2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Sloppy stearing, still looking for cure

[blmyachtsales]

I have played with the front end of my 1996 4X4 3500 quite a bit and have thrown plenty of hard earned money at it and it still drives unpredictably.



As of now their is a new steering box, new ball joints, DT track bar, DSS, Thuren custom heim joint drag link and tie rod (this month), all new bushings, new ujoints, new front rims and tires, 2 alignments (all within 10 months)..... drives like **** still. But not as bad as it used to.



Death wobble is gone (barely) but the truck will not go staight. It will wander left to right on a nice flat highway with no consistency. In my experience with modified jeeps this is from to much negative caster. I cranked the caster as positive as it could go and it still wanders. I have played with toe in, adjustments on the steering box (previous box), tire pressure, two track bars, steering dampeners, what else is left.



Could the frame be bent? I notice their are old mounting holes from a plow.

 

[THUREN]

Hey Adam...



I was just going to start a new thread for you "steering wander" guys... be up in a sec...



Don



edit: and just to check Adam, you were legthening the lower arms right?

 

[KennethS]

I contacted TDR about steering In 1999???????

I got no responce from them or any advice so I let my subscription run out and did not renew. I had the steering box replace at 12 miles on the 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive truck Diesel. You got on the Interstate and the steering was dangerous. The dealer did test drive the truck and almost wreck the truck. At that time TDR was no help to me at all. I am over It now and enjoy TDR.

 

[blmyachtsales]

Thanks for the quick repy and the phone call Don. I was lengthening the lower controll arms. I cranked them all the way out this morning and went down the highway. A definate improvement but not enough and I am out of adjustment.



Everyone please take note that Don not only replied to my thread but called me within a few hrs to discuss my problem which DOES NOT have anything to do with his product. If that's not great service I don't know what is.



The custom bent heim joint stearing far exceeded my expectations. Feel free to contact me for information.

 

[THUREN]

Thanks Adam. .



I still say you need more caster. It would be interesting to see where you are at now and if you still are not at least at 4* you might need more. I looked into new cams with a wider range of movement with no luck. I'll ponder your problem some more and see what I can come up with...



Don

 

[blmyachtsales]

Yah, I would like to get the truck on an alignment machine and see what I get but this is my busy season (Boats). I noticed I do have a clunk coming from the controll arm area on the drivers side, feels like it is the rear part of the arm and the upper one at that. I put new energy suspension poly bushings and bolts in a few months ago. I can't see any sign of abnormal movement, not even when some one turns the wheel with the truck running.



I searched for bolts with more adjustment and caster adjustment in general. What about longer lower controll arms with Heim joints. Have I read about this before?

 

[muchsnow]

Steering???

Take a look at this thread..... good info for the 4WD folks...

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114584&page=1&pp=10