Ok, so I'm thinking about fixing my steering, it wanders quite a bit, and I'd rather it didn't. So I'm figuring I'll get the red-head 15.1 steering box. At 190,000 miles, I'm figuring my steering shaft is pretty worn too.

Is there a way to tell for sure I need a steering shaft?

Is the Dorman replacement unit junk? Is the Borgeson unit much better?

 

So your tie rod ends / ball joints etc are all in good order?

 

I've got new MOOG ball joints on it. I'll be doing my tie rod ends as well. I can have a friend sit in the cab and turn the wheel side to side, and I can lay on the ground and watch the pitman arm on the steering box, it doesn't move at all for 3/16 of a turn or so.

 

i think a bad steering shaft would make it so you can move the steering wheel up and down while driving or hitting something on the road. the play that you have is because of the steering box.

 

on my 2000 dodge ram I have had the track bar replaced, all of the tie rods, and the steering stabilizer. It has all helped, but I still get a good bit of wander going down the road. So I bought a Borgeson steering box (Dodge Box) part #800120 for a new one, or part #800112 for a rebuilt one. You also need a Borgeson steering shaft for it to work in our trucks, part #000950. I have not installed it yet, im saving to get new hubs and ball joints, and I will have it all done at the same time.