2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission PSC Steering Box

[telliott]

Who can give me some more info on a PSC, Likes? Dislikes? Think it's time for a new steering box for me and it seems most like the PSC. Have heard a little talk about the hydro assist setup, but i dont really want to go that drastic, would rather just replace the box with a good one.

 

[BDaugherty]

I installed a PSC box on my truck. I ran it for about a week or two before letting my dad use my truck for a week. While he was driving it, the seal around the sector shaft let go. He isn't mechanically inclined at all and just thought that the brakes and steering on my truck were crap compared to his 2wd 1500. When I got it back, the pump was toast. I called PSC and they sent me a new box with return postage for the leaking one. I also worked a deal with them where I overnighted the pump to them on Monday, they rebuilt and upgraded it, and had it back to me on Friday. I paid for the pump repair, but it was less than $100 and honestly was the best steering upgrade I've done to my truck. I recommend to everyone I talk to that unless your factory box is really, really bad, just get the DSS and have PSC build your pump. Then replace any bad seals in the factory box and correctly adjust the preload of the pinion gear into the worm gear.

I've run hydro assist before and it was great, but I just don't think it's needed for a truck that mainly runs on road with 35" or smaller tires.

 

[DPrew]

I've got the hydro assist from PSC and the slow speed ease of steering is incredible. Even with the truck off when your turn the wheel it barely budges because it has no play. PSC boxes are better than all the crap reman boxes but PSC will tell you that with offset wheels (like mine) or even moderately over sized tires you change the scrub angle which stress's the gear box and will cause problems.

 

[bboxall]

I have a bone stock 2001 2500 4x4 Q-Cab and had play in the steering and weak power steering during low speed steering at 130k miles. I changed the track bar, the shaft from the bottom of the column to the steering box, added steering box stabilizer, lower steering column bearing out and aftermarket bushing in, and added a fluid cooler to the power steering return line. Then I had more power assist issues so I replaced the steering pump. Still assist issues so I modified the pressure regulator inside the pump. That solved the pressure issues and steered great but if you moved the wheel quickly the stock pump couldn't keep up with the flow requirements. Then I tried the PSC high performance pump for the Dodge / Cummins. BEST THING I EVER DID! It steers just like my '09 Corolla now.

 

[telliott]

How difficult is the install?

 

[bboxall]

How difficult is the install?

None of the parts mentioned in my list of steering modifications are hard to install. You just have to take your time and do it one thing at a time. I would have someone rock your steering wheel back and forth with the engine off while you lay on the ground and grab each pivot joint in the steering. You can feel play in the track bar or any of the others if they are worn. Also have your assistant barely move the steering wheel back and forth and look for motion in the column shaft that isn't present in the steering gearbox input shaft. That will let you know it is time for the Borgeson steering shaft. Grab the column shaft and shake it up and down. If you feel slop it is time for the steering column bushing from 'Rock Solid' Ram Truck Steering !. Check your steering gearbox output shaft for side to side motion also.

 

[DPrew]

Make sure you use a full synthetic oil (Royal Purple or Redline) and you will notice a difference as well. You must use a cooler with the high flow pump as well. The Derale heat sink coolers PSC sell work great and are durable.

I've got the full PSC hydro steering and it's great.

 

[bboxall]

Make sure you use a full synthetic oil (Royal Purple or Redline) and you will notice a difference as well. You must use a cooler with the high flow pump as well. The Derale heat sink coolers PSC sell work great and are durable.

Absolutely! I agree with both ideas above, I used Royal Purple PS Fluid. With the high flow performance pump you will notice that the fluid gets even hotter than stock. I bought a large automatic transmission fluid cooler and designed a bracket for it to bolt to the intercooler and existing evaporator brackets. See below. Old girl steers with one finger now while dead stopped.

 

[telliott]

i've got the 3rd gen track bar conversion, and the DSS. I've also replaced worn tie rods. While watching from underneath, i can see the column shaft going to the input shaft seem pretty good. However, there is a lot of movement going into the steering box, and not much coming out. So i'm pretty sure i need a new Box. Can I replace the box without getting a high flow pump and cooler? I'm trying to do this without breaking the bank.

 

[bboxall]

Can I replace the box without getting a high flow pump and cooler? I'm trying to do this without breaking the bank.

Yes, you can go back with the stock box and stock pump. I went with the cooler to try and reduce the extremely high PS fluid temperatures in the stock setup. The cooler caused a slight amount of increased backpressure in the return line that decreased the amount of power assist from the pump, which is marginal already. I tried modifying the pressure regulator inside the stock pump and I was able to get all the assist I wanted but ran out of flow during quick wheel movements at slow speed. New high flow pump = $182, best investment I made.

I have no experience with PSC rebuilt steering boxes but search here in the forum. I have read some complaints that some rebuilt steering boxes purchased at autoparts stores have more assist in one direction than another which would suck.

 

[KYOUNG]

I used a PSS box from a guy in Springfield,MO and have been very happy with it and a lot cheaper than PSC. .

 

[BDaugherty]

If you have lots of movement of the input shaft with little to no movement of the sector shaft, you can adjust the preload of the pinion gear into the worm gear. This is done with the set screw and locknut on the top of the box. If it's that loose, you might start with 1/4 to 1/2 a turn and then go by 1/8ths after that. Adjust it a little and then drive it and then get back under it and look for play. Go a little at a time as too much will cause bind and prevent the box from centering.