I have looseness(play) in my steering and a wandering problem. I have a clunking/pinging in that seems to be in my steering shaft while I'm driving. Also while my truck is off, I can turn my wheel back and forth and I can hear a popping and also feel the popping. It seems like it's in my shaft. I have replaced tie rods, balljoints, and hub bearings. Does anyone have any suggestions or have had this problem?

 

Have you tried to adjust the steering box yet? If there is play in the steering wheel it is almost certainly the steering box.

I towed a lot with my old '98 RCSB 1500 5.9 4x4, and had to adjust mine twice in the 68k miles I had it. The 2nd Gen 1500s were SFA also.

 

Yes, I have tightened the gear box. But when I move thesteering wheel back and forth, I hear and feel a popping and it feels like it's in the steering shaft.

 

I have thought about getting the borgeson steering shaft and also replacing my track bar bushings. Any suggestions?

 

Crawl under the truck while someone else is sawing the wheel back and forth (to the point where the clunking/popping takes place). While you are down there (and the steering is sawing back and forth), take a gander at the track bar bushings... if they are not loose/wiggling, they are most likely still good to go. If there is movement, replace as necessary (should be absolutely no movement). It is also possible that the bolt(s) may just need to be tightened, which requires a crazy amount of torque (like 400 ft. lbs. or something... thats just a number I'm throwing out there as I don't know the correct torque spec, but it is a lot).

Also, look at the steering shaft while the steering is sawing back and forth too. Look for odd movement, and put your hand on the shaft while it is popping... you may be able to pinpoint it to the shaft itself. I would hate to see you spend $300 or so on a new shaft and then still have the same symptoms.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your findings...

 

Thats what I was going to suggest also

 

Thanks to all. This is becoming an investment! I love the motor, it's just the truck around it that is falling apart

 

Well I have replaced tie rods, balljoints, hub bearing assemblies, steering shaft and trac bar bushings. I still have a popping in steering when I turn wheels back and forth. I can feel popping/clunking in my pedals as well. Also the truck wanders. Bad enough that I can't take my eyes off the road for a second. I have tried tightening the gear box. So much that I get the truck goin one way and when it wanders I have to go back the other way to correct. I crawled under truck and grabbed the new steering shaft rotating it back and forth. There is alot of play before pitman arm starts to move. As well as a popping that seems to be coming from inside the gear box. Could this be the problem? Please help!

 

My stock steering box in my 05 had a lot of play. I swapped it for a Borgenson unit and used a Borgenson intermediate shaft. The steering in my truck is now as tight as my 06 Mustang GT's.

 

I know the 2500's had enough problems with the steering box that they were out of stock for a while, just saying.