2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 'Rock Solid' Ram Truck Steering !

[hackengineering]

Has anyone purchased this and installed it. I have random clicks and times where the stearing sticks for a moments but then works find others. Seems like this might help. Just checking what everyone else knew. I am about to do the filter clean on the PS pump tonight but i know there is something that is physically catching in my stearing.

Thanks heres the link to that web page.



'Rock Solid' Ram Truck Steering !

 

[MattTaylor]

I have an 01 4x4 with all of the classic steering issues. I am pretty confused at what works and what doesn't... there are the new track bars, the box stabilizers, the PSC parts, lukes links, now this rock solid piece... . I've never really taken the time to investigate what is causing my steering problems. I have however, read on TDR what everyone thinks... . the population seems to be pretty split on what works and doesn't work. I want to fix the same problems everyone else has, but don't want to waste my money on something that does not work.



Who out there has experience with all of the products and could recommend the best bang for your buck????

 

[y-knot]

I have a '97 that steers great, but then I only have 55K miles on it. I just recently installed a new lift kit from Skyjacker, and although my stock track bar was fine, I needed an adjustable one to counter act the lift. I looked around at all the available units and went with Skyjackers track bar. It is very sturdy, has plenty of adjustment and I like the way it installs, (Thu you have to be very carefull around the front cross member). The market does seem flooded with contenders, but thats also good because it gives you options too choose from. Personally I would not buy an track bar that is not adjustable, it just makes no sense.

 

[MattTaylor]

My steering box was recently replaced under warranty because the dealer said it had a bad sector shaft. My steering did not get any better after the replacement. Unless the frame is super weak, the stabilizer will not help. That leaves either the track bar or the steering shaft.



Track bars are expensive... . I've looked at the DTprofab and solidsteel. biz... . everyone seems to lean towards the solidsteel. biz... ... but it's SO expensive!



How much did the skyjacker bar cost? Did it get rid of the upper balljoint?



Have many people ever seen the steering shaft go bad or need a support????

 

[SMorneau]

If you search you will find at least one very long thread where a member here makes bushings very similar to the rocksolid bushing. It's kind of hard to tell from a description but this bushing may fix your clunking if its very slight. I posted on here years ago about finding the failed lower column bushing where I made my own. I described in detail the symptoms it fixed you can search it up under my name.



Scott

 

[Cummins724]

I have done pretty much all of the steering "fixes". The DSS steering stabilizer is well worth the money & probably the most help for the wandering issue. If your track bar is bad [which is the most common problem on our Rams] You are just Peeing in the wind by replacing other components. When I recieved my DSS... . I was surprised how simple the design was & easy to make. Basic knowledge & a welder could fab one up. The Rock solid bushing was a great upgrade & really made the steering more controllable. It took away the play in the steering alot. The solid steel track bar is the best way to go although the Lukes Link is working well for members. I was told by a friend that Lukes Link sells a kit for $200 that replaces every joint on the steering system... . sounds like a good fix to me.

 

[SHovis]

I have the DSS and a solid steel 3G track bar conversion. The truck tracks straight down the road, but I still have a lot more play in the wheel than I like at 70mph. I guess the next step is replacing the steering box. I've been assured by several different mechanics that ball joints, tie rods, etc are all tight. The whole situation is pretty frustrating considering how much cash is going into the front end.



Steve

 

[Mhannink]

well i dont know about the rest of you but ive driven severel of all the dodges 94 and up i have also driven a fair amount of other vehicals trucks and cars big and little. i found the dodge steering to be rather normal and i have had 2 personaly. like i said i dont know about you guys have experienced but all the ones i have driven have been normal to me and i have not noticed a problem at all. so i think all the fixes are worthless till things wear out

 

[rotohead]

I've done everything to my front end including the 'rock solid' bushing. It reduced the slop in the steering along with the 3turn steering box. The bushing isn't too hard to replace on the truck. Use a dremel tool with a cutting disk to cut the lower spring and retainer clip on the steering unit. Then the hardest part is getting the little replacement retaining washer pressed on the shaft to hold the bushing in place. It's harder if you have all the plumbing for 4 wheel ABS, not much room. About an hour to get it all done (make sure you follow directions on supporting the shift linkage if you have auto). Guy that sells the kit is great to deal with. For the money and time invested it's well worth doing IMO.
Chuck

 

[DBazley]

Back to you, rotohead....thanks David B.

I've done everything to my front end including the 'rock solid' bushing. It reduced the slop in the steering along with the 3turn steering box. The bushing isn't too hard to replace on the truck. Use a dremel tool with a cutting disk to cut the lower spring and retainer clip on the steering unit. Then the hardest part is getting the little replacement retaining washer pressed on the shaft to hold the bushing in place. It's harder if you have all the plumbing for 4 wheel ABS, not much room. About an hour to get it all done (make sure you follow directions on supporting the shift linkage if you have auto). Guy that sells the kit is great to deal with. For the money and time invested it's well worth doing IMO.

Chuck

Hey Chuck:



Thanks for the flowers ! Sorry it took me a while to read your nice post about using our kit.



It took me a while to renew my lapsed subscription to our beloved TDR and thus gain full access to the forums, again.



