Steering Box DELPHI Update 2001 Truck

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My loose steering and wandering is finally gone. 3rd steering box was finally a Delphi, PN# P52113500AF "DELPHI" is casted on top of box. Finally drives like a new truck, tight and percise. Completely different feel from the G. M. Saginaw box. So guys it can be fixed. My thanks to a great dealership, Heeters Chrysler, Warsaw, Missouri for bearing with me and getting it fixed correctly with the help and advice from fellow TDR members! It worked!
2001 Quad cab, Short bed 4x4, automatic, thats drives Great now!

 

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Well I am sad to say that my dealer finally replaced my steering box monday with a delphi box and it DID NOT help. I really frustrated. I have another appointment thursday morning to look other options. The box does day delphi cast right on top, but it still wanders. Any more suggestions????

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2000 Dodge 2500,
sport,4x4,leather locking diff, cab lights, cd, Dodge factory fender flares.

 

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Fountain38:
I had the Delphi installed 10 days ago, and I think I know what you mean. Mine is better than it was, but I'm still not sure if it's right. I have to admit that I don't know what right is. I have no frame of reference since this is my first 4x4 diesel. Also, I wonder how much is mental after so many weeks of trying to get it fixed so many times. I had an alignment done first, then the track bar replaced. Finally the box was replaced. It is better, but there is still some wandering. I do think some of it may be acceptable with the 4 wheel drive, the heavy engine and truck size, and the big tires. Sometimes I wonder if I'm expecting too much out of the truck's steering, although the track bar and steering box did prove to be defective. I experienced steering improvement after each procedure, but it eventually deteriorated again. Hopefully this won't be the case with the new box.

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2001 2500; SLT; 4x4; QC; LWB; Auto; 3. 54 LS; 265s; Camper; Tow; Sliding Rear Window; Travel Convenience Group; Cab Clearance Lamps; Forest Green

 

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Fireman Dave,
What did the dealer do to determine that the track bar & steering box were defective?

Glen Thomas Dodge replaced the track bar on my '96 360 V8 because it was worn out (their words) and then re-installed the original 'worn out' track bar because we got into a ******* contest since the new track bar didn't solve the problem. There was no difference in how the truck drove with the new bar vs the worn out bar.


Brian

 

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Guys,

I'm having the same problem as Fireman Dave. My dealer replaced my box back in May with Delphi Box # P52113500AE and it steered well for a while but now 4 months later its all over the road again and the power steering fluid reservoir is leaking too. I brought it back to the dealer last week and they told me the problem is just the leaky fluid reservoir. I have an appointment this week to get that replaced but if the truck still wanders after that I'm not sure what I'll do. This weeks visit makes 8 times I've had my truck in for the same problem!

Regards,

Kevin J. Donovan

 

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I have installed a aftermarket track bar made be a machine shop in Ariz. I can't remember the name but it is very superior to the factory track bar. I first had sent my saginaw box to AGR in Ft worth Tx to have it rebuilt and it helped but still wandered. Now with the Delphi box installed, I can notice no difference. I have an appointment Thur. with the Dealer Principle and I may end up trading for a two wheel drive. Mine has 5800 miles on it and I can't see driving it forever like it is. I hope the dealer can help me.

 

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This may be a dumb question but have you guys driven OTHER 4WDs & 2WDs to compare your truck against?

Now I'm not saying your trucks don't have problems but on a live axle, coil sprung heavy 4WD there is going to be some wander. I've spent considerable time in a '96 2500 Cummins 4WD w/255/85R16s, '96 2500 360 V8 4WD w/255/85R16s & now my '00 2500 Cummins 4WD w/315/75R16s. They all handle about the same which is about the same as the '85 Toyota 4WD (live axle/leaf springs) that I've logged ~25K miles in. The 360 V8 truck developed front end shimmy at ~ 40k miles but thats been the only complaint. I also drive a '79 CJ-7 that makes any of the Dodges look like a Ferrari.

Granted, DC has rolled the PN several times & switched vendors for the steering box and that might lead one to believe that there is a problem with the box design but until someone can accurately state the changes then we don't know why DC rolled PNs & switched vendors. It may have been for cost cutting or manufacturing tolerances.

Did the dealers do any of the adjustment procedures when they installed the new Delphi boxes? Or did they just open the box & install it w/o any bench checks?

The front suspension is similar on Grand Cherokees & Wrangler TJs & I haven't heard similar complaints of wandering from those drivers. Any theories?

