Loose steering box fix

[Pit Bull]

Thanks Josh, this might be something I can have my wife help me with She is kinda small 5'3" 110 lbs but I jack with her enough that she might be the closest thing I have to a jack Figure she can hold something up while I screw it in.

 

[John]

Oh man...



now I do feel bad! ( )



Darin just Emailed me to state how sorry he was that I wasn't completely satisfied. And true to his word, he said he was going to refund my money for the steering brace. Nice gesture (and excellent customer service) but...



I AM satisfied with my steering brace. Although I pointed out a couple of shortcomings (i. e. , cheap brass zerk fitting that wasn't even tight in its threaded bore*... and the packaging as noted in my previous post), that was not to infer that I was not satisfied with the product... far from it!



Heck, as anyone who knows me can attest, I'm extremely hard to please! Just ask Robin (Geno's Garage... I ask for her by name when I place an order and subsequently state, "It's the customer from He!!. " )



No Darin, NO REFUND necessary! I also think he felt I had to go to a bunch of extra work to modify the steering brace to be acceptable... not true. It was/is acceptable as delivered but...



I ALWAYS modify everything I purchase... that's just me. There isn't anything made that can't be improved upon!



Just trying to make an excellent product even better!





* I believe the METRIC zerk was just barely snug in its bore, delivered that way from the manufacturer.



Also, another theory of mine...



I believe the brass zerk was "peened" on the outer edge to retain the internal check ball. The problem is this, it DOESN'T seal (at least mine didn't). Just an oversight by the manufacturer I'm guessing.

 

[shendren]

i emailed darin. got no response. i would like to get one of these setups. if anyone has any info. please email or pm me. i tried to read all 15 pages of this thread but i am getting tired. thanks. scott.

 

[snowracer69]

Need to add...

Ok, well I thought I'd add some more comments...



The other day when I installed mine, I only drove it back to my room, which is about 1. 5 miles and all straight (with stop-signed turns)... so, today I had to go do some running around town, I just want to say this:



WHOA... ... . WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT!!!



After actually driving it around curves and through potholes and over curbs and whatnot, there is absolutely no comparison to before. As someone else stated, I can take my eyes off the road, and when I look back the pickup is still going straight. I realized how bad it was when I was going over a spot that I always hit... slight hill, slight turn, rutted/potholed road. I always have to "bump-steer" my way through it to keep from getting thrown into on-coming traffic, and I guess my mind has just gotten in the habit of doing it, cause today as I went over it I started to jerk the wheel right to stay on my side, but instead I DAMN NEAR WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD!!! About shat myself when that happened, and had to get my thoughts collected again. Much better response and the truck doesn't just go wherever it wants now. I love my DSS already.



Scott, try Marv on the email for the info...

m. windecker@sk. sympatico. ca



Josh

 

[DCMille290]

OK everyone, here is the latest I have heard from Darin. I mailed him payment via Express Mail on the 27th of February. I have been in limited contact with him since then, but he did let me know a few days later the check arrived.

I did not get any updates after that email as to when I might expect my "fix" but I did hear from him on the 28th of March to say the "fix" had shipped and was on the way to me in Arkansas.

So approxiametly 3 weeks from time payment arrived there and when the "fix" shipped, adn I figure another 10-15 days to get it to me.

I will let everyone know when it arrives and how the install goes, and the improvement I expect to see.

This truck has wandered since I got it, 2 steering boxes and 145,000 miles total on the truck.

I just can't wait!!!!!



DC Miller

Marbleman

 

[Pit Bull]

Scott if you want one they are now $161. 00. That is, it's now $139. 00 plus $22. 00 shipping=$161. 00

You can send a check to:

Darin Tessier

Box 301 Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada

S4H 2K



It will take around 30 days from the time you mail your check until you get your DSS. I also included my truck description and where I wanted my DSS mailed. Hope this helps.

 

[Texas Diesel]

It just arrived today!! WooHoo!

It came leaking nuts and washers, the shipping process must be brutal. Havnt checked to see if all the hardware is here



The engineering and execution is amazing, perfection in detail.



The zerk on mine was tight and functioned correctly, cant wait to install it.



Does he make one for 2wd yet? My 98 2wd needs one too.



Way to go Darin & Marv!!!



Only one minor complaint, wish it didnt use a chinese bearing.

 

[R.ebel]

Got mine on Tuesday, took about 3 weeks to get here but definitely worth the wait. It took 35 minutes to install (borrowed a 1. 25" deep well from a friend). It's a real nice piece and has tightened up my steering

 

[RIVRUNR]

I've been subscribing to this post since day one,just dropped my check in the mail. Can't wait to get this thing and get rid of some of this bump steer.

