2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission steering wheel play

[MSM]

i have alot of steering wheel play . want to get rid of it . i already replaced the track bar,sterring box ball joints and had it aligned . still alot of play in the steering . what am i missing and how do i get rid of it? it was never like this when i got the truck . i like touchy steering .

 

[VolsFan]

try the DSS. It works well. BD makes one, advertised in Genos. I have done sway bar links, ball joints, hubs, DSS, and Lukes Link. I went to a shop to see about a steering box because I still have poor steering and saw that there was play in my track bar again. How in the world do you get that thing off? I had a shop put it on the Lukes Link while I was on travel, there is play between the top and the frame, so I was gong to put a washer or something in it, I tried the ball joint seperator and I could not get it to budge.

 

[MSM]

when i replaced mine i used a BFH and it came rite out. good to see that there is someone close where i live.

 

[Joe Mc]

Welcome to the TDR MSM! It would be a good idea to take some time and create a signature for your truck, this way when folks want to help they have a better idea how to answer.

Assuming your truck is a 2nd gen 4X4. To check and see if the play is in your steering box: Wheels on flat surface, someone you can trust behind the wheel, you lay under front looking straight up at the shaft (sector shaft) coming out of the bottom of the steering box. Have the person behind the wheel turn the wheels lock to lock as you pay close attention to the center of the shaft. If the shaft center doesn't stay perfectly in-line as it turns (moves a bit one way and then the other) the DSS will "stabilize" the shaft.

As far as the track bar: As you are looking at the sector shaft check both ends of the track bar for play as the wheels are being cycled. If there is play in either end this will make things sloppy as well. If you are still using the stock 2nd gen type track bar, don't bother replacing junk with junk. It's a bit expensive, but if you go with the 3rd gen track bar conversion you'll never have to worry about it again. If you are considering leveling the front end you need to go with the adjustable track bar so you can re-center the front differential after the leveling spacers are installed. Even if you aren't going to level the front end, go with the adjustable track bar - the front ends on our trucks are off one way or the other from the factory. If nothings ever been done to your front end as far as modifications I'm willing to bet there's a 3MM spacer between the wheel and hub on the right side. Factory's way of trying to correct the offset.

Good luck and welcome to the TDR.

 

[MSM]

Thanks for the info. I dont remember seeing a spacer . 2 tears aog i did take it to a frame shop to fix the frame and they told me that they were able to straighten the frame better then factory specs . I have paper work to prove it somewhere. I read somewhere that it could be the front of the frame twisting some and/or steering colum . A bad bearing or bushing. I just want my tight steering back!

 

[VolsFan]

Try that rock solid steering bushing, I think it was around $50 shipped. I did it in mine and it really improved steering, along with the DSS. I also got my track bar off the other day by taking a digging iron to it and prying it off between it and the frame. By putting a big washer between the Lukes Link and the frame the steering really improved to the point where Im not worried about it anymore.

 

[JKosten]

See https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/254378-Steering-play-in-wheel-Simple-fix?p=2463627

 

[rickybobby]

I'm trying to trouble shoot some steering problems too. Installed new steering box, shaft, trac bar. upper and lower control arms. I'm new at these abbreviations what is a DSS and where does the steering bushing get installed?

 

[SAndreasen]

Dss is Darin's steering stabilizer bar I think ? Go to Genos garage.com and look for steering stabilizer

 

[rickybobby]

SA it must be Dodge Steering box Stabilizer. Does anyone know if it can it be used with the Borgeson steering box? Speaking of which, I had my mechanic install the Borgeson box, steering shaft and "high volume" pump, but the steering is still hard when the truck isn't moving. Anyone have the same problem with this system?

 

[fest3er]

i have alot of steering wheel play . want to get rid of it . i already replaced the track bar,sterring box ball joints and had it aligned . still alot of play in the steering . what am i missing and how do i get rid of it? it was never like this when i got the truck . i like touchy steering .

Possible reasons, from least likely to most likely:

• Cracked frame/weld that allows the steering gear to 'move around'.
• Low tire pressure could allow the sidewalls to flex too much.
• The steering shaft and/or its connections at the steering gear and firewall could be well worn.
• The sector shaft bearing in the steering gear is probably loose.
• Tie rod ends could be worn. [You replaced at least some of them.]
• The track bar's ball-n-socket joint could be worn. [You already replaced it.]
• The suspension bushings could be worn. If they have over 90k miles on them, they are worn. If over 200k on them, they are worn out. I firmly doubt a static test of the bushings will show any looseness.

My truck wandered all over the place until I installed a DSS stabilizer bearing on the sector shaft; I had to re-learn how to drive the truck after the install. 100k miles later, it was wandering all over again; replaced the front suspension bushings and it stopped wandering again.