Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) More (Sloppy) Stearing box Questions

[Mudinchev]

I found the source of my slop, pitman shaft has side play. The problem is all the parts houses only list up to 2000, and their supplier says they are not the same, I called the dealer and they said they were the same. Dealer price... . $719 Parts house price $205. So I guess thats my first Question... ... 00 and 01 the same? I am pretty sure they are, I have a 1970 Chevrolet service manual that has an exploded view of almost the exact same box in it. Other than mounting options they haven't changed them much in the last 30 years. I took the pitman shaft out and it shows no wear so it must be the bearing and busing. Next question where can I find parts for these things I am not too concerned about finding the bearing its just the seal and the bushing that is in the top plate.

 

[moon]

Gearbox

94 has slop in it like yours,complete new box $435. 00 Can Funds. Service manual shows how to replace bearings but dealer says bearings are not available, seals are tho,if you know the bearing numbers please post,also you indicate bearing access is no problem please tell us where they are available and the price. My 2001. 5 and 94 look identicle.

 

[jrobinson2]

This thread has lower bearing info https://www.turbodieselregister.com...eadid=19978&highlight=Steering+Box+Woes+Again . The lower seal kit I got from D. C. had bottom seals, top gasket, and grease. On my '99 there was no top bearing or bushing, just aluminum top cover to shaft.



Jared

 

[moon]

steering box

I checked the above threads and someone there gave a number for the bearing-torrington SH2020,service manual shows 2 bearings, they look like 2 different bearings,anyone know if they are and if so what are the numbers. Maybe schild could comment on this.

 

[jrobinson2]

My '99 box had only 1 bearing. http://www.mopar4less.com/ faxed me an exploded view of the box with key #s only it shows one bottom bearing and a five piece seal kit. It looks like the top gasket kit is separate.



Jared

 

[monkeyman]

Steering box slop

I recently sold my old ram on e-bay, it was a 2500 V10 with 150,000+ miles on it. You could let go of the steering wheel at 85 mph, and it handled like a Corvette, with a 5" Skyjacker Lift, 2" body lift and it weighed 8000 pounds (don't ask how much I had in THAT truck)

I was running 37" Parnelli Jones dirt Grip tires. The stock box went out twice, AGR screwed me on theirs and it lasted 4000 miles. Lee Racing rebuilt my stcok box and it had 15,000 miles on it when i sold truck, they replace all parts with race type and no plastic. They charged me $250. 00. The best thing I did was get rid of the Dodge Steering set up and convert to Cross over, that eliminated all play.

I hope this helps. Lee Racing is in California, Im in process of looking for his phone number.

Rick

 

[monkeyman]

Steering box slop

I recently sold my old ram on e-bay, it was a 2500 V10 with 150,000+ miles on it. You could let go of the steering wheel at 85 mph, and it handled like a Corvette, with a 5" Skyjacker Lift, 2" body lift and it weighed 8000 pounds (don't ask how much I had in THAT truck)

I was running 37" Parnelli Jones dirt Grip tires. The stock box went out twice, AGR screwed me on theirs and it lasted 4000 miles. Lee Racing rebuilt my stcok box and it had 15,000 miles on it when i sold truck, they replace all parts with race type and no plastic. They charged me $250. 00. The best thing I did was get rid of the Dodge Steering set up and convert to Cross over, that eliminated all play.

I hope this helps. Lee Racing is in California, Im in process of looking for his phone number.

Rick

 

[monkeyman]

Steering box slop

I recently sold my old ram on e-bay, it was a 2500 V10 with 150,000+ miles on it. You could let go of the steering wheel at 85 mph, and it handled like a Corvette, with a 5" Skyjacker Lift, 2" body lift and it weighed 8000 pounds (don't ask how much I had in THAT truck)

I was running 37" Parnelli Jones dirt Grip tires. The stock box went out twice, AGR screwed me on theirs and it lasted 4000 miles. Lee Racing rebuilt my stcok box and it had 15,000 miles on it when i sold truck, they replace all parts with race type and no plastic. They charged me $250. 00. The best thing I did was get rid of the Dodge Steering set up and convert to Cross over, that eliminated all play.

I hope this helps. Lee Racing is in California, Im in process of looking for his phone number.

Rick

Oo.