We moved from CA to Texas, so it's been a busy year.



We have been fairly briskly selling & supporting the steering fix kit, so haven't had much time to log in here.



Glad to hear our bushing kit eliminated the excess slop in your steering.



What all the posters here are discussing is true: The only way to a great steering Ram Truck - 2nd gen- is to replace worn or upgrade stock components piece at a time until satisfied.



I never try to represent that our 'Rock Solid Ram Truck Steering' kit is a 'one stop to perfect steering' solution.



I, and most of you, have performed numerous front end upgrades to achieve excellent steering performance.



And because our equipment & driving usage varies, what wears out on each truck is vastly different. But there are commonalities that each truck shares.



One reason the column can be a 'niggling' issue is few drivers suspect it can harbor a loose lower bushing that is causing undue play. In fact, until it 'clunks or rattles' irritatingly, it is almost NEVER suspect.



The cool part is it's not costly, slightly below the cost of a Luke's Link (which, IMHO, Luke's Link is the MOST cost effective rebuild of a stock track bar, period !), and it virtually eliminates the column as either the source of noise - thus saving your sanity if you currently have clunking or rattling, - as well as an upgrade in the precision of the steering response, which can eliminate the 'sawing your wheel to stay straight'.



You'll also want to inspect the Intermediate steering shaft, certify it's free of excessive wear or replace it.



Also check the steering box adjustment & attachment on the frame. (DSS Bracket is invaluable addition here)



At that point, 'under the hood' is good. Now it's down the line the drag linkage to check every joint for tightness to the wheels.



So, a few things to check / adjust or upgrade.



Of course, I left out the suspension items (track bar, control arms, shocks, anti-sway bar bushings, etc), but they definitely interact with & affect the steering, so they cannot be ignored in the final analysis.



Do this, and a straight steering Ram will be yours before long.



At Your Service,



David B.

'Rock Solid' Ram Truck Steering !

 

[yemyak1]

I had the "clunk" in my steering column when turning plus the wander many members complain about. I installed "Rock Solid" bushing and Solid Steel Industries adjustable track bar w/up-grade bracket on my '98 4x4 about two years ago. Both problems were solved and my truck remains a pleasure to drive.

 

[MStearns]

I also had a clunk in my steering. The "Rock Solid" bushing worked wonders. Money Well Spent!

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

When you replace the steering box, they come in basically two different ratios. My 98 had the wrong ratio. Sitting still with the engine idling turn your steering wheel stop to stop and count the turns. Mine was 4&1/4 and I replaced it with a box that was only 3 turns stop to stop. BIG difference and well worth the expense. Be sure to turn the input shaft and count the turns before you accept a replacement box. Parts men go by part numbers and might try to tell you there is no difference. Any parts man that has driven a 3 turn box and a 4&1/4 turn box would understand why you want the 3 turn. I got mine mine from Power Steering Services in Springfield MO They know what they are doing. Send me an e-mail if you want the phone # -- email address removed --

 

[SmithS]

the best thing that i found for my truck was to get tap my box for a ram, this made me not want to sell my truck for an 03 anymore. and the ram set up cost about $200. I tapped my own box and was a pain but worth it. Also you can rebuild these boxes your self, by the GM kit like $40 and a new bearing for like $10, adjust the settings and your good to go. I would not buy a AGR box, mine leaked, Poured fuild after about a year

 

[Joe Mc]

the best thing that i found for my truck was to get tap my box for a ram,

What the heck is that

 

[BDaugherty]

Before anyone replaced a steering box, see if you can adjust the play out of it with the allen screw and jam nut on the top. This sets the preload of the pinion gear into the worm gear and could save you a lot of money.

 

[SmithS]

Sorry, let me clear that up. Tap the steering box for an steering ram that attaches to the axle and tie rod. If you look up steering rams for like AGR etc, lots of 4x4's with big tires run these

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

The Allen screw and Jam nut should never be touched. This is the "over center adjustment" and should only be adjusted with the steering box disassembled and only by someone that has had the proper training regardless of what the shop manual says. Adjusting does not remove slop. It is not like the old mechanical steering boxes that you could remove slop by adjusting. Talk to a Master Mechanic and he will tell you he won't touch it if it is Power Steering. Some rebuilders know how to adjust during the rebuilding process. Power Steering Services is one of them if "Chip" is still there. I learned this the hard way. No matter what adjustment I made it did no good then I found out I had the wrong ratio box and changed it out with a rebuilt 3 turn from PSS 3 years ago and no problem with the box since. A 4&1/4 turn box wanders all over the highway.

 

[Joe Mc]

"over center adjustment"

Please clarify, the reason I ask is a few years back a front end alignment shop (supposedly one of the bast around - but I found out they suck afterwards) adjusted the "play" in my box. I thought it was fine till they called me saying it was too sloppy and they wondered how I kept it on the road?



thanks

 

[bboxall]

I just installed the 'Rock Solid' Ram Truck Steering ! bushing in my column. I removed the steering shaft from the bottom of the column and found the column bearing had slop in it. After installing the bushing it was AWESOME. Money well spent!

I also installed the Borgeson steering shaft as mine had slop in it at the point of use, if you telescope it longer or shorter it felt fine.