Wifes front end is loose and it wanders
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Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 26
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From: Bristol CT
Wifes front end is loose and it wanders
LOL. Ok now that I have your attention I have a steering/suspension issue. Her truck wanders from one side of the lane to the other and there seems to be a large deed band in the center of the steering travel. I mean that the steering doesn't respond. The front of the truck seems to want to wallow when hitting some bumps. It doesn't bang or clunk and the shocks are good.
I am thinking that the track bar and sway bar links need to be replaced along with the steering stabilizer. After replacing them I think I might need to adjust out the slop in the steering box.
Am I on the right track? From my past experience with other vehicles bad ball joints won't cause the wandering just make it hard to align and noisy over bumps.
What are the signs of bad hubs? I am going to jack it up but it will have to wait for the weekend so I am trying to do my research before hand.
I am thinking that the track bar and sway bar links need to be replaced along with the steering stabilizer. After replacing them I think I might need to adjust out the slop in the steering box.
Am I on the right track? From my past experience with other vehicles bad ball joints won't cause the wandering just make it hard to align and noisy over bumps.
What are the signs of bad hubs? I am going to jack it up but it will have to wait for the weekend so I am trying to do my research before hand.
Champion
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,015
Likes: 8
From: Western NY,
yep...its a 2nd gen ram... Mine does the same thing and their are many causes and some aftermarket things to help with it... could be slop in the steering box and thier is an adjustment that help with it (use search function and search "steering adjustment") it could be worn front suspension components in things such as the tie rods and ball joints (check for wobble or loose component) also steering damper could be shot. Or it could be slop in the intermediate shaft that connects the steering box to steering wheel (open hood and look for slop while turning shft at one end by hand).
they also sell a aftermarket bracket to stiffen up the frame rails because of flex our rams supposedly have in the front end.
they also sell a aftermarket bracket to stiffen up the frame rails because of flex our rams supposedly have in the front end.
Last edited by Augiedoggy; Jul 6, 2010 at 04:54 PM.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
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From: Gainesville, Ga.
adjust the play out of the steering wheel first by adjusting the steering box. see the DIY info at the top of the 2nd gen section. its very easy and costs nothing.
check hubs by grabbing the top of the tire with both hands and pulling/pushing as hard as you can. no need to jack up. any metallic clunking/shaking is bad, but it could be ball joints or hub bearings. this is probably not your wandering problem.
after doing all that, check track bar.
check hubs by grabbing the top of the tire with both hands and pulling/pushing as hard as you can. no need to jack up. any metallic clunking/shaking is bad, but it could be ball joints or hub bearings. this is probably not your wandering problem.
after doing all that, check track bar.