I just replaced all my tie rods, track bar and ball joints. I had it aligned too. Now my front end doesn't knock and rattle but the truck is worse on the road for wandering than before I replaced all the parts. I did a small adjustment on the steering box (over centre) that took out some steering wheel play but it still wanders.

What next? Can worn sway bar links do it?

 

Be careful on steering box adjust sometimes too tight will make things worse. The proper way to adjust requires removal of steering box and adjust on bench. Jack both wheels off ground and check for any binding in steering when going past center.

 

I would have someone turn the wheel back and forth while you look for play. Also, if I was in your shoes, I would also ask for a printout of the specs they alligned it to. Somewhere here there is a very specific set of numbers for aligning these dodge trucks. A steering box stabilizer (like a DSS) would probably help too. The sway bar really has nothing to do with back-and-forth wandering.... all it does is reduce body-roll.

 

Thanks. I'll get a print out my alignment numbers.

I'm kinda new to the truck and potential accessories. What is DSS and the steering box stabilizer?

 

i would lean towards the steering box adjustment. I did the same thing on an older shortbed dodge and it was all over the road.

 

I just read on the forum that Moog ball joints are junk. Guess what I had installed?

 

Can you be a little more specific in your explanation of the wander? Does it feel like you have to constantly adjust the wheel? Does it feel like your going to hit either the guard rail or the 18 wheeler in the lane next to you? If yes to both of those, it's probably the ball joints. Go with XRF. I can't tell you how much money Moog has cost me thinking I had other failed steering components when the ball joints sucked out of the box.