Just rebuilt the front end on my 97 dodge ram 1500 4wd. Took it to king tire for an alignment, wheel balance and was going to have them tighten up my steering box. They did the alignment and balanced the wheels but called and told me the steering gear box needed replaced, they said it had alot of left to right movement. I told them I'd have it fixed later on. I just drove it home and its veering all over the road sort of uncontrollably. Can the steering box be the only cause?

 

A bad steering box is a very common issue on 2nd gen Dodge Ram trucks. If everything else has been done to rebuild the front end, the steering box isn't at all uncommon to need replacement if it is found to have slop in it. Remanufacturered steering boxes are quite a crap shoot, as you may or may not get a good one.

 

Did the shop actually try and adjust it? If they did, they may have it too tight..... That will cause the truck to want to go anywhere BUT straight down the road.

 

Yeah, this is a distinct possibility if they did try to adjust it.

OP, start the vehicle so you have power assist. Stand on a little step stool or something at driver fender and grab steering shaft. Don't get tangled in the FEAD but this should be very easy to avoid. Turn the shaft and see how much rotation you get before it actually translates to the pitman arm, which is essentially the output of the steering box.

 

yes they tried to adjust it I believe but realized it wasnt gonna do any good i guess. If its too tight, how can i loosen it up so I can make it atleast drivable. I called them just a minute ago and they said that there's no center in the gear box so it won't correct itself, therefor it's darting side to side

 

On top of the box, there is a alan head screw, with a jam nut. Hold the alan head in place (with an allen wrench....) loosen the lock nut, and then back the allen head off 1/4 turn. Go for a drive. Still too tight? Do it again. 1/4 turn at a time, until it gets to a spot you can live with. Sounds like the box does need to be replaced though.....

 

No common steering system relies on a physical stop or detent at "center".

Return-to-center is dictated by toe and caster (and maybe Ackerman ‐‐ I'm not sure?)

If things are too TIGHT you won't get return to center. It wants to naturally "drift" back to center if alignment is correct, tire sizes and pressures are equal, etc

NOW, darting back and forth on its own is one thing. But if you turn left and it just wants to stay left, that could mean your steering box is too tight.

 

Clearances on the gears are tighter on center. Of course, that is also the portion of the gears that wear the most.... So, if you don't have it DEAD center when you adjust it, it is REAL easy to get it too tight, and even if you do, it is STILL easy to get it too tight. Usually, backing it off 1/4 to 1/2 a turn, and it will be driveable. Will likely still be a bit of slop over-center, but, at least you can drive it..

 

You can't adjust worn gears in the center, You need to adjust them on the "unworn" section at the end. This way it won't bind if you don't get it correct in the center. If you still have slop in the center it's time to start shopping for a decent steering box. That's a tough one because i think most if not all reuse the old gears. If the shaft is moving side to side there is no adjusting that.

 

Well everything else on this truck has been SHOT so I wouldn't doubt the steering box is too. Before I could wiggle the wheel about half an inch each way before it would actually move the wheels. King tire said there was alot of left to right play in the box so I'm guessing that's what you're talking about with the shaft