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Steering has a mind of its own

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Old Apr 19, 2010 | 11:12 PM
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heyrogerdodger's Avatar
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From: North Haledon NJ
Steering has a mind of its own

I've been experiencing some very random steering issues lately on my '92. It will steer fine for days, then have an extreme pull to the right which forces an overcorrection to the left. This may happen for 5 minutes and return to normal. I've been living with it, trying to figure it out, but yesterday I went to make a left on my street and the truck continued straight. Can anyone help me get to the bottom of this?
Bill
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Old Apr 19, 2010 | 11:15 PM
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what kind of info can you provide about the truck? mostly wondering if it's 2wd or 4wd.
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 07:45 AM
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Sounds like the hydraulic valving inside your steering box is on the fritz.
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 12:47 PM
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mine kind of does the same thing. I will be changing my steering box and puttin in a borgeson shaft and see if it makes a difference.
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 02:30 PM
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borgeson makes a reman'd steering box for us now. it'll run you about $350 at genos garage though and comes with a 3-year warranty.

Borgeson Reman Steering Box ('89-'93)
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 03:06 PM
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Nothing against the Borgeson box, as I have no experience with them, but I was quite happy with my PSC reman box I got in 2005 for my 91 2wd. Cost was comparable to a parts store China reman, and the quality was much better.
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 06:30 PM
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I was wondering if the borgeson box was worth the money or not?
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 08:54 PM
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heyrogerdodger's Avatar
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From: North Haledon NJ
Thanks for the replies. My truck is 4wd xcab.
I replaced my shaft on my '90 1 ton, but I never experienced this. The front end is tight and greased, so my hunch was that it had something to do with the steering box. Today it was perfect. As tight as it was leaving the lot in
'92. Tomorrow I might pull a dukes of hazzard into a lake. Keep the advice coming. Bill
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 09:19 PM
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From: Nevada Co., CA
Front axle u-joints! Check them out then replace before you get yourself killed! One or more cups are froze up and when they rotate due to vibration and line up vertically with the axis of the knuckle/yoke then you got no steering - usually temporary until the u-joint rotates some more - if that makes sense
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 11:03 PM
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From: North Haledon NJ
Thanks bigredbrick, your the winner - we figured it out today. My right front axle joint was seized, and was doing exactly as you described. When it hit that sweet spot it froze up for a split second and what I thought was a pull was actually loss of steering. Whew. Glad thats over.
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Old Apr 22, 2010 | 03:11 PM
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Yeah that's a scary one when you get off the freeway and it goes straight when you want to turn right! Or driving down the freeway at 70 and it suddenly pulls to the right and you're pulling hard on the wheel to the left trying to keep 'er going straight and then it just goes away like nothing happened - huh, what the heck! I've never had it happen on any other 4x4 I've owned - three other Dodges and one Scout.
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Old Apr 22, 2010 | 05:06 PM
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Your frame doesn't have cracks around the steering box does it? This is a common issue that will allow the box to move and cause very strange steering as well. Check it out. Like I said, it's common.
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Old Apr 22, 2010 | 08:45 PM
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From: North Haledon NJ
Dzl, yup -been through that one too. I've made that repair on my '90 and '92. But out of all the stuff I've owned over the years, these Dodges have been pretty stress free. Except of course when I want to go left and my truck goes straight.
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Old Apr 23, 2010 | 08:05 AM
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This isn't directly related to your issues, but is a great steering upgrade. I have been looking to go cross over steering, but haven't wanted to pay what most are asking for the parts. Well I found a company selling the cross over and high steer arms for significantly less than anywhere else I've looked. Here is a link. They also sell them on ebay, but are $5 more there. Here's the link. http://www.totalperformanceonline.co...ayout_0100.xsl I ordered from them and after purchasing everything to go crossover I spent right at $200.
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Old Apr 23, 2010 | 08:01 PM
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From: Milton ONT
My truck is doing the same thing. It a 4x4 1990. Do you have a part number. Is it easy to do. Never done it before.Truck needs front brakes and rotor.Im 17teen. I live in Canada will the part number be the same. Do you have to change bearing. Is there a part number for the roter. Just like to get the right things. Thanks eveyone
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