2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission steering fix

[PetesonM]

99 dodge has a slop in the steering. It will wonder back and forth on the road with out turning the wheel. I get almost 1/8th to 1/4 turn of play and still go straight. I have luke links all arround. I am affraid that it is my steering box. I have 160,000 on her now but still dont understand how it can be shot. Any suggestions on how to tight'n it up? can you adjust it? is there a box out there that is good that is not mega $

 

[Missouri Mule]

Wandering

Could be a worn steering shaft or track bar.

Track bar inspection: have some turn steering wheel back and forth. Look where bar attaches to frame bracket to see if it pulls out.





Play in steering wheel

You can try tighting the worm screw on the steering box (do it little at a time)

 

[PetesonM]

Adjust

Thanks. the track bar is ok I went through all of that when I put the luke links in. I did post if anybody knew of a good place to get a polly bushing for the track bar but nobody responded. Have you ever adjusted one before? is there a science to it or is it just till the play is gone?

 

[wcjp]

Didn't see in your sig if you're running a DSS. I've been harrassing a friend with a 98' for the past 2yrs. Finally installed it yesterday. Could'nt believe the difference. Also, you could upgrade to boxed control arms with polyurethane bushings. My 06' has boxed control arms from the factory. On my 96' when I replaced the control arm bushings the poly was half the price of rubber. I went with rubber, should've went with poly.



Also, are you running stock size tires?

 

[Missouri Mule]

No I never adjusted one before.

 

[PetesonM]

The front suspention is stock no extra stabolizer. I have done ball joints upper and lower both sides and luke link to every thing. The tires are not the 245,s stock I think they are 265x75x16 that still should not hurt anything. im going to play with the box today we will see what happens!

 

[JGK]

You're best bet for a tight steering assembly is a track bar with no slop, a DSS, and the Luke's Links. I wouldn't do the latter until you're seeing evidence of wear on the stock ball joints. But since you've done that already, it's a moot point.



If any movement is seen at the ball joint end of the track bar where it attaches at the frame it's shot. You can Luke's Link it or just replace it. You said that is fine too.



So now it appears to leave the last option to be your steering gear. Again, have someone work the steering wheel while you look at the pitman arm. If there's play in the shaft, you can buy some time by putting in a DSS. It's better to do that before there is play, however. Some guys have fiddled with the little set screw on the top of the gear and supposedly tightened things up turning that just a fraction of a turn. But others said it didn't do any good or made things worse.



I replaced my PS pump a month ago with one from PSC and the guy there said he was surprised I had 150,000 on my stock steering gear. He said they are notorious for failing early on the Dodge CTDs. Maybe my DSS is adding life. But I'm hearing a groan and the new PS pump didn't fix it, so maybe the gear is due.



The one last spot to check is your steering shaft, but slop like you're describing isn't typical of a worn shaft or the steering column bushing. Usually that causes just a little slop there and often noises like popping that you can feel.



-Jay

 

[Missouri Mule]

PetersonM, I have adjusted the steering box screw before but many many years ago. Not hard to do. My 82 Buick,78 ford van,88 ford van and the Mule never needed adjusting.

 

[PetesonM]

well the adjustment was made a week ago now and what a world of diff! still would like to adjust it a little more to get it where I need it this has solved all of my problems of aimless wonder and slop in the wheel. if you have any of these simptoms above give this a shot it costs nothing and can be reversed if you keep track of how far you move the adjustment screw! thanks again for all the input.