2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission steering box

[Jim's slt]

A little help here for a new dodge owner please!

I've had the truck for about a month,And the front end has begun to get loose. Wondering, hit a rut in the hi-way and it takes off

you really have to hold on when driving on the freeway.

It's a 2000 3500 4x4,. It's under warranty for another 3000mi

so i called the dealer. Here comes the fun part ,I traded in my 94 chevy one ton, The service guy told me that dodge steering box's are loose and tend to wander more than chevy, tell me this guy is an idiot. :--) Or am i in for a ride of my life.

THANK YOU

JIM

 

[Fireman Dave]

Jim,



My 2001 2500, 4x4 (in order of replacement): Front End Alignment; New Track Bar, New Steering Box. All before 4,000 miles. The new box did the trick. They are notorious for bad boxes from the factory. My problems were steering wander and excessive play. Too much front tire pressure can also have an affect. All of these things contributed to my problems. So, no - you aren't crazy to expect it to steer decent without a major arm workout (can you say see-saw?) all the way down the road. Your problem sounds like bump steer.



Another thing I've done is install a DSS (Darin's Steering Stabilizer). It's a bracket that helps stabilize the pitman shaft. I got mine through Piers. A very high quality piece and worth the $160. Look here for more info on it:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64315&highlight=DSS

Possibly the longest thread in TDR history. I'd advise anyone with a 4x4 to put this thing on - especially with a new box. I may not have gotten it on soon enough to keep my new box from going downhill some first.





Dave

 

[jrobinson2]

Check the track bar:Track Bar TSB link the track bar can be quite loose and still be "within spec" according to D. C.

Also the over center adjustment: Over Center TSB link

The DSS helped mine a lot but make the dealer fix the problem first.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

Have them check the pre-load adjustment. In 200k, I've tightened mine up twice when it started to wander, & it still steers like new with the original front end parts. But, mine's a 2-wd too, might be some difference.

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1997/19-10-97.htm

 

[Jim's slt]

firemandave, thank you for your response to my problam, I've e-mailed dave already, he said he just might be caught up by now

I'll also make the dealer fix the problam first, since they offered

the advise that dodge is notorious for loose steering. Then I'll put the DSS bar on. .

Thank You all who responded... .

JIM