 

[monkeyman]

Steering box slop

I recently sold my old ram on e-bay, it was a 2500 V10 with 150,000+ miles on it. You could let go of the steering wheel at 85 mph, and it handled like a Corvette, with a 5" Skyjacker Lift, 2" body lift and it weighed 8000 pounds (don't ask how much I had in THAT truck)

I was running 37" Parnelli Jones dirt Grip tires. The stock box went out twice, AGR screwed me on theirs and it lasted 4000 miles. Lee Racing rebuilt my stcok box and it had 15,000 miles on it when i sold truck, they replace all parts with race type and no plastic. They charged me $250. 00. The best thing I did was get rid of the Dodge Steering set up and convert to Cross over, that eliminated all play.

I hope this helps. Lee Racing is in California, Im in process of looking for his phone number.

Rick

Oo. Steering Box

 

[monkeyman]

Steering box slop

I recently sold my old ram on e-bay, it was a 2500 V10 with 150,000+ miles on it. You could let go of the steering wheel at 85 mph, and it handled like a Corvette, with a 5" Skyjacker Lift, 2" body lift and it weighed 8000 pounds (don't ask how much I had in THAT truck)

I was running 37" Parnelli Jones dirt Grip tires. The stock box went out twice, AGR screwed me on theirs and it lasted 4000 miles. Lee Racing rebuilt my stcok box and it had 15,000 miles on it when i sold truck, they replace all parts with race type and no plastic. They charged me $250. 00. The best thing I did was get rid of the Dodge Steering set up and convert to Cross over, that eliminated all play.

I hope this helps. Lee Racing is in California, Im in process of looking for his phone number.

Rick

Oo. Steering Box

 

[JLinder]

The best thing I did was get rid of the Dodge Steering set up and convert to Cross over, that eliminated all play.

Could you elaborate more please? Did you use a kit, or make your own stuff? The only thing that deters me from doing a crossover steering linkage is the coil and it's perch on the axle. The tie rod and the drag link would have to have bends in them for clearance I believe. I just put in a 4. 5" lift on my truck, and even though I'm running BFG radials the steering leaves a little to be desired. I've already done the adjustments, and it helped but more help would be better.



Thanks

 

[monkeyman]

Cross Over Steering

I designed the system my self. 2500's with V10's and a NV4500 Trans in 1996 had one ton stuff on it.

I sent the right side hub to Dyna Track in Calif.

They drilled and taped the hub so that I could bolt a steering arm to that hub, if you buy spare knuckle/hub (we are talking on 4x4 here)

You won't tie up truck, make sure it has ABS threaded hole if you buy used and you have ABS. A custom steering arm (made by chassis builder) goes from pitman arm to steering arm on that knuckle. Now a custom tie rod simply goes from knuckle to knucke. Result: almost no play, less parts. I used Dana original Dodge type joints on the end. I had to buy a very expensive die to thread the 1" Moly pipe for the rods.

I would love to "rent" it out to recover some cost if any one wants to do it. The machine/Chassis shop here charged me $250. 00 for the Drag link and tie rod.

Entire job with steering arm etc is aprox. $600. 00

I never found anyone that made a kit for heavy duty Dodges

PS: I was also able to use twin steering stabilizers one going each way, on the tie rod.

 

[Mudinchev]

Hey everyone has been buisy while I was away..... What I have found so far is seals and bottom bearing, bearing #SLH 12501 which Napa auto parts crossed to a #BH 1250 cost is about $10 seals I havent gotten a number on yet but they are avaliable. My box has a steel bushing inside the aluminum cap which I am not sure I can find (easiest way to remove it is put it in the oven at 500 deg for about a half hour) "Aluminum expands almost four times as much as steel" Using needle nose pliers grab the lip and pull if only come out part way put it back in the oven and try again. There were no part numbers on the bushing but I know they have to be made somewhere, If I cant find one I will make one out of bearing bronze. (Which most machine shops could do for a minamal charge) I am not so sure a new one would cure the problem anyway neither part shows any wear but there is about . 003-. 004 slop in it. Its not a very good design as far as I am conserned although the tolerences could be as much as +-. 001-. 002 which if its on the high side could be slopy right out of the box. Any way I am still investigating and will post more as I find out more.

 

[moon]

box

schild,the sevice manual shows 2 bearings on the shaft,the bottom one looks a little wider than the top one. Both bearings are below the gear and the bushing is on top. Did yours not have 2 bearings?

 

[jrobinson2]

Monkeyman, my '99 has a solid tie rod stock. The drag link goes from the pitman arm to the tie rod about 4" from the steering knuckle, no "Y" type like on older and newer trucks. If someone wanted to convert the 99 parts may be cheaper than custom.



Jared