Loose steering box fix

[DCMille290]

I wish mine would arrive soon. I got notice from Darin that the "fix" had shipped on the 28th of March. I don't have any idea how it was shipped or how long it should take to get it to AR from Canada.

I have to drive to So. FL around Easter and it sure would be nice to have this installed for the trip. That would be a great test, it's about 1400 miles each way.





DC Miller

Marbleman

 

[redneckdr]

installation

replacing the bolts that hold the stabilizer bar is the hardest. a jack to hold the bar and jack it back up into place is a big help, especially if you're chronologically challenged as i am. i used the original bolts which are tapered to start one bolt on each side. i don't think they are long enough to get enough threads to hold permanently, but they are easier to start, and line things up. starting the other two bolts from marv and darin was fairly easy, when they were partially tight, i removed the OEM bolts and replaced with the kit bolts, then tightened all 4.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by DCMille290

I wish mine would arrive soon. I got notice from Darin that the "fix" had shipped on the 28th of March. I don't have any idea how it was shipped or how long it should take to get it to AR from Canada.

I have to drive to So. FL around Easter and it sure would be nice to have this installed for the trip. That would be a great test, it's about 1400 miles each way.





DC Miller

Marbleman

If shipped on the 28th of March you should get it around the 14th of April. It took mine 18 days to get it and I live outside Springfield Missouri.

 

[SlyBones]

I drove to Piers. In and out in less than an hour. Including the drive took about 4 hours to get mine.



Thanks Darrin, works nice.

 

[John]

Originally posted by SlyBones

I drove to Piers. In and out in less than an hour. Including the drive took about 4 hours to get mine.

Hmmm... well where the he11 is the sport in that?

 

[Partyat33]

A Little Help Please

The bearing is not straight in the bearing holder. Is that correct it does not look right. If I pound it in how do I do it without damaging the bearing ?



Thanks



Dennis

 

[Partyat33]

A Little Help Please

The bearing is not straight in the bearing holder. Is that correct it does not look right. If I pound it in how do I do it without damaging the bearing ?



Thanks



Dennis

 

[Texas Diesel]

It will self align as you tighten the mounting bolts, dont pound on it just tighten the bolts. If it is so far off that it wont align with the steering shaft clamp the supplied bolt extension in a vise and use a wrench to tweak the bearing holder. Dont EVER pound on a bearing!! You will dent the race with the rollers/balls or worse.

 

[FFL8N]

I just got mine and installed it before a trip to California. WOW!!! What a difference. All I can say is thanks!!! Great customer support and contact. There was a problem with mine in the shipping. I recieved the call before I had had to track it down. He explained what happened and had another one sent ASAP. I would have paid double if I knew how well it would make my truck drive.

 

[SMorneau]

Finally

My truck now drives like it should have for the last 245K. This bracket is a good product that worked wonders for my steering. The bracket is well make with nice welds and powder coating.



The install went in the tank when I broke one of the original mounting bolts off in the frame but after I got that taken care of it was a very quick install.



Now when I move the steering wheel a little the truck responds and when I hit a grooved up or dished out road surfaces it just goes where it's pointed. This bracket really works!

 

[mpjmpj]

Well, after an hour of reading 17 pages, three steering boxes (one original and 2 from AGR) and 103,000 miles I think this could be a dream come true. I hope it is not "too good to be true"



Will be sending my order in REAL soon...

 

[NETim]

Ordered mine!

Sent my check today. I like the idea of beefing up the steering box. I can't believe the shaft is supported by a bearing on one end only.



Tim

 

[Elite1]

Originally posted by John

Geez Steve, you are fast!



I installed mine this weekend... just for fitment checks etc. before I removed it and BOMBed it! ( )



I deburred every edge, smoothed out the surface where the tubing was welded (inside... as far as possible, and out) and will be taking it in to the powder coat shop this afternoon. I will have it powder coated gloss black. As for the bearing assembly...



I stripped off the blue paint, and painted same with gloss black polyurethane.



BTW, the zerk they use on the bearing assembly is crap! It is made out of brass (instead of steel). I found mine was dented (from who knows what) and did NOT seal internally. Also, the zerk was NOT tight into its threaded bore... so, I would double check that.



Also, although I give the part (assembly) a high mark (in design and quality of construction), the packaging leaves a lot to be desired. For instance, packaging the nut (with integral precision bearing surface) loosely in a plastic bag with ALL OTHER installation hardware is just plain wrong! Nicks and dings in the precision surface could easily be avoided with a little extra care in packaging.



JMO (as a machinist)

While Brass may not be as strong a steel, it holds up to the elements much better. Doesn't rust, can take water and snow better. Since a zerk isn't structural I would think brass is better. JMHO

 

[mpjmpj]

Couldn't resist. Sent my check a few days ago. I have vented about my steering since I bought the truck new in Jan. '01. Hopefully this is the fix I've been waiting for. (After three steering gears, 2 steering shafts, 3 track bars, and now lowers and upper ball jts. I think the tie-rod end at the pitman arm is bad too).



I love my truck

 

[SnoKing]

I think you will like it. My 2001. 5 Std Cab did not have any real steering issues. I did however notice that most of the bump steer is gone with the bracket installed. Snoking

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Snow King

I think you will like it. My 2001. 5 Std Cab did not have any real steering issues. I did however notice that most of the bump steer is gone with the bracket installed. Snoking

I'm in the same boat as Snoking, bump steer is gone and the steering seems tighter. The front of the truck seems more solid, could be my imagination but the DSS does add another cross member to the front of the truck.

 

[Ian]

Weyburn Stabilizer

I'll second the two previous posts. Although my steering felt just fine on pavement without the stabilizer, never having been in the rough with the truck in the four months I've owned the vehicle, I could see the potential for a problem. After reading through at the time, close to 300 posts, decided to do the mod and I'm glad I did. Oo. Oo.

 

[mpjmpj]

Nice!



I'm thinkin i should have him make it out of stainless so it matches my DT Track Bar and the new dual exhaust thats going on this weekend!

 

[John]

Originally posted by Elite1

While Brass may not be as strong a steel, it holds up to the elements much better. Doesn't rust, can take water and snow better. Since a zerk isn't structural I would think brass is better.

One thing is for sure, if the manufacturers thought brass zerk bodies were superior to their steel counterparts they'd use brass in a heartbeat! Why? Simply, the cutting tools in part fabrication would be able to be utilized seemingly forever when compared to machine tools used to fabricated the same thing constructed of steel. And then there is always the guy that has to put the gorilla grip on any wrench to any fastener installed, easliy breaking off the small brass zerk like it was made out of balsa wood.



Personally, I've never seen or used a brass zerk that was superior to a brass one.



JMO

 

[John]

Originally posted by mpjmpj

Nice!



I'm thinkin i should have him make it out of stainless so it matches my DT Track Bar...

If I'm not mistaken, the DT track bar is not fabricated of stainless steel... it's made of aluminum.