STEERING WANDER , wander what it is???

[AKDrifter]

Hey guys, I've been lead on a goatrope in the north about this "steering wander" cr**p for four days now. Finally paid out of my own pocket to a reputible allignment center to tell me straight what it is. The all mighty gear box. I got the run around from the Dodge Metro dealer like you would not believe, he tells me to drive 5K to let the suspension settle out he says. He knew what the problem was but did not address it thinking I would Take it to Juneau or something else I guess. I'm mad, Dave at Metro in Whitehose, Yukon is not a straight shooter. He spoiled the better part of my 4 day vacation when he could have addressed the issue at hand instead of increaseing the caster on the front axle OUT OF SPEC. to "heavy up the steering" so to speak, what a joke. My dealer in Seattle should be sending me up another steering gear box soon to get rid of this 3 seconds and your in the ditch wander they call it.


Dave at Metro tells me this is normal. I told him that if this is normal let me take a rig of thier lot for a spin, he protested, I insisted and got my way. Guess what, it went straight!!! Imagine that. I proceded to tell him that if rigs pulled to the left of the lot and you tried to tell a potential buyer to drive it for 5K and it will go straight, you wold'nt sell a single one!!

Am I alone here in wander world?

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2001 2500 QC 4x4 HO 6 speed, 4. 10 LSD loaded enough.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Paul,
Yes, it is normal. It's normal for these trucks to have defective steering boxes. I had the track bar and steering box replaced before my wander was fixed. My tire pressure was also a factor. Don't let this guy snow you. Do a search on here, and you'll see how many of us have had this problem. The steering box is usually the culpret.

Dave

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2001 2500; SLT; 4x4; QC; LWB; Auto; 3. 54 LS; 265s; Camper; Tow; Sliding Rear Window; Travel Convenience Group; Cab Clearance Lamps; Forest Green

 

[DRT]

They replaced my damper. Said it had an oil leak. LMAO. They will get it back.

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Traded a fully loaded 96 V10 for a 01. 5 4X,QC,LB,auto,3. 54,everything but leather,Patriot Blue
2000 Alpenlite Rainer DX slide in
1998 Neptune 230 walkaround sport fisher

 

[FDziurda]

My Dealer installed one of the new Delphi boxes a couple weeks ago and my '99 now handles perfectly. Search the TDR archives and go to your Dealer with a fist full of paper showing him what he is going to have to do to fix your problem.
Good Luck,
Frank

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Frank Dziurda - K7SFN
Carson City, Nevada
'99. 5 2500 4X4 6-Speed Quad Cab LWB 3. 54 LSD

 

[SteveAZ]

my 99' will reach 36k in a month or two. Is there a way to check for a defective steering box, or is it one of those things "trust me you'd know it if it were a problem" kind of things.

Besides a brake pull problem that came back 18K miles later after the calipers have been replaced, I have no other body or chassis concerns.

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99' Qcab, 4x4, auto, chrome nerf bars, VA, Boost elbow, DiProcal Pillar mount gauges, 16X8 Eagle wheels, Dunlop 285/75 AT's

 

[HC]

Is there a way to check for a defective steering box, or is it one of those things "trust me you'd know it if it were a problem" kind of things.

Steve, to test for steering wander:
1) Drive someone else's car or truck.
2) Are you constantly over-correcting, jerking the wheel too far when only minor correction was needed?
3) When you pass any "brand X" truck on the freeway, look over at the driver's hands. Is he holding the steering wheel steady, while you are jerking back and forth with twice as many corrective actions?
If yes, to #2 and #3, then YOUR truck probably has the steering wander.
I think you hit the nail on the head, if you have it, you generally know it. If you don't have any trouble staying in your lane, if passing someone on a narrow bridge doesn't scare you, then don't worry, be happy! JMO...

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2001 ETH, QC, LWB, 4WD, 3. 54, SPA Pyro & Boost, K&N RE-880 w/foam pre-cleaner, ARE Z-series Cab-high shell, Rear ARB locker, and all kinds of synthetic fluids...

 

[Jff24Gordn]

Another way to tell if you have the wander. If when you go around a banked turn on the interstate that changes the direction of banking like in the fast lane turning right. If you steer left and go right, it is wandering. The funny thing was before I chnaged tires last time, it would go strait down the slow lane with my hands off of the wheel, and even steer its self through the slight turns. But I put free used mud tires on it and it now pulls a little.

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1996 2500, 4x4, 5 speed
-- email address removed -- Great Lakes TDR
PURDUE STUDENT 
GO BOILERS

 

[AKDrifter]

Yes, last night I did a search and found out lots. Seems like the Delphi box is the answer, I have the part # from the search and will contact the dealer to make sure he is'nt going to waste any more of my time. I brought up the issue of liability to the dealer and to the DC headqtrs. because I transport snowmachine clients with this truck and I think this got thier attention. I have plenty of printed material on this now along with 3 third party auto shop references to back up this case. All I want is for this truck to go straight!!!

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2001 2500 QC 4x4 HO 6 speed, 4. 10 LSD loaded enough.

 

[PBaker]

I have a '96 4x4 that reacts like HC stated will the Delphi work and help on my truck. I have not done anything to the track bar as of yet, should I replace it first then see as my truck has around 76,000 miles on it and I bought it used so I do not know anything about any servicing that may have been done to the track bar.

