Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Upgrade to '03 steering?

[CBrabec]

I am in desperate need of installing new tie rod ends, a new track bar, basically a new front end rebuild. Anyway a friend told me that the dealership now makes a conversion kit for our older trucks to now get the steering setup of the '03 and newer trucks. I have done a lot of serching here and can't find any part #'s for this kit and what it all comes with. I guess I can replace with OEM parts but if I can beef up the front end's steering with the newer type steering I would rather do that.



Chris

 

[Dieseldemon]

Check with Genos the parts are not OEM Solid steel makes parts for this and they have them in stock.

 

[GReed]

The part # for the upgraded steering components is 52122362AH. Check with some of the online discount Mopar parts dealers. Seems like the price was less than $350. And that may have included shipping.

 

[1tuffram]

I'm in the same spot with my '95 truck. The front tires are in rough shape, espesially the outer half of the passenger side. I have read this indicates worn track bar. All I know is the steering is pretty sloppy on the highway. I have the steering colum/wheel clunk when pulling in and out of my driveway or turning into parking spaces in parking lots. As of the last few months when making slow sharp turns in parking lots or pulling into/out my driveway there is a "grateing type vibration" felt in the steering wheel in addition to the intermit clunk. I havn't had time to start pulling the front end apart to see if the problem/s is steering components, ball joints, etc or something more axle related like the hubs or axle u-joint, etc. I'm anticipating there is going to be a lot of stuff in need of replacing so it may be a good time to do some sort of steering upgrade rather than sticking with stock components.

Anyone know if the 52122362AH kit mentioned above will be a direct bolt on for these early year 2nd gen trucks? Some of the threads I've read on using Dodge/Mopar kits or components for 3rd and 4th gen trucks won't directly bolt on the early year 2nd gen trucks without some mods.

 

[1tuffram]

After posting I decided to start taking a look at things. Looks like I can get a little wiggle in the lower ball joints, passenger side more than drivers. One strange thing I noticed was when spinning the drivers side tire it sounds like a couple pieces of gravel inside the tire rolling/bouncing around. I know this was not present last time I rotated the tires, so I don't know if the tire is starting to come apart on the inside. Maybe this is what's causing the grateing/vibration feeling in the steering wheel at slow sppeds when turning?? These are Michlins LTX M/S that are serveral years old and getting pretty low on tread. Since the front passenger tire is so bald on the outter part I rotated it to the rear for saftey concerns. Looks Like the rear pinion seal I was planning doing in the next week or two is now on the back burner as priority shifts to the front end of this truck so I can get new tires.

 

[ShannonHicks]

I have been poking around on front end of my truck as well because of a vibration in the floor boards and some low noises just above the engine with the throttle at cruising speed. I have nearly ruled out the front hub assembly, however yours I would say is definitively the hub assembly. I priced out both sides and got some pretty surprising quotes from all suppliers. $150-350 per side, depending upon quality. The dealer was real quite when I inquired with them and then he suggested I look elsewhere, $375 per side.

Did you get yours repaired? What manufacture did you go with and what did it set you back?

 

[surfbeetle]

Did I miss it, is this kit for 2 or 4 wheel drive? At 214k I need to look at replacing the steering box etc.



Here's a link I found,

http://www.factorymoparparts.com/52122362ah.html

$241. 50