My steering is really loose ~1 hr of movement. What gives?

[MillerR]

I can be driving straight down the highway and move my steering wheel between 1 and 2 hrs without feeling any movement from the truck. This is excessive in my opinion. My wife's '03 1500 is like driving a sports car comparatively. I know the suspensions are completely different, but I don't think I should have as much play as I do. Is this what these BD steering brackets are meant to address, or are they for something else. Where is the play coming from?... steering box movement, worn bushing, something else? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks, Trey

 

[ENafziger]

Hmmm, well if it's the truck in your signature with the 6" lift and big tires, you probably need to do the following:

--Check all ball joints and tie rod ends for play, and replace if needed
--Install a sector shaft brace for the gear box
--Ensure you've done something to correct the steering with your 6" lift
--Tighten the nut a quarter turn or so on top of the gearbox to remove slop
--Install a track bar or other means of recentering the axle if not done when the lift was installed
--Consider going with Thuren's crossover steering, or the '08 steering upgrade
--Install a good dual stabilizer system, or quality single (Carli, Thuren, Defiant)
--Have your alignment checked
--Make sure tires are properly inflated and load rated

That'd be a start anyway!

--Eric

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Check your track bar. Have someone get in the truck and lay down in front of it and watch your axle. Have them turn the wheel left and right and see if the axle is moving to the left and right of the frame. If it is then you either have a loose or worn track bar.

 

[KBlankenship]

I had the same problem. The superlift drop down bracket for the track bar is garbage. I bought the pure performance also known as rock krawler adjustable track bar and bracket. It is built better and doesn't hang down like the superlift. Now having said that, these track bar brackets will loosen up over time because of the way they are made to bolt to the factory mount. I am going to weld mine to the factory one to fix it once and for all.