2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission wandering steering

[BLillquist]

I just cannot seem to get my truck to quit wandering all over the road I've replaced the track bar ,adjusted they play out of the steering box, put new ball joints. and the wander is still there!! could it be the tie rod ends??

I'M getting frustrated . also I've had my wife sit in the truck and slowly turn the wheel to look for any play in the steering shaft. I could not see any.

any suggestions??

1994 2500 SLT 4WD REG CAB KDP DEAD. 370'S ATS TRIPLE DISC TC AND TRANS.

 

[Joe G.]

If the front end is ok then maybe something is loose in the rear. I've never seen the problem on one of these trucks, but I have seen older trucks and cars that had a wandering problem when the bolt the holds the rear spring leaves together had sheared off.

 

[IC Smoke]

what about the DSS?



new steering stabilizer shock maybe?



Ian

 

[MNorgren]

DSS worked for me.

Reduce steering "wander", eliminate sector shaft play in the steering box and minimize frame flex at the steering box mounting point with the "DSS" steering stabilizer. Eliminate Trackbar wear with the Trackbar Retrofit Kit. Fits 1994-2002 Dodge RAM diesels

 

[RMecum]

I put the DSS and it made a huge diffenence... I just ordered the 03 track bar conversion kit... everyone says these are they best mods they've ever done. Do a search on these issues and the DSS and the '03 track bar conversion. Also check www.sourceautomotive.biz. They carry the DSS and track bar kit.



Mike

 

[MTegtmeyer]

I have tried all of this stuff. I have a new steering shaft, new shocks, DSS, Darin's track bar, and PCS steering box, and steering stabilizer. After all of that I still have wonder, I gave up. I have just started getting use to it.

Although I will try looking at the rear as Joe suggested.

 

[RMecum]

Could be bad tires or some other suspension part... might try a suspension specialist or something along those lines.

 

[Joe G.]

I know I'm not much help on suspension issues with these trucks. Mine still steers like it is new and I have 235K+ miles on it. I live on a very rough road too. Mine had a slight drift to the right that the alignment shop just made worse. They could not get rid of it. The forth set of tires I put on the truck was Michelins from Costco. The drift went away! On a day with no wind I can drive hands off for over a mile on I5 before the truck drifts out of the lane. Tires might very well be contributing to the problem.

 

[AHughes]

Call Rip Rook At Source Auto In Portland Oregon And Get The Dss Track Bar. It's Really Taken The Steering Issues Out Of My 98. 5 Quad Cab And Is Easy To Install. The Only Problem I Had Was Breaking A Torque Wrench Tightening Up The Nut On The Bottom Of The Steering Box. I Think It's 170 Ft/lbs? And I Had To Buy A Large Socket For The Nut On The Bottom Of The Steering Box Too. Worked For Me. Best Of Luck.

 

[Grizzly]

Could be bad tires or some other suspension part... might try a suspension specialist or something along those lines.

I agree with RMecum on this one. I had a simular problem on a Furd, before the 95 Dodge. I too had replaced many front end parts to no avail. Then someone noticed that my tires ware pattern were quite different due to tire rotation. A new set of rubber solved that problem. By the way that wondering can be dangerous, because if you take your eye off the the road for a split second to make a radio adjustment, you could find yourself and your RV in the next lane. Grizzly

 

[TMitch]

185 ft/lbs for the steering nut. You need 1 - 5/16" socket for the stock nut and 1 - 1/4" deep socket for the new nut that comes with the DSS. I just installed my DSS this afternoon. It took less than 1/2 hour including cleaning up. My initial impression is that is does make a noticeable difference. I also just put new rubber (6 x Michelin XPS Tractions) all around and that made the biggest improvement in ride quality and wander reduction.

 

[Jschafer]

Joe G

my trucks drives like the day i picked it up as well ( almost went in the ditch on the way home) like crap :-laf



Blillquist

my truck from brand New wandered however if yours is real bad the toe in could be off you might want to have it checked at the alignment shop also could be the tires as stated by others. Check your wheel bearings that will also do it.



