Upgraded steering linkage with Defiant dual steering stabilizers

[MartyK]

I have the original factory steering linkage on my '05 3500 4x4 along with the Defiant differential and dual Radflo steering stabilizers (DTP-DG-3G-S). I'm going to be replacing it with the '09 upgrade ( 52122362AH).



My questions are, will I be able to re-use the Defiant set-up and what if any modifications are required?



Thanks,

Marty

 

[Bob4x4]

No. the best thing to do is sell it and go a diferent way

 

[SierraRam]

I went with the Carli/Bilstein high mount after doing my 09 upgrade. I like it alot. I also thought it was a good time to put the steering box brace on.



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[goodguys75]

why do you do this... and what is the brace for... I guess for added strength???

 

[MartyK]

That's not the answer I was hoping for. I realize the clamps will have to change. Is there an interference problem somewhere?



I picked up the new linkage yesterday, and looking at it, it looks like there could be an issue with the driver's side mounting? It looks like the tie rod adjusting sleeve and the clamp for the dampener want to share the same space.



SierraRam, is the passenger side of the stabilizer mounting to your steering brace? What brace do you have? I have the Defiant brace on my truck. The Defiant brace is basically flat with a curled lip, not a square box section. I attached a picture of it.

 

[Regcabguy]

Paul Fox the owner of Defiant was working on a conversion for the new linkage. You might call him.

 

[Bob4x4]

I found I gave up too much ground clearance with the Defiant diff guard. Went with the Carli diff guard. Still using the factory stabilizer in the origional position and Carli high mount

 

[MartyK]

I spoke with Paul, he is sending me some new clamps and spacers.

 

[SierraRam]

SierraRam, is the passenger side of the stabilizer mounting to your steering brace? What brace do you have? I have the Defiant brace on my truck. The Defiant brace is basically flat with a curled lip, not a square box section. I attached a picture of it.

The stabilizer fram mount sandwiches between the swaybar bushing/steering brace on the passenger side. I bought the steering brace on ebay, not sure who's it is, been a while since I purchased it.

 

[SierraRam]

why do you do this... and what is the brace for... I guess for added strength???

Lifted truck running 37's put a lot of stress on all of the front end components which are already on the weak side. I like the high mount stabilizer because its out of harms way.

 

[MartyK]

Follow up: Paul sent an assortment of clamps and spacers. (A very nice guy to work with by the way. ) The passenger side stabilizer will work with a new 1-1/4” clamp. No modification needed to the mounting bracket.



The driver’s side will not work. The current mounting bracket interferes with the tie rod sleeve. With the larger diameter steering linkage the stabilizer will not clear the diff guard.



I haven’t tried it, but you may be able to run both stabilizers on the passenger side. One mounted using the diff guard and one mounted in the ‘09 factory location.



Marty

 

[Bob4x4]

I think a better way to have gone would have been to sell the Defiant pkg intact to some one who could have benefited from it with no mods and to have gone with the much less ground clearance loss of the Carli diff guard. This would also have allowed use of the stock mounting position steering stabilizer and if desired the high mount Carli stabilizer as well. That is the way I went years ago.

 

[MartyK]

I'm not quite sure where this will end up. Selling the Defiant set-up is an option. The Carli is also an option. I may even just go with the single Bilstein in the new factory location.



Marty

 

[DFrank]

I looked at the defiant website, and could only find light bars.

I wan to run dual stabilizers and put the new steering linkage on, as well as a steering box brace. Where can I find one of those?

 

[Regcabguy]

Carli's offering one now.

 

[mpaulson]

I just added a dual shock kit to my truck which has the factory upgraded steering linkages, it is the BDS brand and there shocks also. Between them and all new ball joints and steering linkages I have solved the chronic death wobble that has started to appear in the last few months. Extremly easy fit up and bolt on.

 

[DFrank]

I'm hunting for the upgraded steering kit, and can only find it via the dealer and mopar supercenter.



I see people suggest moparpartsonline, but I cant find it there.



I am using pn PK362AF as well as 52122362AG T Type Linkage.



What other sources or part numbers do you suggest looking for?



thanks,

Dave

 

[Regcabguy]

Some of the online catalogs just don't work well. Best to just wait until Monday and speak to a human being.

 

[DFrank]

I'm kind of at a loss for what route to go. I had planned to just try a new steering damper, but then learned of the new beefier linkage and that the dampers wouldn't play with both.

After catching up on some research, I now know that I'd like to try a steering brace, but since I will sooner or later need a new steering box, that that is a component that wouldn't transfer to a box upgrade.

Is there a steering box brace, that will work on both a factory box as well as a future upgrade? Can one get their own box rebuilt locally? (Boulder/Denver, CO) or am I at the mercy of whatever core redhead or others might rebuild? (not that mine is likely any better than the next guys)

Also is there a damper kit, preferably duals, that can go on to the old linkage as well as the new when I upgrade?

Is it just silly to hold off on the upgraded linkage?

I replaced track bar bushings and I believe sway bar bushings as well, about a year ago, with some temporary relief of DW. It has probably done it 6-8 times over the last year. This trashed another damper or two along the way. Would this destroy the new track bushings? I'm really not sure how much play under there is tolerable.

Can someone direct me to a thread that discusses tolerances at the various parts under there for how much play is ok at each component?

Also I am now carrying an 800+ lb camper around, with no air bag or other suspension mods. Is this rear end sag contributing to the problem? Will an overloaded rear end change my castor angle?

Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[mpaulson]

I've been told by a local 4x4 shop that on the ball joints they won't let 40 thousandths pass, Dodge spec is not to replace till 70 thousandths.
As for the stablizer kits, the one I just bought, the BDS, I don't see why it wouldn't work on the original steering componants, the steering linkage that the plate connects to is just a larger diameter, so I would think that one could just tighten up the u-bolts that clamp it to the bar and use washers on the them if the threads run out before it gets tight. Then when you upgrade to the new linkages, you could just switch the plate to the new linkage. I could be way off here but I think this would work. The first picture that dosen't look as new is the OEM mount on the upgraded linkages. I don't have a picture of the original linkages to compare it to, but you could look under your truck to see if this looks like it would clear with your linkages. As for the steering box brace, I know the the OEM box and the Borgeson box both work with the regular brace that is mean't for the OEM box, I have the Borgeson box. , second one!!.