2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission My steering sucks...

[muchsnow]

Dodge Ram 1999 HD Steering Retrofit

Muchsnow, pictures, got any pictures???? of the setup installed.



Thanks

Dave

From Muchsnow:



Just a couple taken tonight of my 2001 after a couple of hours of replacing the trashed steering gear and retrofitting the steering linkage on a friend of mines 2000 2500. After he drove away happier than a pig in ... . I realized I could have had the camera out for that one. These pictures, although kind of crappy, also show Denver Off Roads front and rear bumpers, believe it or not the white reflective tape is actually black and you can't even tell it's on there during the day. The orange you can still see though. It's just one of those things, where if anyone hits me, I want to be able to ask them if there's something about this large white pickup that they perhaps didn't see?



Just want to remind everyone that this is oem stuff easily available from the parts guy..... and boy does it work nice... .



Note. . (question by some) I had removed the bushing/seal from the tierod ends and dry checked the fit in the tapers. They appeared to fit well in the top and bottom of the tapered hole in the knuckle. The only thing I noticed on torquedown was that the cotter hole was a little higher in/off the castellation then I'm used to (stud a little longer) this was easily accounted for by installation of the cotter pin aircraft style to ensure proper function.



Also note that draglink + in parallel with track bar = zero or almost zero bump steer. You keep expecting it at first, but during normal otr driving, you don't have to anticipate what steering requirements are going to be because of the stability.

 

[kparker]

Muchsnow,



That is a clean install for sure. That definitely appears to be the most trouble-free route to take for beefing up these less than adequate stock steering arrangements. Very nice.



Here a couple of pictures of the much more difficult method. Note the wrong angles before painted black.

 

[1tuffram]

Does my '95 truck have the T steering set-up or the inverted Y version?

 

[jwernert]

So is it better to go with the set-up that Muchsnow has set up instead of going with Luke's links on all ends. I have the DSS now and need to do some more mods. The DSS helped a little, but I know that the ball joints on my track bar and pitman arm are sloppy. So what way should I go from here? If the $350 to NAPA will fix everything then maybe that's the way to go. I'd have $260 in links if I left the stock track bar in and fixed all joints. If I went with a new track bar and links on the wrest it would be $550 or so. What is the best fix. There is a delay in my steering. The truck doesn't wander, but it sure doesn't drive like the new 04s.

Thanks,

JON

 

[Gregg Mig]

Muchsnow how does this compair to the stock y setup does it tighten up the steering so that its more responsive,on my truck when you turn the wheel driving down the road you have to turn it quite a bit to correct it and you go back and forth doing this to make it track sraight. I had a new steering box,and steering shaft put in under warranty I also had it alligned, it tracks straight but it a ***** to keep it between the lines, I did install a DSS this did not help that much because my box was new, my truck has 25000 miles on it. One last thing what did the T set up cost and where did you get it from. Thanks,Gregg

 

[muchsnow]

Muchsnow how does this compair to the stock y setup does it tighten up the steering so that its more responsive,on my truck when you turn the wheel driving down the road you have to turn it quite a bit to correct it and you go back and forth doing this to make it track sraight. I had a new steering box,and steering shaft put in under warranty I also had it alligned, it tracks straight but it a ***** to keep it between the lines, I did install a DSS this did not help that much because my box was new, my truck has 25000 miles on it. One last thing what did the T set up cost and where did you get it from. Thanks,Gregg

Please refer to the download instructions for the attachment I posted. Should answer most price questions. Last installation I did was all TRW parts from advance and they looked identical to the NAPA components (same stickers, etc. ) and they cost significantly less. install takes around an hour. Then to the allignment guy. I usually fine tune the steering wheel center and steering gear backlash after that.

 

[muchsnow]

Muchsnow how does this compair to the stock y setup does it tighten up the steering so that its more responsive,on my truck when you turn the wheel driving down the road you have to turn it quite a bit to correct it and you go back and forth doing this to make it track sraight. I had a new steering box,and steering shaft put in under warranty I also had it alligned, it tracks straight but it a ***** to keep it between the lines, I did install a DSS this did not help that much because my box was new, my truck has 25000 miles on it. One last thing what did the T set up cost and where did you get it from. Thanks,Gregg

Tightens it right up, order from advance auto (way cheaper). Refer to attachment instructions on prior post for prices. After you install this, you know what's not causing slop. Along w/DSS, I highly recomend the DT trackbar.

 

[Gregg Mig]

Muchsnow, I tried downloading and everthing came up in Chinese,,

 

[muchsnow]

Does my '95 truck have the T steering set-up or the inverted Y version?

If yours looks like the setup in post 21, it's the T setup. If it looks like post 18 it's the Y setup.

 

[muchsnow]

Muchsnow, I tried downloading and everthing came up in Chinese,,

You must have winzip and ADOBE acrobat reader installed on your system for it all to work. Right click, save target as (to wherever you save files to), once saved, change the file extension (last 3) from . txt to . zip. Then open/extract w/ winzip. The pdf file then has to be opened with acrobat reader. Like previously stated, if problems, email me and I can just send you the pdf file minus the the wizardry required to post it on the board.

