2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission truck still wanders

[bucket1]

ok replaced shocks,ball joints,track bar ,tie rods, steering shaft, steering box, put in brace for steering box. the truck still wanders. i think it should be tighter with all the new parts. steering box was from a1 i can still replace it under warranty. anyone get a bad one right out of the box? Looking for suggestions. controll arms maybe? thanks bill

 

[PVanderlugt]

Hey Bill, Have done all the stuff you have done and guess what?, mine still steers like crap too!! Currently thinking about doing the control arms, because that is about all that is left. Bout the only thing I could think of would be the Y to T conversion with the parts from a "99, seems like guy's are seeing some improvement, about $400 or so for the parts from Rockauto. Have you had an alignment done lately?

I am finding it is pretty hard to find a decent alignment shop that actually understands what they are doing other then giving it a tweak here and there and calling it "within factory specs".

I realize that with these solid axel's we don't have a whole lot of control, but that what we have is pretty important. I am finding that caster is pretty darn critical and often overlooked. Do a search here for the specs.

For the rest, well it is a Dodge truck, they didn't give us much to work with with this 1950's technology. It is to bad that we as consumers have to spend big$$ to improve what Dodge gave us and even at it's best can be described as "less crappy" It is such a disappointment to drive a different car or truck ( new Chevy 1500 drives real nice !!) and hop back in the Dodge and go "what the heck". I realize that other brands have problems too, but to me it is almost criminal how under designed and incapable this whole front suspension/. steering is for the weight of the Cummins.

Anyway, if you find something that works let me know, it might work for me!!

 

[Regcabguy]

I experienced the same frustration with my '98. 5. Maybe a call to Thuren Fabrication can help you guys. The 3rds are a great improvement,but anytime you have a straight axle it seems the on center behavior is less than perfect.

 

[bucket1]

Yes did one last week, brand new machine ,he was close to what was posted on this site. I just hate to start replacing more parts, he thought i had a bad gear box but its funny 2 winters ago 140-150 miles started wandering so i thought bad ball joints, but that didnt take care of the problem, so replaced the rest of the front end parts. Still wanders all over the place. Only highway miles on the truck and towing 5 th wheel. Truck is allways maintaned. , diesel went up that winter and i bought a cadillac srx all wheel drive and i love it, allso use the hd roadking. The truck sits most of the time. You wonder why they are going bank rupt!maybe cummins to chevy conversion in the future i,m a uniom man and allways buy american, but this **** is getting old!

 

[budnate]

2 more cents advice... just went complety through my '98 4x4 everything new and I mean everything under the front and with the brace in the last few months... still wondered just a tad... found the brand new tires were doing it, traded out to the firestone Transforce a/t... drives nice and dont need to herd it down the road.



also our roads are getting really bad out here, its really hard to find a nice stretch of highway to get a honest opinion of how the truck tracks, its easy to say its pulling when in fact its the road surface or the grooves from heavy trucks on the road causing the truck to float around in your lane, something to think about.



B.

 

[fest3er]

• caster/camber adjusting insert sleeves could be worn.
• Stabilizer links could be worn out.
• control arm bushings are probably shot (though those might cause more tire wear issues than steering issues)
• Rear suspension (if the rear is loose, it can steer, too)

But I have to agree with budnate: your tires will contribute to 'wander', especially those with soft sidewalls and 'improper' inflation.

The main reason I put load range F 19. 5" tires on my truck 8. 5 years ago was for steering control; it was worth every penny. I still cannot see me going back to 'regular' tires, though I might have to until I can get the front end alignable; it just eats tires. Almost guaranteed I need to install new control arms (or just bushings).

 

[J.McKenzie]

What load range tires are you running? When I hit a Bear body shop doing repairs replace OEM LRE with the same tire EXCEPT LR C which are not rated

to carry the weight of the front axe with Diesel engine and truck was all over the place untill I replaced them with LR E this cured my wandering.

 

[fest3er]

What load range tires are you running? When I hit a Bear body shop doing repairs replace OEM LRE with the same tire EXCEPT LR C which are not rated

to carry the weight of the front axe with Diesel engine and truck was all over the place untill I replaced them with LR E this cured my wandering.

Exactly. These trucks need stiffer sidewalls to handle the extra mass of the Cummins. LR E should be the minimum. LR F is about right. LR G would be good when towing very heavy.

 

[LBARTLETT]

something fairly inexpensive to try that helped my truck alot is



'Rock Solid' Ram Truck Steering !

 

[AABEN]

I replaced the goodyears with firestone Transforce A/T and had the powder put in them so there was no wheel weight to lose and I will never let any one put lead weight's on any thing I own. Yes E rating is a good way to go.

 

[bucket1]

no luck

im on my 4th or 5th set of brigstone duellers range e so i know its not the tires, also changed out the stabilizers when i had the death whobblle a few years ago.