steering box wo's
 

ok so still trouble shooting my horrible handling problem. brand new dt pro-fab trackbar installed and centered perfectly... and the truck still wanders and darts to one side or the other.. had the alighnment done already.

i had the wife get up in the truck and wiggle the steering wheel back and forth and there is absolutley 0 play in all the end links/ steering linkage.... EXCEPT the steering box... i can look straight up and watch the steering shaft wiggle ALOT and the pitman arm only dance very little... looks like theres aLOT of play in the steering box... anyone notice this? I have adjusted the steering box all the way, the set screw is bottomed out , and theres still play. time for a new steering box?????

anyway, any ideas would be good thanks guys!

RE: steering box wo's
 

Sounds like it might be time for a new steering box....or have your current one rebuilt.

Personally, I'm going with one of these as soon as I can afford it: http://www.pscmotorsports.com/produc...products_id=91

RE: steering box wo's
 

I have the same problem with my 99 2500 4x4. It also has a new track bar, upper and lower ball joints and aligmnet. Still wanders and the steering wheel doesnt return all the way to the center. The steering box was replaced by the previous owner a few months ago, but it is a refurbished box. I havent noticed any movement in the shaft, but havent really looked at it too close. I have had it several places and none of the shops have an answer. I feel your pain!

RE: steering box wo's
 

My steering box is doing the exact same thing. However, it is not nearly as bad as how your describing yours to be. I bottomed out the set screw and that helped a bunch. I am going to run it for the winter and probably do something in the spring.

RE: steering box wo's
 

Our steering gears are weak from design. I installed that steer gear stabilizer kit, with an AGR Superbox 1. Made all the difference in the world. If everything else is tight, this will be the icing on the cake. Let me find the link. It would probably be a good idea to replace the steer gear if you add this stabilizer. I'm sure everyone has seen it. It adds another bearing to the pitman arm shaft. Simple design. Now your pitman arm has stabilization above and below.


I also have the trackbar conversion bracket which lets me use the adjustable (gen 3) trac bars. Dodge finally got things right. Let us have an adjustable tracbar, with no ballstud...LOL.

Good luck with your ride.


http://www.piersdiesel.com/DSS1.htm





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RE: steering box wo's
 

yup your box is shot.

Do not get a rebuilt one to save money, do not go to the dealer
go directly to PSC and get theirs (without passing go and collecting 200 dollars).
You will save yourself a lot of head ache.

dont waste your money on the steering gear stabilizing kit. It will do more harm than good. I had one and removed it 2 weeks later after I didnt notice a difference and I noticed that when you turned it put huge amounts of pressure on the sector shaft which made my box leak everytime I turned.

RE: steering box wo's
 

Must have been installed on an already worn steer gear, or perhaps installed improperly. I've had mine for four years, I've put one on our fire co's brush truck (94'), and two members have them on their dodges as well. All three vehicles had AGR Superbox 1's installed. There hasn't been any problem with all 4. I do the righ check on the brush every and always look at the steering system. And the tech at AGR never recommended not using them. Not breaking balls, just sayin.


Good luck with your ride.

RE: steering box wo's
 

Nope installed correctly.

have someone turn your steering wheel while you look at the bracket and steering box. the bracket flexs a great deal. even just sitting on a flat surface. you should see it flex when you're offroad.

on pavement only they are ok, but if you do any offroading you're asking for trouble. If you have a PSC box they wont cover sector shaft failures if you have one of those stabilizers installed.

RE: steering box wo's
 

Just an FYI for everyone.

here is a thread on PS.com that has a fix for the flexing of the DSS brace.

http://www.pavementsucks.com/forums/...ghlight=sector