My 95 2wd ram had some play in the wheel. It has new ball joints and tie rods. I checked the box and the play was there. So i adjusted the box. This cured the play, but it must have "smashed" the gears inside box and the wheel felt tight when starting to turn. The truck was driveable but it didn't feel right. So I replaced the steering box with a rebuilt box from Advance auto. I turned wheel back and forth 3 or 4 times with engine running to bleed system before I let it down off jackstands and it felt super smooth. But with weight on tires it doesn't want to turn very easy at all. And there is almost a quarter turn of play in the wheel,just like before I adjusted my origional box. Anyone else gone thru this? Should I ask for another box to try? I can only assume there are mass production people rebuilding these boxes and might not notice a worn gear and reassemble box with a couple new seals and call it good. But a well worn box like my origional(260,000 miles) would need new gears. Are the gears available to purchase? If so I'll rebuild my own box.

 

Well as for the play I'd be tempted to say the problem isn't in the box as it is in the steering box mount. There is what they call the DSS (http://www.solidsteel.ca/), it is a steel bar that helps support the steering box shaft. This may result in much less steering wheel play. As for the tightness it sounds to me like you are adjusting it to far, if you are making the wheel harder to turn with adjustments then you are probably binding the internal gears. I don't mind rebuilding most things but a little whoopsie rebuilding the steering box could make for quite a disaster.

Also it would be worthwhile to check your track bar for tightness, it can also contribute to play in the steering wheel.

 

Yes I understand I adjusted my origional box far enough to "bind" the gears. But that did cure the play in wheel. Now with the rebuilt box there is play again. I wouldn't think the mount would be the problem because my old box although was binding didn't play in wheel.Could I be wrong? I am not sure. I know older Chevy trucks are common to crack frame near steering box and flex but I am new to the Dodge's.

 

When you adjust the steering box you need to center the box. Turn left to steering stop then turn right counting the turns to steering stop. then divide turns by 2 and turn wheel that count. that puts the worm and sector shaft on hi cam. That is where you adjust it and this is where you drive it. If it is not driving straight, adjust the tie rods to run straight and set the toe to spec. If this is off you will get slop in the wheel.

 

Have you checked the track bar? A loose joint on the track bar can mask a steering box problem by letting the axle move instead of steering the tires.

Just a thought..

J-eh

 

Check the shaft from the steering colum to the steering box thet are a problem as well.

 

Yes,I checked all that. its good. I called the company that re-builds the box and the guy told me that sometimes there could be something slip by that needs new gears without being replaced. I think they mostly focus on new seals. But Advance Auto ordered me another box from a diiferent rebuilder, so I'll try that one. This one has very bad play in wheel and isn't being power assisted like it should. I need both arms to turn wheel at slow speeds. I know its not my pump because my origional box although was binding gears because I adjusted too tight was still easy to turn.

 

Yep sounds like you got a bad box.probaly a good choice to try a diffrent rebuilder if that one said stuff slips by.