Steering Upgrades and Ride Height

[ARigutto]

It is time to fix the front end in my truck. I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 4WD and most of the front end components are still the factory or were replaced with poor quality parts over the years. After inspecting the front end I have found the steering box, ball joints, track bar, and sway bar bushings are worn out. So basically the whole front end is ready for some attention.

I know Geno's sells replacement bushings and ball joints. They also sell the Borgeson steering box, but reviews seem to be back and forth. Another company called CJC Offroad https://www.cjcoffroad.com/products/ultimate-3rd-gen-steering-package sells a whole kit that you can pick and choose from.

I don't do any serious off roading just normal places that you would take a truck, including mud and snow. It still has stock size tires (265/70R17) which I am planning on replacing with new BFG All-Terrain KO2's after I get the truck aligned to the Thuren specifications.

Here are my questions:
1. What brands and parts are recommended to upgrade the front ends on these trucks?
2. Is it worth replacing the bushings in the front control arms?
3. Is upgrading to the Mopar T-style steering worth it, or is there another option?
4. What is the stock ride height for these trucks? My truck appears to sit almost level but I can't find any signs of a lift/leveling kit.

 

[Topzide]

1. The best that you can afford ( not parts store brands) Thuren, Carli etc.
2. Yes, but what shape are the arms in?
3. Yes, Yes!
4. If it looks ok, just let it ride!

 

[Ozymandias]

Get the Mopar 6-bolt box.
This is so much better then any of these wimpy upgraded 4-bolt boxes.

 

[ARigutto]

1. The best that you can afford ( not parts store brands) Thuren, Carli etc.
2. Yes, but what shape are the arms in?
3. Yes, Yes!
4. If it looks ok, just let it ride!

Thank you for replying.
1. Yeah it is definitly worth it to buy the quality parts that will last over redoing the job.
2. I don't see any obvious damage to the control arms. I assume it still has the factory arms and bushings. I have lived in the hot desert for the last few years so I assume that cooked them like the sway bar bushings. I figured since I was going to have it all pulled apart I would replace the bushings with the Energy bushings Geno's sells. Also paint the underside and give it some corrosion protection.
3. I plan to upgrade to the T-style but does the Mopar unit last or should I go with another brand?
4. The front coils and rubber isolators look like they are in good shape. I have noticed the leaf springs are not entirely in alignment anymore and that the plastic isolators are worn through between the leafs. I am not sure if this is a huge problem but I assume it is normal wear for a truck with almost 200,000 miles.

 

[ARigutto]

Get the Mopar 6-bolt box.
This is so much better then any of these wimpy upgraded 4-bolt boxes.

Thank you for the advice.
I haven't even heard of the 6 bolt steering box. I'll have to look into it some more.

 

[NIsaacs]

I went with Mopar on my '01, it is massive.

#ad

 

[CVR222NV]

Thank you for the advice.
I haven't even heard of the 6 bolt steering box. I'll have to look into it some more.

I seem to recall that Dodge upgraded the front end components in 2008 for the 3rd Gen trucks which I believe included the T style steering, the 6 bolt steering box and the power steering pump. To resolve the dreaded death wobble issue and loose steering these trucks are known for, I upgraded to the T style and 6 bolt steering box but had issues with the power steering pump creating too much pressure and blowing off the cap. I recently upgraded to the 2008 power steering pump (discontinued but got a good used one out of a 2009 truck) and I have not experienced any further issues with the pump. I also have Carli ball joints, control arms and adjustable track bar and note that the Carli control arms are an 1 1/2" longer than the OEM units which acts to center the wheel in the wheel well. I still have the OEM sway bar but the OEM end links were destroyed and replaced with Thuren units which are very beefy but I have been noticing a clunking sound which upon inspection appears to be the end links hitting the base of the coil. I'm thinking that the longer control arms are causing some binding with the very rigid OEM sway bar so I plan to replace the OEM sway bar with a Carli or Thuren unit. I also upgraded to Thuren King 3.0 shocks and shock towers and King steering stabilizer. The point of this long winded response is that I believe that all these components work together and you may end up having to replace more than one or two components. $$$

 

[ARigutto]

I went with Mopar on my '01, it is massive.

#ad

Yeah it looks a lot beefier than the old Y-style.
Thanks for the input.

