2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission how do you know if you steering gear box is bad...

[rraulston]

When i turn my steering wheel left or right i hear and feel in the floor boards a banging/popping noise. Got under the truck and found the pitman arm tie rod about to fall off. My kid was turning the wheel and the tie rod was moving up and down in the socket a half inch. Cool problem solved right??? not. Still does it. New track bar ect..... since i could feel it when driving, i held onto all the steering components. Its comming from the steering gear box. The seal is wet, but not leaking. Can the worm gear be shot??? any way to check?? RRR

 

[bmoeller]

Sounds like it is. These don't use worm gears. You can check the adjustment- http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1997/19-10-97.htm



Also sounds like Darins http://www.solidsteel.ca/ or Mikes https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72670&highlight=darin steering stablizer is in order.

 

[stevegeorge]

Just went thru the same ordeal. It was the steering box. I had about 160000 on it. Be sure to hang onto your wallet. If it is a worn steering box, which it usually is, when the seal starts leaking, just bite the bullet and get a new one. There is a pressure relief valve in the box, and if you try to repair the seal or the box, most likely the valve is either sticking or will stick open when you get it back together. It's expensive for a new one, but well worth the aggrevation.