Steering gear boxes on 2003to 2008 Dodges

[Ghosterbear]

My dealer is telling me that my steering box is leaking from on top where the fluid and adjustment is located.

I thought that a hose was leaking when this started while towing 15K back to NY from Indiana.

Dealer says that Dodge has 1200 boxes on Back Order and he had to shop for an aftermarket.

Talk to Borgeson and they make a replacement for my 2006 1 ton Dually with a 3 year warranty.

There unit costs about the same as the aftermarket.



What is going on with these steering boxes???

Borgeson's Rep tells me they were originally used by Ford but they stopped using them in 2003 and Dodge started to use them and continued to use them until 2008.

Ghosterbear

 

[ArmandoCantu]

If it's leaking or bad, or looks bad - I recommend go with the Borgeson. I replaced my '00 box and the steering is a world apart from the stock box! Very tight ratio too, makes for fun/tight driving... easy to replace.

 

[04blackcherry]

There is also Redhead Steering out of Seattle.

 

[seafish]

I have been wondering whether the 2008-up steeirng boxes have been upgraded from the 2003-2008 SB that is obviously prone to leaking?

If they are an upgrade, I am wondering what might be involved in putting one of the newer ones into a 3rd gen truck... .

That being said, I have heard only good things about the Borgnson and the Red Head rebuilt units.

 

[rscurtis]

The third gen. steering box is the same size as the one in my '83 Mercedes, which weighs half as much. The ball joints are just about identical too. What does that tell you?

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Ghosterbear. I bought a 98 12 valve new. Hated the steering. Hard to keep it in your lane on the Interstate. Found that the steering box is made by GM and sold to Dodge. There is no marking on the box to tell what ratio it is. some were 3 turn stop to stop. Mine was 4 & 1/4 stop to stop. I had a 3 turn (rebuilt) shipped to me. After I installed it there was a world of difference. I don't know how so many 4 & 1/4 turn boxes got shipped to Dodge. I understand they were for high profile vehicles so that when you jerked the steering wheel in an accident avoiding maneuver the vehicle would remain upright. After 6 years there has been no problem. The guys at GM shipping probably did not know there was a difference and the assembly line workers at Dodge obviously did not know. You can tell the ratio before you instal it by turning the input shaft and counting the turns stop to stop. Obviously they did not know to do that or did not care. I was ready to trade my Ram in for a Chevy with a Duramax. Glad it turned out the way it did. I have seen the ads for Borgeson. Their shafts are the best, I put one in when I did the box. -- email address removed --

 

[AMcCormick]

It really is not hard to replace the box, pretty easy actually. The Red Head is a rebuilt stock box with some different internal parts and bearings. The new Borgensen box has had reports of some bump steer issues. I was tempted to go with the Borgensen box and shaft. I got some feed back from guys that drive their truck hard with big tires and actually had the shaft separate from the box. So I went Red Head. It is working really well. Just got back from some hard driving in Baja and the steering feels the same as before the trip. If you do not already have one, use a steering box brace. They all are pretty similar. The PSC piece does clear the Thuren and Carli sway bar.

 

[Ghosterbear]

Thanks for the feedback. After talking to some of the locals that tow horses for a living I am going to go with the Borgeson steering box and shaft. I usually am towing my 17K 5th wheel so I'm hoping that this is the correct decision.
My box was blowing out fluid really bad, so bad the dealer spent some time cleaning everything off in the engine compartment(for FREE).
After I have some miles on the Borgeson I will do an update.
Ghosterbear

 

[basilry]

For those of you that have replaced your steering box. Is there any problems or issues with having the 08 updated steering? Iv heard there is and is not. Something about having to modify how the pitman arm goes on???

 

[mpaulson]

I've had a Borgeson box my truck now for about 5 months and about 14,000kms. Not happy, steers great as far as being tight, but I do get the bump steer from it. About two months ago I was under the truck doing some other maintenence and notice a loose looking bolt on the box and upon checking, all 8 bolts that hold the two sub assemblies on were finger tight!!!#@$%!

After a very unhappy hour or so, I got the bolts tightened with some lock tight on them. (I should have dropped the box, would have been easier)

Now a month ago while I was on holidays the thing started to leak past the seal on the pitman arm shaft!!!:{ the next one will not be a Borgeson box!!

 

[CDonaldson]

I have a friend who upgraded to the 2008. 5+ steering box and linkage in his 2007, not any problems doing the complete upgrade, all went together without any problems.



I have the 2008. 5+ linkage, and am going to get the newer steering box and upgrade my truck.







CD

 

[AEdelheit]

FYI to anyone doing the 2008. 5+ steering, make sure the rod ends are parallel to each other during install and after alignment, otherwise they can break.

 

[seafish]

I have a friend who upgraded to the 2008. 5+ steering box and linkage in his 2007, not any problems doing the complete upgrade, all went together without any problems.



I have the 2008. 5+ linkage, and am going to get the newer steering box and upgrade my truck.







CD

The newer box IS an upgraded, more robust unit, right??

Wasn't there an article about it in TDR sometime in the last 2 years?

 

[Bob4x4]

The sector shaft is much larger than the earlier box,it requires a different pitman arm and intermediate shaft to install.

 

[seafish]

The sector shaft is much larger than the earlier box,it requires a different pitman arm and intermediate shaft to install.

I have already installed the 2008 steering upgrade to my 2005, including the Pitman arm, not sure about the intermediate shaft.



It was done several years ago, under the TSB for death wobble, thug at the time the Pitman arm was NOT included and I intuitively purchased it myself at additional cost of $75.



Do you know if the INTERNALS of the box, is actually better built??

Would it be an upgrade from the oem 2005??

 

[Bob4x4]

I have already installed the 2008 steering upgrade to my 2005, including the Pitman arm, not sure about the intermediate shaft.



It was done several years ago, under the TSB for death wobble, thug at the time the Pitman arm was NOT included and I intuitively purchased it myself at additional cost of $75.



Do you know if the INTERNALS of the box, is actually better built??

Would it be an upgrade from the oem 2005??

Sorry I was talking about the 09 box not the linkage.



The common mistake about the death wobble tsb is it did not mention the new part # linkage. It just tells what parts to inspect. About the same time the old pieces became unavailable and superceded to the new linkage. The pitman arm is what matched the linkage and should have been picked up on by any GOOD parts guy

 

[Walcott]

Get a Red head box!!

 

[seafish]

Sorry I was talking about the 09 box not the linkage.

OK, ... that makes MUCH more sense !!!

(Sorry that I confused the issue by assuming that you were talking about the parts from the DW TSB/ 2008 linkage upgrade)



So then it sounds like the 2009-up steering boxes ARE more robust...

would there be ANY way to retrofit them to the earlier 3rd gens, or would you have to replace ALL the steering linkage ??