2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Steering Problems

[kcoffman]

I have an 2001 3500 4X4 that wanders on the highway. I have replaced the following trying to solve the problem: track bar, steering box, tie rod ends and power steering pump. The truck still wanders and I am wondering if all 4x4's do this? Any ideas for a solution. Thanks

 

[ftb87]

try ball joints (adjustable) by Ingle. Then have a good alignment shop align your truck.

 

[Pit Bull]

My 2000 seemed to wander a little until I got use to it. My new one does not wander at all. I found that lower tire pressure helped in my 2000. I ran 55 lbs in the front with the Michelin LTX M/S tires. If you are compraing your 3500 4x4 with a car it will alway seem to wander.

 

[RKelly]

Just had a new track bar and right side wheel bearing hub assembly replaced on my '99. The wandering is reduced quite a bit (used to look like I was drunk all the time) but it's still no where near the steering in my wife's Dakota. I think it's just the way these Rams are.

Ray

 

[Big Wheel]

You would think by now chrysler would of ask there German partners HOW TO BUILD A GOOD STEERING BOX

 

[RonaldLarson]

You ainh't done yet

There is a steering shaft coupler between the column and the input shaft of the gear box. It could be the culprit. Have someone lightly move the steering wheel while you hold the input shaft. Lost motion equals wander.

My '99 has never had this problem. Most do not.

Ron

 

[CFAR]

Did it wander from day 1 if it did then:



If you have a wanderer, it probably wandered from the factory, on mine I could turn the wheel 2 inches either way with no tire movement,



If you get the right angle, with the window rolled down, truck running, standing by the drivers door you can move the steering wheel and see both the steering shaft and pitman arm.

On mine, move the steering wheel and the steering shaft moved but the pitman arm did not.



No output shaft play either.



Or you can get someone to help while looking under the truck yourself, dealer did the over the center alignment, and end play alignment twice, helped but it still wanders, its about as tight as I want it to be any tighter and it will start to bind.



woody

 

[Dennis Garrett]

I don't have a 4X4, but have had to take up the bearing preload on my 97 twice. It always takes out the wander, and even with 175k on the original steering components (except the upper ball joints) it still steers like new.

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

 

[Badunit]

Whenever there is a discussion on steering it seems there is some confusion between steering wander and steering play. Wander means it won't hold a straight line; either going down the road like a drunken sailor or following every change in the road surface. Play means you have to turn the wheel a lot just to get it to start doing something. My 2001 had no wander whatsoever but it sure had a lot of play and it was a pain in the you know what to drive. All the play was in the steering box. I had several steering boxes, including from AGR, and not a single one of them was tight. The AGR boxes steered better due to the lighter valving but they really just masked the problem. No amount of adjusting would help them; the pitman shaft is too small for its bearing so it has a lot of side-to-side play.



There's another thread here about steering boxes and someone else who rebuilds them, maybe he actually makes them tight. I doubt you want to spend a lot on a brand new truck but improved steering will increase your satisfaction by a lot and I recommend it. Heck, I bought an '03 mostly for this reason (and it steers great).

 

[CFAR]

I'll split the difference with you on wander vs play.



if you have play, then changes in the road surface, will cause wander.



My truck will go straight down the road if its flat, if not then wander will occur

 

[Badunit]

Not necessarily. Mine would hold a pretty straight line over changes in the road surface but if I had to correct the direction a little it took too much steering to do it. I had a '69 charger that wandered all over the road but the steering itself was tight. A little bit of steering corrected the direction but it was a constant battle. New bushings in the front end fixed it right up.

 

[Pit Bull]

I drove several CTD's before I bought my 2000 and 2002. Some where hard to keep on the road, because of the wander. I think if DC knew what caused it they would of fixed it. I just bought ones that did not wander. From what I have read over numerous threads it is a balancing act between suspension components. I think good after market shocks help and correct tire pressure. I wish you guys luck on getting yours corrected.

 

[Dave Zuber]

I think some of the wander is wider tires. My 91 with 235-16's was fine. The '01 with 265x70-16's wanders more from new. The contact patch will move off center when you hit those trenches left in the road by semi's.



Also, the alignment spec's on the new trucks are radical. The castor angle is 1/2 deg, plus/minus 1 deg. This is almost straight up!! I think Dodge did this for lighter steering and better tire wear, but no castor means it will be more unstable. To compare, a straight axle Jeep has 5 deg of castor.



I took my '01 4x4 to a good alignment shop. The spec's were all over the map and this was with only 5000 miles. I had them crank it back to 5 deg castor. Now it has slightly higher steering effort, but it tracks much better.



A straight axle will never handle like indepenant suspension, but it will last longer.