2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission wandering 2500

[DThibault]

My 2001 with 37000 miles is all over the road. I have a friend with a 97 that does not have nearly the play in his wheel. I looked at both trackbars and his seems to be worn a little more. There is play in both of them and I have a new Moog sitting in my shop waiting for the weather to tame down a little before I brave the elements, (10 degrees below zero with 30 mph winds). Anyway, from what I read, this is an elusive problem. Noone has a cut and dry reason or method to fix this plaguing disease. I hesitate to put the new trackbar on because there very little play in the old one, and then there is talk of the steering box. I only noticed this problem when I went on a highway trip last month and it really is aggravating. Driving around the curvy country roads here I did not notice it as much. I can't believe it has always been there, maybe I have been enjoying the power so much I have failed to notice the crummy steering for 35000 miles. Is there any cut and dry answers to this. Does Dodge recognize there is a problem. Of course my warrantee is now up but I would not be in the mood for a runaround from the dealership anyway. Thanks

 

[Weidner]

5 trips to the dealer in one year. The last visit I was at 35,800 miles and they put in a new trac bar and tie rods, I think just to shut me up. It was better for a while, NOT GOOD though. Now at 58,000 you need to heard this thing down the interstate. I want to video tape what it takes to keep this truck in a straight line and sent it to anyone who cares, DC does not give a rip. There is that bar with bearing for the steering box that a guy in Canada is selling, I am going to order one of those and give it a try.

 

[rmcnamee]

I just put in the DT track bar and the results were great. Wander has been almost totally eliminated. Much better and worth the $250. 00. I think my steering box is worn to begin with, so I look into it.



Ryan

 

[Steve Campbell]

Perhaps something like .....

this... ... . http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=138032 will help you out.



You can read more about it in this thread... http://216.235.147.117/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64315



Hope that helps.

 

[tvictor]

This may be too simple, but check your tire pressures. My truck is a 2002 2500 with 265 R75 x 16's and I thought the steering was a little vague, right off the lot. What I noticed though was the front tires had more sidewall bulge than the rears, with 45 psi up front and 40 in the rear. That appears to be what the owner's manual recommended for a lightly loaded truck. But I also noticed a footnote missing for the diesel truck, that I suspect, suggests an extra 5 psi up front.



So that's what I did. My truck is usually lightly loaded so I began running 50 up front and 40 in the rear. I honestly believe the steering feels tighter and has a more precise on-centre feel. The downside is the front end hits a bit harder on road imperfections. So what! It is a truck, after all and never was intended to ride like a Cadillac!



It is possible a tire pressure adjustment will correct the problem and save your spare track bar for later, when there's no doubt it requires replacement.

 

[Clinton]

Nothing definite

DThibault,

You're right about nobody having one definite solution, seems different fixes work on different trucks. In my case a DT track bar and new Bilsteins improved my steering about 80%. My bar was worn out and the shocks were trashed at 80k miles. I cannot say which of the two made the bigger improvement as I replaced them at the same time. I'm going to try the 'Over Center' adjustment on the steering box next (I'm waiting for a weather break too) and possibly a new steering shaft. I also bumped my pressure up in all four tires at the suggestion of the alignment guy. If you feel your bar is only slightly worn and not the entire problem, try higher pressure in the tires, new shocks and save the bar for last, you will need it at some point anyway. Good luck.