ihboy

Hey, Im having trouble with my steering box. So far I two steering boxes in within a year an a half the first one the seal on the pitman arm fell out and was sitting on the shaft the same with the second box. They both came from napa. It was thinking back I thought my original box had a SNAP RING to hold the seal in. Thanks

Diesel Dave2

I had the same problem with 3 NAPA boxes....Went with a Redhead box...No problems for over 2 years.....

Tallguy67

I have 2 recomendations for steering boxes, #1 - buy a Redhead steering box, #2 - help the steering box with a DSS.

If you have any questions, I will gladly elaborate on either point.

lovinCTD59

I plan on buying a Redhead when my current reman fails.. its bad when the manager at O Reilly starts to question why you are returning so many steering gears under warranty over the past 2 years. Not my fault they are cheap reman units.. Spend the extra money now for a good quality box and a DSS. The DSS is one of the better mods I have made..

joem

My box is still good, but what is a readhead and what's a DSS? I here this quicker 13:1 box is also great: http://www.genosgarage.com/BORGESON-...o/BORG-800112/

ihboy

What's a dss?

joem

I goggled it, Dodge Steering Stabilizer- I have already bought new energy sys end links and put on a single kyb stabilizer.

Lil Dog

The DSS or Darins Steering Stablilizer is the best thing to stiffen up the front end of the truck holding the steering box and hold that Pitman Arm steady.

The Original Solid Steel DSS

joem

that's a great idea, after downgrading from a Dmax to this 2nd gen anything to improve the feel is welcome! does that also do the job of the steering box brace that everyone talks about?

mtdoragary

downgrade????

Lil Dog

Good way to make friends here..


A solid front axle is so different than the Chev IFS. So if you want to replicate the "Grader" like turning radius and car like feel of the GM, you won't do it no matter what you do.

joem

truth is I "lost the dmax due to economy" but yeah, downgrade in some ways like pulling a 24K load at speed was a breese with the max and I broke my dana 70 with the same load on the first trip with the ageing 12v. But its a upgrade in others as I can now actually turn around at the end of ANY logging road with ease! and I can burn just about whatever fuel oil is nearby.

Lil Dog

For about $200 and a weekend of wrenching, that 17 year old CTD will keep up to trucks 5 years old with little effort. Hard to compare a 160 hp truck to a 305hp ish DMax with and extra speed in the auto.. The dana 70 (or the chevy diff for that matter) were never rated for 24K anyway.

Fix your front end for any loose/worn parts, replace the track Bar with something better engineered, put a couple bucks into the tranny and some power adder parts. That will make that old truck keep up to traffic and the engine will outlast the truck, and the Dmax you had to give up. Truth...

joem

I put a lukes link on the trackbar, and all the others too but its still not solid enough. Think I will do the 3rd gen upgrade. I also plan to do the GSK soon. Other mod's should show in my sig.

Will Willard

I like this comment we need a like button.