You are not from the U. P. are you?

Joe

 

[MKinner]

You might want to check out the group by on the DSS. I called them up about a week late and they were nice enough to give it to me!! Oo. Should be in the mail by now...

 

[jrobinson2]

Increasing caster helped a lot on my truck, just mark the ecentrics on the front of the lower control arm before you start so you can return to the current settings, you want to turn the adjusters to move the lower axle mounts forward. The only real downside to increased caster is sometimes slightly heavier steering, it shouldn't affect tire wear at all. Most shops set caster around 2. 5*, around 4* to 5* should work better on these trucks.



Jared

 

[BDanner]

Does the Kore steering damper and aluminum clamp fit your 99 without alteration? Their website shows for 03-05 Rams. I have an 01 3500 that just had the inverted"T" conversion with the 99 HD front end parts and would like to get a new steering damper back on. I like the look of the Kore machined aluminum clamp!



Bruce



-----------------------

01 3500 AT 4x4, DTT, PSC steering box, DSS, 03 track bar, Banks exhaust brake,

4" SS exhaust, Airaid filter, Brembo front rotors, ED3344 shocks, somethings I forget. .

 

[jrobinson2]

I posted pictures in this thread Steering upgrades

I couldnt make the KORE mount work, it hit the diff cover at full left turn so I used the OEM clamp. I have seen reports of it working on '00 up "Y" steering trucks but I think the tie rod diameter is smaller on the '94-97 trucks.



Jared

 

[Ereynolds72]

Increasing caster helped a lot on my truck, just mark the ecentrics on the front of the lower control arm before you start so you can return to the current settings, you want to turn the adjusters to move the lower axle mounts forward. The only real downside to increased caster is sometimes slightly heavier steering, it shouldn't affect tire wear at all. Most shops set caster around 2. 5*, around 4* to 5* should work better on these trucks.



Jared

I agree with Jared. Get some E Rated tires and adjust caster more positive. Don't depend on an alignment shop to adjust caster either. It's easy to do yourself. You don't even have to use a jack to get the weight off the axle. The combination of these two items cured all my steering woes... I've got 85k on my '02 and all the steering components are original. Truck drives great!

 

[Willys]

How exactly do you adjust the caster? I plan to replace the control arm bushings in the coming months, probably with energy suspension polyurethane(and probably the rear susp. bushings and all 4 shocks at the same time). They're cracked quite a bit(at least the visible ones are) and seem to be somewhat dry rotten. I'd like to do the work myself- swapping bushings doesn't scare me, but I'm unfamiliar with setting the alignment. Is camber something that I can adjust as well? I changed the ball joints a few years back, but don't know if they were put in spec. when the alignment was performed.



I know I have a slightly worn tie rod ends, all the others were replaced a few years back. I'm thinking about replacing the lukes linked track bar with a 3rd gen style bar- I'm still getting some bumping in the floor and a little in the steering wheel. I attribute this to the track bar end moving in and out of the socket slightly. Does this sound right?

 

[DirtyDodge]

Increasing caster helped a lot on my truck, just mark the ecentrics on the front of the lower control arm before you start so you can return to the current settings, you want to turn the adjusters to move the lower axle mounts forward. The only real downside to increased caster is sometimes slightly heavier steering, it shouldn't affect tire wear at all. Most shops set caster around 2. 5*, around 4* to 5* should work better on these trucks.



Jared

I just tried this on my truck, Made a Huge difference for me. Thanks for the post Jared.

Derek

 

[JFitzgerald]

I have been having the wandering problem lately and have noticed a lot of posts about it recently too. I checked for loose parts when I last rotated the tires and could not detect anything. Yesterday I had my wife wiggle the steering wheel while I watched underneath. I was expecting/hoping to see play in the track bar end and fix it with a Luke's Link. The steering gear output shaft moves roughly 1/8" side to side. That's not a huge amount of play and the steering gear box is not leaking at all, so I'm thinking about ordering the DSS. Then I might try adjusting the caster too. Who has the best deal on the DSS? Looks like Pier's has a good price, but shipping may be costly to IL.