 

[Hootguy]

It seems the biggest problem is paying someone in another country who cannot take credit cards... there is an easy way around this. .

Check out Paypal.com

Anyone can get free account,,you can use your credit card to pay anybody even if they dont physicaly take cards... as for Darin. . he can get his own acount,,take all kinds of payments from you guys INSTANTLY,,,,and they deposit the money in Canadian funds directly to his account... . This could save 2 weeks time of the orders,,,simplify his accounting,,,and he doesnt have to mess with any credit card companies. .

I have them for years,,,makes it real easy to deal with US customers.

You guys may want to check it out,,evn use a one time credit card if your affraid of onluine dealings,,,i go so far as to have an account just for deposits and take the $$$ right out,,,a little extra safety. .

Good luck

 

[Pit Bull]

Darin's a heck of a nice guy!! I sent him my $125 back on March 7 when the DSS was that price and the DSS was to be shipped COD. I just recieved my DSS and the postage was prepaid by Darin. I guess they have a problem sending COD to the USA. I just mailed Darin another check for the $22 he paid to ship my DSS. It is nice to deal with a business man that puts the customer first.



Thanks

Darin

 

[redneckdr]

installation

just finished a round trip to FL to pick up a toy box travel trailer. the "fix" helps towing also.

i posted earlier that a floor jack helped during install to hold the stabilizer bar. i think it can be done without one but it sure made life easier for an old man.

 

[Ramafid]

I have put about 1K miles on the brace and it has helped my steering. It didn't get my steering to where I would like it but it is better. I think my steering box is to blame because it stunk from day one and that was 82K miles ago. I plan on putting a new steering box on in the near future and hopefully that will get the results I want. All in all I think the steering brace is well worth it.

 

[CFAR]

How about the Paypal idea?



Darin what do you think?

 

[Lynn_Schwartz]

Hesitate and Investigate

Paypal is being investigated for acts against the Patriot Act . I don't know all the details but I remember something about gamblers and support of terrorism. Best to look this one over carefully. Regards, Lynn Schwartz

 

[Hootguy]

If Paypal was under investigation for favoring terrorists,,they'd be out of buisness in no time,,,who would deal with something like that. .

They are by no way perfect,,and there's always someone who will ***** at something,,,,but all in all,,,they make it very easy to pay for things online. .

You pay your money,,the seller gets his funds,,,,what problem is there to have??

Worth looking into.

 

[Pit Bull]

I screwed up the installation

When I was installing the bracket I cross threaded one of the M10x35 bolts (rear one on the drivers side) I was able to snug it up as tight as the others and the bracket is flat agains't the frame but the flange that holds the rubber bushing on the driver side of the truck is not fully flat agains't the DSS bar. The lock washer is almost flattened out and I have driven it this way for 4 days. Everything seems to be working fine and there has been no change in the bolt or movement of the flange or bushing. I have a friend that is a mechanic and he looked at it and thought it would not be a problem. He thought since it has not moved it would hold and that I might strip the threads if I tried to tighten it further and then it would be a bigger job to re-tap. Just wanted to know what your thought on this would be? I don't know what this bolt is screwing into and how much torque it would take before I would strip it out (since I cross threaded it). If I should continue to tighten it at what torque would you suggest I tighten too? If I tighten it and stripped it what would you suggest for an over size bolt that will fit for a re-tap? My friend said that based on the position of the bracket that even if at a future date the bolt broke that the stabilizer bar could not go far since there was very little space between the bar and the bracket on the drivers side of the truck. I can't believe I did this but the input from others that have installed this bracket would help.



Thanks

 

[John]

Personally...

I would either drill out and subsequently tap the bad hole to the next larger thread size or Heli-coil the existing hole. Either way, I would not leave it as is (IMO).



The torque spec. for the four 10 mm front sway bar mount to frame bolts is 40 lb/ft. If I remember correctly, the threaded portion of the female 10 mm thread is at least 3/8" deep (i. e. , in the frame).



BTW, IF you decide to fix the thread problem make sure you first remove the bearing mount assembly (or at least loosen their mounting bolts).

 

[Pit Bull]

John, thanks for the reply. Do you think the cross threaded bolt is likely to strip if I torque it up to 40 lbs? Personally I don't care if it is a little cross threaded I just don't want to strip it, if it is not going to be a problem? What problems do you think it would cause if I leave it alone? This really hacks me off that I cross threaded this bolt. I had everything lined up (I thought) and started screwing it in and then knew I was off line by a fraction of an inch but it was too late.



Thanks

 

[HoleshotHolset]

The worst that could happen is that it loosens up a little... . and then you can worry about fixing it.



It's not as if it's the only bolt keeping the whole setup together... .



Matt