Brian

 

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My track bar was replaced due to a loose bushing. They thought that would do the trick - and it did for a while. But it got worse again soon after.
They replaced the box because the pitman shaft was loose.
I have to admit I haven't been able to get behind the wheel of another similar Ram to compare, but I'd like to do that. A fellow firefighter on my department has a '97 that wanders. He seems to accept it as normal.
The new box has helped clear up the slop in the wheel, but there is still some wander. I still have to do quite a bit of adjusting as I drive to keep it straight, but it's much more responsive with the new box. I don't know if the dealer did any adjusting on the new box after installation. 5300 miles on my truck.

[This message has been edited by Fireman Dave (edited 09-27-2000). ]

 

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I'm not sure what "normal" is for a truck as heavy as the Ram but I know my truck steers much more precise after the Delphi. It still follows ruts and dips a little but my 98 Ram and my old blazer did too. I think all trucks with a real frame under them and especially ones with a solid front axle will exhibit less that car-like handling at times. My wifes 00 4runner gets squirrly on the freeway above 70 but you don't notice it as much because of the relative small size compared to a fullsize truck. One small lapse on my part and the duals are instantly rubbin' the road tits in my Ram.
I'm not sure what to tell you guys that still have questionable steering. If your truck is still wandering then it needs to be addressed. If its car-like road manners you seek then you may be out of luck. I can't truly say, I don't know what else you guys drive to compare to nor do I know what your level of acceptable is. My truck is great to me now and I feel lucky to have it fixed on the 2nd trip to the dealer. Hope it all works out for you guys.

 

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i had a 98 1500 4x4 with 360 auto , and it steered perfectly , this one drives me nuts , i wish i could just trade it for a 2wd , but not living in the northeast and having a winter hobby that takes up into the mountains ... i will give this one a bit more time then go back and ***** for the delphi box .

 

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Chrysler has not switched vendors. GM Saginaw and Delphi Saginaw are the same thing, same plant. They build steering boxes for Chrysler and GM.
Delphi was the name of General Motors gave thier parts manufacturing plants and these plants were all sold under the name Delphi.

The ONLY difference in the gear box is the part number, no matter what is stamped on it because they are all Delphi. All made at the same place in Saginaw Michigan.

What you want is the latest revision. The two letters at the end of the part number is how you determine that. AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, etc. AF would be the latest revision.

Don

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2001 Dodge Ram SLT 2500 QC 5spd 3. 55lsd, Short Bed,Black Sport

Member Great Lakes TDR

NRA Member.

 

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Good catch Don - my brain was on vacation for a while. Same thing as Ford/Visteon I guess.

Okay, so they didn't switch vendors but what did change to cause a change to the PN? Could be something as silly as a typo in the title block.....

Brian

 

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Hey Fireman Dave!
You want to get together in the next couple of weeks? You can test drive my fast properly valved 3500 with a worn box and column (doesn't wander too bad) and I can test drive your fancy new steed.

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'94 3500 4x4, 201,000 miles, Never had a cat, Auto w/shift kit (currently under remodification), 3. 54 Gears, TST #5 plate, 235-85-16s, Rancho 9000s w/remote, Isspro gauges inplace of cupholder & Amsoil Bumper to Bumper. NRA member.
"Warrantee? We don't need no stinking warrantee!"

 

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Eric:
Sounds good, except I don't know when I can get away from work this month. We're pretty close to each other, so maybe we can make it work if I get a spare minute. My dealer has a 2001. 5 on the lot that's just like mine, so I might take that one for a spin to see what it feels like.
Today I was convinced mine was pulling to the left pretty consistantly for about 20 miles. Then it wasn't too bad - maybe it was the road I was on, but I was sure it was the truck.
Let's get together some time, though, and maybe some of the others in our area too.

[This message has been edited by Fireman Dave (edited 09-30-2000). ]

 

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Update on steering:
After rotating my tires today, I checked the air pressure in them. They were all too high (between 10-20 psi too high). I bled air out of them to get the fronts to 50 psi and the rears to 45 psi, then I went on a shakedown cruise. What a difference! For the first time, I can say my truck steers like it should. No more wandering. It must be the combination of the new steering box and proper tire inflation. The dealer must have aired them up one of the times it was in there for the steering, because I had them set correctly previously (when I had the bad steering box).
My enthusiasm is cautious since I've had other setbacks before, but I'm pretty sure this improvement will stick.