8.0s only had 8.4:1 compression ratios so it's hardly a high compression engine.

Still trying to find the time & decent weather to change out the upper control arms and install new bushing in the lowers on my beast.

 

I thought it was close to 10 boy was I wrong lol

 

So I bought them and installed the black one in my black interior

 

Hit 200k. I realize for many owners on here 200k was a while ago, but as an original owner that doesn’t like to share, I was there for almost every one of those 200k.

 

98 ram sport 4x4 with a 5.2.

replaced:
front u joints
upper and lower ball joints
front wheel hubs
calipers, pads, and rotors
drums, shoes, wheel cylinders, and all the springs
all four shocks
plugs, wires, cap and rotor, ignition coil
thermostat
upper and lower control arm bushings(polyurethane)
power steering pump, hoses, and steering gear box
got 4 tires and an alignment
body mounts(polyurethane)
battery
steering damper
........I think that's it for now but list isnt done.
Alot if the play from the steering is gone but it still has some there. All the tie rod ends and track bars are good. What else could I adjust or replace to make it tighten up?

 

Steering shaft. It has mini u joints they can go bad

 

I will check this out asap. Does the whole shat get replaced or just the small u joints??

 

Whole shaft.

 

Holy crap, that's nearly everything! I would double check your alignment to ensure zero toe in. Also, you don't mention a new track bar. That's a requisite. But I have a question: how did you bleed the steering pump? I can't get all the air out and the last thing I can try is a vacuum pump thing. So frustrating.

 

haha yea it was alot. The alignment was the very last thing that was done so it's all good. I checked out everything underneath and there is no play left in it that I could find. For bleeding the pump, it took time. Filled the reservoir with fluid and turned the wheel 90 degrees from center both directions, slowly, until almost all the fluid was gone from the reservoir. Repeat this until fluid stops disappearing from the reservoir. At this point slowly go from lock to lock and pay attention to the fluid level. After doing all this you should be good to go. I didnt have to use the vacuum pump. I could be wrong but I thought that was only to make sure there were no leaks. Right or wrong I dont know but I haven't had any problems.