Thanks,
Paul

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'96 2500 ext. cab, LB, 4x4, 5 speed, 3. 54, TST 280 cam plate, AFC spring kit ,pyro and boost gauges mounted on A-Pillar, tinted windows, 16x8 Eagle alloys series 1219, 285/75R16 Durango A/T's, stainless steel rocker panels and alluminum stirrup steps

 

[SteveAZ]

I only have to occaisionally jerk or correct the wheel when braking. Doesn't do it everytime, and usally surprises me when I have to.

I have driven a fellow TDR members 00' I noted right off his steering felt tighter, although not enough of a difference to have a concern about mine.

I would have to say mine is not a problem. It can go down the road straight.

 

[sam peterson]

Isn't it amazing how the dealership can take your 30+ thou when you buy the new truck & when some warrenty work needs to be done they say thats the way it is suppose to work. they must attend a national convention on how to bull shi- the customer. It seem to be a universal problem where ever you go.

 

[zzman]

Is this a problem with only the newer trucks?
I bought my 97 used, and it had alot of play
in the steering. I tightened the gear box
set screw up some, now it is fine.
Was just wondering

 

[Tom C]

My truck came with the delphi box and it wanders. i took it to the dealer and they said they adjusted the thrust bearing. when I got back home I took a look and the road grime was not disturbed around that area at all. I called the dealer and they said that they adjusted to nut on the top. I guess they don't know the diffence between the trust nut and sextor shaft nut. I still have steering wander. I have to go back for a sterio issue so at that time i'm going to again address the steering issue.

soo. not all dephi boxes fix the problem. of course It may not be the box at all. it may be the alignment. last time I dropped the truck off, next time i'm going to stand by their side!!!

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2001. 5 2500 4X4, QC, Auto, 3. 54 LSD, SLT, SWB, Trailer, Camper & Snow plow Packages, White, 35k# Cody Hitch, 20' Gooseneck Lowboy flat-bed Trailer.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

A lot of this "wander" is gearbox bearing preload mis-adjustment. I've got 120k on my 97 2wd, and I've done this easy, 5 minute adjustment twice now, & it still steers & handles like it's supposed to. Here's how... ... . http://www.ecpe.vt.edu/~dfritz/technical/TSB97/19-10-97/19_10_97.htm

 

[AKDrifter]

Is this a big enough issue to be a RECALL!!!

Really now, a squeek or something can be lived with but it seems like there are toooooo many trucks having the same problem. If I lived in the lower 48 this might not be such a problem but I gotta drive 250 mi. to get it addressed, what a waste of my time and money. What would it take to get DC's attention besides a 7 didget law suite? They know this problem existes and are reluctant to get to the bottom of it, THAT'S NEGLIGENCE. DC has allmost lost me as a costomer and I've only owned it a week. I drove my '86 suby to town today because I feel more safe, that ain't right!

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2001 2500 QC 4x4 HO 6 speed, 4. 10 LSD loaded enough.

 

[nickelda]

First thing I noticed when I drove one on the lot was the wander. Ordered my truck instead and the box developed a leak after about 1 month on the road. Box was replaced at the dealer and the "wander" and the leak disappeared.

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01 2500 QC LB ETH DEE 4x4 3. 54 LSD SLT TOW Fog

 

[Guest00]

You can check the gear box by crawling under and have someone move the steering wheel back and forth slowly. If there is more than . 035" horizontal play in the pitman shaft the gear box is crap. this side to side movement is caused by an undersized shaft, oversized bearing race or housing machined to large for the bearing run. The side to side movement means the steering wheel must be turned in either direction till the shaft binds on the housing before the pitman arm starts to move the relay rod and the wheels, it also allows the wheels to turn the amount of free play in the shaft while the steering wheel has no control of wheel position. Pitman shaft thrust or preload will have no effect on side play. If the pitman pre load is loose the pitman shaft will move up and down in the box which will give a similar drivability wander but can be adjusted out.

 

[Mark H]

JNutter

Could you tell me which 4x4 shop did your alignment? I am about to install a 2 inch lift an the front and will have to reset the caster. Right now it steers pretty good and I would like for it to stay that way.
Thanks

Mark

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2001,SLT,Quad,Auto,4x4,3. 54,Posi,Camper special,Med bronze pearl,Camel,Espar,EvsII,Bed mat,Tekonsha

 

[Guest00]

It took me 7 mos to get mine replaced. I complained about steering wander etc. the 8th trip isaid excessive play in the steering wheel, they ordered a new box while I was still at the writers desk w/out looking at the truck. I asked why they did not do this the first or second time I had it in? the reply was iI did not say the right WORD. I was complaining of drivability, so that is all they checked and even lied about alignment being in spec. The excessive play specified a spicific problem that they could address per DC. Got it back ( delphi ) and steering was great but pulled right, they said again that was normal and alignment was in spec, put 15 psi more air in the r/f tire to diminish the pull ( took one look at the tires when I got home to figure that one out ). I took it to a local 4x4 shop and the alignment was way out. since that align ment I can let go of the wheel, change glasses, open my soda can, unwrap my sandwich, etc and it will not wander or pull. It steers a well as any Ford 4x4 I ever had and front tire wear has diminished, That was 14k miles ago and towing has not been a white knuckel grueling experience since.
Complain about excessive play in steering wheel and see if that helps.

 

[Guest00]

Originally posted by Mark H:
JNutter

Could you tell me which 4x4 shop did your alignment? I am about to install a 2 inch lift an the front and will have to reset the caster. Right now it steers pretty good and I would like for it to stay that way.
Thanks

Mark

Maurinos 4x4 on 4th street.

They did ok but for the next alignment I will try to find another shop