Can you link those column bushings? I cant find them anywhere.

 

from this site, http://www.rocksolidramtrucksteering.com/

gives this order link: http://www.permashield.net/steeringfix/

let me know how it goes, it's apparently easy to do and can make a dramatic improvement alone from what I've read

 

For now I ended up skipping the shops and going with a mechanic. Shops quoted around 700$ for tie rods and alignment only.

I just bought the 6pc tie rod kid(60), steering dampener(20)sway bar bushings and links(40) all for 120$.

Im going to install those first, get an alignment,and then move onto the steering column bushings(120), pittman arm(50), control arms(80), and steering box(80) ONLY IF the death wobble isnt solved.

A mobile mechanic quoted me 200$ for each set of work,so hopefully it is solved in the first set of parts!

 

Don't forget the track bar. It is usually the major culprit for death wobble. Upgrading to the third-gen style is the best (and most expensive....) option.

 

I bought a track bar and a kit that had all ball joints and u joints for 60$. Thanks!

 

It's the ball joint end that is most prone to failure. It was just a bad design decision on dodges part.

 

I forgot to update everyone of the final solutions to my stated issues:

1. Solved by cleaning throttled body and sensors

2 and 3. Solved by replacing tie rods,steering dampener, and ball joints. I sold the rest of the parts I had on the side (thankfully for more than I bought them for because people used autozone prices to haggle ;D)

Thanks for everyones help!

 

Thx for letting us know, I'll check mine out and get that steering column bushing eventually too. I think part of my problem with lower mpg is due to how old my gas much be now too, I don't see myself filling this 35 gallon tank full to the brim anytime soon again lol, gas has already gone up quite a bit here and supposedly going up much more for the summer....ouch.

 

Try filling up a 35 gallon tank (upgraded from yhe 25gal tank) PLUS another 35 gallon tank (in spare tire holder) @ $3.25 a gallon.

 

Well, don't feel too bad...my 'ol blue is a '96/318 NV3500 w/3.55 rear n that same 35 gallon chasm to fill with liquid gold. Most of the dad's in my son's scout troop own pickups, ya know, the new generation firebreathing Saturn V powered V8s. Only there's are BRAND NEW...Dodge, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Chevy (those poor people). I asked about the gas mileage on these beasts and most reply..."I'm not sure, but the computer usually says something around than 20, maybe less." I guess it still goes to show that the old saying, horsepower = gasoline!!! Now, while I'd like to have the pony power they do, I'd prefer NOT to have the lease or 5-7 years of vehicle payments that are required to support those more powerful engines. Not to mention, relearning a whole new skynet style control system that allows them to operate something like an internal combustion engine. So take heart n celebrate your old n PAID FOR beast of a bygone era like I do...LOL, I think?!?.