the front end must be "tight & bright", to work properly.



I gotta say that it's worth the effort to get it all done - my rig is far more satisfying to drive now than when new..... I wish you well,



DBazley

 

[rotohead]

Stew, I agree with everything DBazley posted with the one exception of the track bar fix/upgrade. I feel it is worth the price to upgrade to the 3rd generation type track bar which requires the purchase of a adapter bracket that mounts to the frame on the left side and a 3rd gen type track bar (either a non-adjustable or adjustable if you're going to a lift kit). It is a superior design and will last much longer (if not forever) than the factory design TB. I went thru three tb's, including MOOG replacement and lukes link mod before I bit the bullet. The best single move I have made in my steering/front end overhaul.

Chuck

 

[DBazley]

Chuck, sounds you've got more experience on the track bar track - (pun intended) than I.



I think using the 3rd gen bar was a development after I did the Luke's Link rebuild - and it must be a great way to go or so many wouldn't be doing it.



What do they cost - do you get them at Mopar or NAPA ? Just curious.



DBazley

 

[rotohead]

Chuck, sounds you've got more experience on the track bar track - (pun intended) than I.



I think using the 3rd gen bar was a development after I did the Luke's Link rebuild - and it must be a great way to go or so many wouldn't be doing it.



What do they cost - do you get them at Mopar or NAPA ? Just curious.



DBazley

The trac bar itself can probably be had at NAPA (I ordered a non-adjustable thru www.rockauto.com - I don't want or have a lift kit) but the bracket is alittle different. You can get one from here

http://www.sourceautomotive.biz/steeringsuspension.htm

or here

http://www.solidsteel.biz/

Besides the standard places to get Dodge parts (dealer, etc) for the tb is here

http://www.pscmotorsports.com/index.php?cPath=98



I'm not a mechanical engineer but it looks to me like the 3rdgen bracket spreads the load out over a larger area on the frame than the single attach point of the OEM unit. Also the 3rdgen bar itself is beefer and slightly longer than OEM. It's more money up front for this setup but I beleive it is a superior design overall. Just my 2cents.

Chuck

 

[Dave M]

I agree with what Rotohead and Dbazsley said. I had the Lukes link on the TB but it keep loosening up so I went with the 3rd gen SS Adjustable (to put a 2 in lift on later) TB and ss TB bracket and DSS all from PSC about 3 weeks ago. Wow... the PSC 3 turn box is great and the front end seems tight.



I found a great front end alignment shop that all the dealers take their problems too and he has solved my front right tire wear 9 months ago (thats another story) and today he aligned everything. He was impressed with all the front end mods and said the truck is solid.



The last mod will be the steering column bushing from Dbazely (thanks David for your great customer service) that should arrive next week. The truck is fun to drive now. And then I'll put in the #10 plate and 3K GSK that I got over a year ago. I've been fighting this front end death wobble for awhile.



Dave

 

[JWashburn]

What worked for me was the 3rd gen track bar upgrade, the DSS, and finally the PSC higher flow power steering pump (SP-1490). I did the first two at one time, and that made significant improvement. I read in the magazine that the track bar and DSS made one person's truck steer like a 3rd gen. In my case it was close, but not quite. I just added the PSC pump with the old reservoir. In my opinion, the addition of the PSC pump makes it better than my 3rd gen.

Even on washboard roads (the kind that its either 5 or 50 mph) it will now hold a line.

 

[IngrahamS]

Thanks for all the extremely helpful responses, I have the DSS but have not done anything else. Looks like I should start with the 3rd gen track bar and go from there. Thanks again

-Stew

 

[pete97]

Anyone have a part number for the 3rd generation track bar? Pete

 

[rotohead]

Anyone have a part number for the 3rd generation track bar? Pete

I thought I bought mine from rockauto.com but I guess that info was stored in brain cells that I have lost in the past year... thanks Coors Brewing Co.



My invoice shows this #...

52106795-AC BAR FRONT 17029003



I think I purchased it thru the national Chrysler web site and it came out of BBC Dodge in Seattle for $191. 10. I'd shop around b/c I think I've seen better prices elsewhere in the past year. And this was a OEM 3rd gen bar... no adjustment. Hope this helps.

Chuck

 

[rotohead]

I just went to http://www.chryslerpartsdirect.com/ trying to verify the info I previously posted and that catalog showed the 2nd gen style TB in the illustration page and didn't list a part#. I'm beginning to remember that I placed this order over the phone with BBC Dodge in Seattle (206)244-4990. I'd be uneasy ordering thru the above link without verifying it was the correct part.



It should be the same TB on 03-06 model 4x4 2500 series.

 

[Dave M]

You can get the Solid Steel 2003 type track bar from www.sourceautomotive.biz or where I got mone at www.pscmotorsports.com. I believe the aftermarket type 2003 TB have better bushing in them.



Here is a link to the TB at PSC (non-adjustable TB at $250):



http://www.pscmotorsports.com/product_info.php?products_id=447



Dave

 

[BMote]

DSS &Trackbar

Check out" cphsales.com"



Found them to be great

 

[JWashburn]

Buy the SSI Track Bar as the Dodge track bar takes a metric bolt. The bolt supplied with the SSI bracket is fractional and won't fit through the Dodge track bar on the driver's side. I didn't want to drill out the track bar, so I made the trip to town to get the bolt.

Per telephone conversation with SSI, their track bar has the fractional hole. I didn't know about the SSI track bar when I bought the Dodge one.

 

[Gordon Maney]

What worked for me was the 3rd gen track bar upgrade, the DSS, and finally the PSC higher flow power steering pump (SP-1490). I did the first two at one time, and that made significant improvement. I read in the magazine that the track bar and DSS made one person's truck steer like a 3rd gen. In my case it was close, but not quite. I just added the PSC pump with the old reservoir. In my opinion, the addition of the PSC pump makes it better than my 3rd gen.

Even on washboard roads (the kind that its either 5 or 50 mph) it will now hold a line.

Where do you get this power steering pump you mention?

 

[JWashburn]

I ordered it from PSC Motorsports. I think the link is above, but here it is again.

http://www.pscmotorsports.com/ The higher displacement one is the one I put on. The model number is in my sig.

 

[lebar]

Follow Joe Donnely suggestions that were just printed in the magazine. I had my 02 front end rebuilt at a local dealer and couldn't keep it in a straight line no matter how hard you tried. Took it to our local garage and left the magazine on the seat with his article high lited. Truck now drives straight down the road with out touching the steering wheel!

 

[BILLVO]

I have the dss and track bar from psc but I just added 200 lbs to the front with a new bumper know I noticed that my steering shaft may be loose plus I need a column bushing fix.



my question. Where is the most reasonably priced place to get a borgeson steering shaft from?