im diagnosing another steering issue (story of a dodge owners life). i notice when a load is put on the draglink, it twists on the balljoints on either end (one end is on the pitman arm and the other is on the passanger side steering knuckle). the twisting causes the tierod mount (midway up the draglink) to twist down about 1/2" which then causes the tires to tow out. i can grab the draglink and physically twist it by hand to recreate this problem. i can see the tires tow in and out as i twist this thing. it will also make a slight clunk when the twist maxes out on the joints either way. So, to sum it up, every time i turn the wheel and put a load on the steering gear, the tires will tow in or out (depending on the direction i turn the wheel) about 1/2".

the only thing i can see may be an issue is the draglink AND tierod both have a slight bend in them about midshaft. are these supposed to be there? i cant find any good pictures.

 

Mine also have bends in them.

 

Oh cool. I was just about to ask this very question as I just finished doing my upper control arm bushings and noticed this as I was crawling out from under the truck. I am assuming based on what I have read and the fact that I have those bends to that they are supposed to be there?!

 

Going by a 98 FSM there is a light duty 1500 and HD 2500 suspension obviously. But looking at the pics (which do suck btw) the LD is bent and the HD looks straight. So someone with a 2500 is going to have to chime in here. Plus Helm has a 2002.

 

well, my truck IS an HD, mine are bent.

 

Could be the pics just suck, go to an auto parts store and look at new ones. If yours got bent since you bought it, I think you would have had some major steering issues some where along the line.

 

well, the funny thing is. in December of '07, i got in a little accident where a honda civic kinda drove under my truck and bent all me front control arms, pushing the frontend back untill the tires hit the wheelwells. the shop that fixed the truck replaced the tierod and diff cover (as well as many other things), and sent it for an alignment. im wondering if the draglink needed replacement but they didnt notice, and now the new alignment compensated fo the bend. it was just a hunch, ill have to go scope out some new ones.