 

[Real Fast Bug]

steering/suspension place in Denver area?

I have similar steering issuses that the stealership refuses to see my way. I have an extended warranty that will cover most all of this stuff if the shop says the parts like the steering gear, pump, tie rod ends, ball joints, etc. need to be replaced. Anyone know a shop around here that will listen to the customer and knows what they are doing? My warranty company is really easy to deal with so its just a matter of finding the right shop. I could do all this my self but figure I should take advantage of the warranty I spent all that money on while I have it.



Thanks

 

[Gregg Mig]

Muchsnow I was looking at your pictures and noticed that you are not using a steering stabilizer,does'nt the truck need one my 02 has a factory one. By the way nice job with everything you have posted. I still could not down load the information I will try it at home tonight.

 

[jwernert]

Muchsnow, so if I get the advanced auto parts from you list, and I already have a DSS. I would still need to get a track bar?

 

[TFabian]

Please refer to the download instructions for the attachment I posted. Should answer most price questions. Last installation I did was all TRW parts from advance and they looked identical to the NAPA components (same stickers, etc. ) and they cost significantly less. install takes around an hour. Then to the allignment guy. I usually fine tune the steering wheel center and steering gear backlash after that.

Muchsnow,



I downloaded your attachment. The list from Napa looks like it has more parts on it than the one from Advance. Is that correct? Does the TRW list have everything needed to replace the stock Y setup with the T setup?

 

[muchsnow]

1999 HD steering retrofit

Muchsnow, so if I get the advanced auto parts from you list, and I already have a DSS. I would still need to get a track bar?

Not necessarily, if you are at stock ride height and your trackbar is in good shape.

 

[muchsnow]

1999 HD steering retrofit

Muchsnow,



I downloaded your attachment. The list from Napa looks like it has more parts on it than the one from Advance. Is that correct? Does the TRW list have everything needed to replace the stock Y setup with the T setup?

The list is part of a shopping cart/search to try to get involved part numbers together on one page (note the ones that may be checkmarked).

When you mouse over or click on the post-its and highlighted part number's you can see the various notes I made as part of the list. Let me know if that helps... .

 

[muchsnow]

I noted the difference between the two lists, with a 2001 4x4 is the advance auto list complete?



I am guessing that a universal type steering stabilizer (clamps to the the tie rod) is the answer here?



Do the TRW products have grease zerks?





I am sure this is just one of many questions evolving over this issue, hang in there, we are all desperate for a fix and excited about this option.



John Jilcott jandtjil[/QUOTE]



Pretty sure the lists are complete. Click on the highlighted part numbers for the notes. The TRW parts for 2000/2001 all have zerks but the NAPA tierod end at the pitman arm looks just like oem. I drilled it and installed a zerk but then it wouldn't take grease. Then I figured it wasn't grooved internally like a servicable one usually is in the inside. I'll give it a few miles then try it again. You're correct about the stabilizer, you loose the eom (stud type) unit with the install however, now you have the capability to install any one of a variety of units that clamp on if you see fit. If I was towing right now I'd probabily have one back on it but it drives so good now I hav'nt rushed out to do it yet. Before this I wished I had a six pack of them strapped to the front end. I wish someone else on the board would install this so we can have another critique of this setup. I love it. Havn't had enough miles or enviornmental variables myself to determine wear characteristics or performance under other conditions other then my current commuter status.

 

[TFabian]

Ok, I didn't notice the highlights before. Will these part numbers work on a 96? I noticed on one of the highlights that it mentioned that the ball stud that goes into the pitman arm is different between a 99 and a 01.

 

[muchsnow]

1998/1999 HD Steering retrofit

Ok, I didn't notice the highlights before. Will these part numbers work on a 96? I noticed on one of the highlights that it mentioned that the ball stud that goes into the pitman arm is different between a 99 and a 01.

94 to 99 Pitman arm is different but I'm not exactly sure how (got any pictures) While looking through ADVANCE I also noticed the HD components are also carried for the 1998 2500. so I guess it's two years it was offered. How does your rod end connect to your pitman arm? from the top or the bottom of the pitman arm? The tierod end for your year 96/97 at the pitman arm is a TRW ES 3249. (called passenger side inner) which is different p/n then 1999 and 2000/2001. Worst case, order the HD driver side tie rod end and see if it fits your knuckle. If it does, the centerlink will fit. If your steering box configuration is not any different then later models, you may or may not have to use a newer model pitman arm. Whatever allows the draglink to stay most parallel with the track bar works best.

 

[jrobinson2]

I wish someone else on the board would install this so we can have another critique of this setup. I love it. Havn't had enough miles or enviornmental variables myself to determine wear characteristics or performance under other conditions other then my current commuter status.

This has been kicked around a few times, here are a some earlier threads:

More (Sloppy) Stearing box Questions



Converting '97 Steering Linkage to '98-'99 (Inverted-Y --> Inverted-T



It seems before they never found the right parts to work on the '00 to '02 trucks:

2001 steering conversion???

Jared