 

[ARigutto]

I seem to recall that Dodge upgraded the front end components in 2008 for the 3rd Gen trucks which I believe included the T style steering, the 6 bolt steering box and the power steering pump. To resolve the dreaded death wobble issue and loose steering these trucks are known for, I upgraded to the T style and 6 bolt steering box but had issues with the power steering pump creating too much pressure and blowing off the cap. I recently upgraded to the 2008 power steering pump (discontinued but got a good used one out of a 2009 truck) and I have not experienced any further issues with the pump. I also have Carli ball joints, control arms and adjustable track bar and note that the Carli control arms are an 1 1/2" longer than the OEM units which acts to center the wheel in the wheel well. I still have the OEM sway bar but the OEM end links were destroyed and replaced with Thuren units which are very beefy but I have been noticing a clunking sound which upon inspection appears to be the end links hitting the base of the coil. I'm thinking that the longer control arms are causing some binding with the very rigid OEM sway bar so I plan to replace the OEM sway bar with a Carli or Thuren unit. I also upgraded to Thuren King 3.0 shocks and shock towers and King steering stabilizer. The point of this long winded response is that I believe that all these components work together and you may end up having to replace more than one or two components. $$$

I was wondering if replacing the control arms with the longer arms from Carli was going to create a problem on a stock height truck. The arms are probably worth the price and "simplicity" of replacing versus trying to replace the bushings. I knew this wasn't going to be a cheap endeavor to get the truck rolling right down the road but I would rather take care of it now with quality parts than be back in the same spot in a few years. What would cause the power steering pump to create enough presssure to blow the cap off of the resevoir. I am planning to pressure test and flow test the pump on my truck because I assume the metal from the failing steering box has caused some damage. It definitly struggles at times but I haven't found much for replacement steering pumps yet.
Thank you for your help.

 

[Ozymandias]

Stock height, if you think you need to replace them go with the upgraded MOPAR control arms. They serve me well for the last 10 years and 120k Miles. Lots of off roading and slightly lifted.
I replaced them back then because of rust, not because of bad bushings.

New style

 

[CVR222NV]

What would cause the power steering pump to create enough presssure to blow the cap off of the resevoir. I am planning to pressure test and flow test the pump on my truck because I assume the metal from the failing steering box has caused some damage. It definitly struggles at times but I haven't found much for replacement steering pumps yet.
Thank you for your help.

I recall there being posts on the power steering pump issues but can't recall what the cause was only that the upgraded power steering pump and reservoir solved the problem. I'm not suggesting that you replace your power steering pump without experiencing symptoms but if you do have any issues with your pump just make sure to get the upgraded pump. I'm not even sure you can still get the old part number. I seem to recall that Dodge first only sold the upgraded pump before discontinuing selling them altogether. You will have to get an aftermarket pump like a Cardone or source a used pump like I did.

 

[ARigutto]

Stock height, if you think you need to replace them go with the upgraded MOPAR control arms. They serve me well for the last 10 years and 120k Miles. Lots of off roading and slightly lifted.
I replaced them back then because of rust, not because of bad bushings.

New style
View attachment 139022

Interesting. I'll call the local dealership and see what they can get.
Thanks for the help.

 

[ARigutto]

I recall there being posts on the power steering pump issues but can't recall what the cause was only that the upgraded power steering pump and reservoir solved the problem. I'm not suggesting that you replace your power steering pump without experiencing symptoms but if you do have any issues with your pump just make sure to get the upgraded pump. I'm not even sure you can still get the old part number. I seem to recall that Dodge first only sold the upgraded pump before discontinuing selling them altogether. You will have to get an aftermarket pump like a Cardone or source a used pump like I did.

Yeah I'll definitely test the pump before replacing it but it is good to know there are options. Just one step at a tight I guess.
Thanks for the information.

 

[crispyboy]

My 2009 truck had the upgraded steering components. I have upgraded the ball joints and track bar to Carli. Along with the proper Thuren alignment has made the truck drive straight down the road and it is predictable in traffic and rough roads. I also have Bilstein 4600 shocks on the truck.
The truck has stock tires - all of which are wearing very evenly across the tread.
Back over the summer I had the tires rotated and had the truck realigned. I asked the shop owner about control arm bushings. His only comment was that he can tell I take care of my truck and don't beat it. He checked everything over and said it was all still in good shape.
I didn't know Mopar upgraded the original control arms. How were these upgraded?

 

[Ozymandias]

The older trucks like mine, the lower arms were sheet metal like the uppers.
When I needed replacement the original design was already phased out and replaced with the tubular ones shown in the picture.

 

[EDankievitch]

On my 05 and my 13 I went with moog control arms they matched stock price was right . The factory bushings the rubber had torn badly. Senergy makes a nice adjustable track bar and steering linkage I did the track bar but the steering linkage was out of stock so I went with MOPAR 08 inverted T system. It held up very well on both trucks. I had over 175000 miles on it on my 05 when I sold it. The steering linkage that is the truck had just over 250k on it. Bilstein shocks don’t skimp on anything less. I used Carli ball joints and actually wore them out. On the 13 I went with EMS Geno’s has them best of all they are serviceable/ rebuildable. Again don’t skimp. I destroyed the factory steering box and steering shafts and Collin when I had a really bad bout of the death wobble. It got so bad I almost rolled the truck. Hence the full front end rebuild at 135k miles. New steering column and Borgenson shaft. Still had bad slop it ended up being a cracked shaft inside the steering box. Again don’t skimp go with Redhead. Well worth the money. You are on the right track with Tauren specs for alignment they are spot on. Best of luck.