Well, I am really enjoying my truck except for fighting to keep it straight on the road. The truck has a lot of play in the steering and at the slightest bump in the road or change of grade it wants to switch directions. It has 81k on it and I am fairly sure by looking at the front end that they are all factory parts. I was thinking about getting the DSS and the 03 trackbar upgrade. Would these make a big difference in the steering? Also, it still has the factory shocks and is riding much rougher than my old '01 4x4 3500. Should I changed out the shocks while I am doing the rest?

 

Uhhh yep it would....

Mine got so it was almost impossible to keep in one lane, repalced track bar with NAPA, little better, rebuilt stock trackbar with lukes link and polyurathane bushing, Ahhhh much better, in fact, seems better than new. Just be careful, I didnt realize how much I counter steered by habit at certian places in road, and when I crossed those places after the 'fix' I almost steered my way into a ditch.. LOL.

DuaneW

 

And put the DSS on it, worth the money, and the track bar fix, either the Luke's Links or Quad 4X4 has a kit also.

Tom

2001.5 2500 4X4 5-Spd LB QC Black. Catcher ECM, DD Stage-1's, , AFE, Bully Dog 4" pipe, ATS Exhaust Manifold, JAKE Brake w/shifter switch, Geno's Banjo's, 3 Autometer's on the A-Pillar, Gear Vendor's O/D, Firestone Air Bags, Redline Oil throughout.

 

Wolff,
Jack up the front end of the truck on the front axle make sure both front wheels are off the ground. and grab ahold the tire at like 9 and 3 and shake side to side. If you have slack then your inner/outter tie rods are bad or pitman arm or idle are or your drag link. Have someone look at those parts while you moving it back and forth to see which one it is.

 

Thanks guys! I am taking it to a friend's alignment shop today so we can look it over. I have been talking with the dealership I got it from and they may pay for it since it was "certified by a 130 point inspection". Can someone post a link to Luke's Links? I will try to search for it in the mean time.

 

Most of the play is the track bar, tie rod ends usually are OK. I had the 130 point inspection also, except they didn't catch the marginal lift pump or the bad track bar, imagine that!

Tom

2001.5 2500 4X4 5-Spd LB QC Black. Catcher ECM, DD Stage-1's, AFE, Bully Dog 4" pipe, ATS Exhaust Manifold, JAKE Brake w/shifter switch, Geno's Banjo's, 3 Autometer's on the A-Pillar, Gear Vendor's O/D, Firestone Air Bags, Redline Oil throughout.

 

Have you tried tighen up the steering gear box?

 

http://lukeslink.com/

I had to tighten up the steering box on my truck. Got most of it. Won't try to change lanes on me anymore, when it is windy. First time it did that, 'bout gave me a heart attack. That pointed me toward an on coming car. :O Got it back in the correct lane, before anything happened.

 

Hey guys. You guys that are using Luke's Link, have you replaced all tie rod ends also with this?? Or just the track bar? My 2002 has 63k on it and is definetly has more play than it used to.

 

I agree. Adjust the sector. Usually makes a big difference on our trucks. Even when they are close to new.

 

How is this done? Does it require any kind of special tools?

 

I would like to know how to tighten up my steering box.... I did not get a chance to go by the alignment shop but I plan on doing it sometime this week. I am able to move my tierods very easily by hand...should I be able to?

 

Jd_Joe, I just put one on the track bar, + the polyurathane bushing from lukes links, kinda goofy, but I had more trouble replacing the bushing than I did installing the lukes link itself.

Tightening the gearbox itself is not hard, there is a screw with a lock nut on it (top of box I beleive), back off the lock nut while holding the screw, tighten screw VERY little ( 1/8 to 1/4 turn) then re-tighten the lock nut. I am NOT sure what happens in the gearbox, but was told by a front end shop that if you over tighten that little screw you will prematurely wear out the steering box.

DuaneW.

 

Don't forget your intermediate steering shaft. Mine was shot UNDER WARRANTY at 35,000 miles on my 01. Dads was shot too at 40,000 miles. Mine was replaced with another stock POC, but his was replaced with a Borgeson and he is happier as was I. I'll replace mine in another 10K or so I suspect with a Borgeson or Flaming River.

That, and the 3rd gen bracket / bar with a DSS should clean up the vast majority of your steering woes. The tie-rod stuff mentioned above should be considered too, but only if it is bad.

Steve