Steering box #4!!!!!!!

[waltmoe]

Well I am preparing to replace the steering box on my 2007 3500. This will be box #4 , 52,000 easy road miles. I will be installing myself this time, no more dealers PERIOD. .



Does anyone know what size flare wrenches I will need to remove the oil supply lines on the steering box?



I have been trying to test the size with some open end wrenches and don't seem to have the right size to test the fit before purchasing some flare wrenches.



I will be ordering my Red Head (steering box) tomorrow.



Any opinions about replacing the steering shaft at the same time? Any suggestions on what steering shaft to purchase.



Thanks in advance for any assistance. .

 

[jjdiesel]

I would ask Harvey at Red Head. Prob don't have to change it at all with only 52k. Just did mine with 113k, same steering shaft.

 

[ENafziger]

I don't remember what size, but I replaced my box with a Redhead at ~80k miles without any line wrenches.

I put on a Borgeson shaft, although I'm not sure I completely recommend them or not. None of the 4 I have put on various trucks have fit... all require cutting/trimming to some degree. After looking at the OEM shaft, I think I should've fixed it and saved $275.

--Eric

 

[steved]

Well I am preparing to replace the steering box on my 2007 3500. This will be box #4 , 52,000 easy road miles. I will be installing myself this time, no more dealers PERIOD. .



Does anyone know what size flare wrenches I will need to remove the oil supply lines on the steering box?



I have been trying to test the size with some open end wrenches and don't seem to have the right size to test the fit before purchasing some flare wrenches.



I will be ordering my Red Head (steering box) tomorrow.



Any opinions about replacing the steering shaft at the same time? Any suggestions on what steering shaft to purchase.



Thanks in advance for any assistance. .

Could something else be causing the gearbox to fail?

 

[Andres]

I'm curious too. What's failing? If it's a leak, it could be the PS cap. Or the the sector shaft wallowed out?



4 boxes, 52K, you cannot be happy.

 

[Newt]

4 boxes in 52K, you need to find the problem.

Newt

 

[waltmoe]

The main shaft where the pitman arm connects has play and you feel a clunk in the steering wheel. You really notice at parking lot speeds when making a turn or driving slowly over a speed bump. All other steering parts were replaced by the dealer just before the truck went out of warranty. Once the warranty expired Dodge washed their hands of this ongoing Dodge defect.

 

[rscurtis]

One of the Pitman shaft supports available may go a long way toward improving steering box longevity. IMO, these trucks were under-engineered in this respect.

 

[EnLjones]

I installed one of those steering box/frame supports and I'm here to tell you it made a big difference! After my second steering box and having my whole front end rebuilt I still had real bad steering wonder. After installing the box support my truck drive like new again, and hopefully it will let my new box live a lot longer too.

 

[Bob4x4]

IRRC 18&21mm.

Hopefully you have been flushing the ps fluid. If you have worn out all those boxes what are the chances of not having a ton of wear particles circulating??

 

[ddivinia]

+1 for the steering box brace - HUGE improvement.

 

[PFranzese]

IRRC 18&21mm.

Hopefully you have been flushing the ps fluid. If you have worn out all those boxes what are the chances of not having a ton of wear particles circulating??

Have you put on a filter with those new boxes?

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

probably 18 mm, which is between 11/16" and 3/4"

 

[ddivinia]

Have you put on a filter with those new boxes?

Is there a filter to change?



+1 for the steering box support - HUGE improvement.



D.

 

[cclark746]

so what steering brace to yall recommend?

 

[ddivinia]

BD STEERING BOX STABILIZER ('03-'08, 5. 9L/6. 7L) 4WD ONLY-Dodge Cummins Diesel Truck Accessories – Geno’s Garage



Here is the one I bought.



D.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I got the BD as well. Perfect fit, function and finish on the part.

 

[ceastmen]

Filter

I like many others on this site change out the P. S. fluid from time to time.

The one thing I added on the return line was a 30 micron filter that I got from Summit racing, it's a billet piece that has AN fittings with a stainless reusable filter.

On Sunday I removed it to clean the filter, I found alot of small metal pieces that the filter had caught. These metal particles would not be good for the Hydro-Boost or the power steering pump, hope this helps.

Chuck

 

[cclark746]

anybody have any thoughts on psc hydro assist?

 

[PFranzese]

ddivinia,

As far as I know there is no filter on the system from the factory but there are aftermarket filters that can be added to the return line. I added one to my jeep since I use a hydro assist ram and didn't want to ruin it with any particles. When I changed the power steering pump and box on my wifes Cherokee the warranty required that I add a filter to keep the warranty.



Magnefine Inline Transmission Power Steering Filters





I have hydro assist on a Jeep, works great with large tires in the rocks. The steering is awesome offroad, steering wheel doesn't kick around and works really well. I don't really like it on the street, the steering is kind of numb and has no feedback whats so ever. It steers fine and the wheel returns to center without issue I just don't like the feel. Maybe in the Dodge it would feel different or better, I don't know.