Power steering jerk

[Hdrk2001]

I’ve recently bought a 2016 Ram 3500 drw when going into turns right or left the steering seems to try to go back straight almost like it’s trying to correct itself. I’ve done everything I can think of to check anything that would cause that except for changing power steering fluid which I’ve been trying to find a video on a 4th gen but can’t. There is no whining or hard spots in the steering. The truck is clean as a pen. Any suggestions or videos on how to replace on my specific ram and also I’ve heard an inline filter on the power steering hose would also help just not sure.

 

[Topzide]

Just siphon out the reservoir and replace a few times. Other then that, you can put a filter on it. There is a thread about doing a spin on filter setup. I've been siphoning out over the course of a couple months every 2 weeks. Enjoy the new to you truck!

 

[MichaelD86]

I had a similar issue. Make sure to get the air out of the system. I also added a PS fluid conditioner that made a huge difference and got rid of the problem.

 

[Hdrk2001]

MichaelD86 did you drain all your fluid or did you do what Topzide did?

 

[Ozymandias]

The fluid won't cause what you describe.
Sounds more like you need an alignment, especially caster.

 

[Hoefler]

Alignment, or is it in 4wd?

 

[Hdrk2001]

It’s definitely not in 4wd. The alignment is fine I’ve already had that checked, the universal joints are like new. Actually it might not be the fluid but definitely could be air bubbles in the fluid which can cause pulsating in steering so I’ve been told.

 

[Topzide]

Is your alignment set to the Thuren specs? This makes a huge difference in how our trucks handle and prolong tire wear. Sounds like you might want to put front end up on stands and move the wheel back and forth with truck running to try and purge the air bubbles. If we may ask, how would the air bubble been introduced to the system? Others can learn from these threads on what and what not to do. Hopefully you'll find out the cause without pulling your hair out!

 

[Hdrk2001]

Haha yea I’m not sure how this would happen like I said just bought it so not sure if the previous owner had done anything that he didn’t tell me about. I talked to him about it but he denies knowing anything about it kinda hard to believe but whatever. So now I’m on my own trying to figure it out on my own. There’s a lot of work that’s been done on this truck including removal of the column shift to console shift, Carli 3.25 lift coils with fox 2.0 shocks front and rear, Thuren adjustable track bar, pure performance radius arm drop brackets and a ton of deleted stuff and full manifold back 5” exhaust. So yea a lot of stuff.

 

[AH64ID]

Haha yea I’m not sure how this would happen like I said just bought it so not sure if the previous owner had done anything that he didn’t tell me about. I talked to him about it but he denies knowing anything about it kinda hard to believe but whatever. So now I’m on my own trying to figure it out on my own. There’s a lot of work that’s been done on this truck including removal of the column shift to console shift, Carli 3.25 lift coils with fox 2.0 shocks front and rear, Thuren adjustable track bar, pure performance radius arm drop brackets and a ton of deleted stuff and full manifold back 5” exhaust. So yea a lot of stuff.

Get it aligned to Thuren specs, and make sure they don’t set negative toe. You can get steering wheel pops in certain corners with slightly negative toe, as the front tires are fighting each other.

 

[Hdrk2001]

Ok thanks I’ll definitely try that

 

[crazy jerry]

normaly this is how you would exchange the ps fluid. suck what you can from the resorvoir. unhook a return line ,but without looking at the truck i couldnt tell you exactly which line. drop the unhooked return line in a bucket (plug off the other side of the unhooked line). jack both front wheels off the ground. fill resorvoir. with engine OFF ,turn wheel back and forth in the full range of travel. refill resorvoir as needed during the process and dont let it run dry and put air in the system. dont ever start the engine at anytime until completely done and line hooked back up. sounds like alot of steps but its fairly simple once you do it

 

[AH64ID]

normaly this is how you would exchange the ps fluid. suck what you can from the resorvoir. unhook a return line ,but without looking at the truck i couldnt tell you exactly which line. drop the unhooked return line in a bucket (plug off the other side of the unhooked line). jack both front wheels off the ground. fill resorvoir. with engine OFF ,turn wheel back and forth in the full range of travel. refill resorvoir as needed during the process and dont let it run dry and put air in the system. dont ever start the engine at anytime until completely done and line hooked back up. sounds like alot of steps but its fairly simple once you do it

It's not bad at all.

I've gotten to where i just suck the fluid out of the reservoir and replace it every oil change. It's basically how we service transmissions and it's not an issue.

 

[Hdrk2001]

Awesome thanks Crazy jerry

 

[MichaelD86]

MichaelD86 did you drain all your fluid or did you do what Topzide did?

Siphoned it out and added a bit at a time. I managed to get air in the lines for some reason and that exactly how it acted. I did all the jacking up and going side to side even rigged up a vacuum pump to suck on it and had the issue. Finally went away when I put the fluid conditioner in there.

 

[Ozymandias]

By the way what fluid did you use?

 

[Hdrk2001]

I haven’t yet not sure what’s in there it’s red in color

 

[Ozymandias]

Make sure it's ATF+4 and not Power Steering fluid.
Mopar after 2004 are designed for ATF+4.

 

[Hdrk2001]

Gotcha thanks

 

[Turbo Terry]

I bought mopar power steering fluid for my 2022 so that now the wrong fluid