I had my son drive my truck yesterday and he couldn't believe how touchy my steering is and how much play there is in the steering. Driving the truck 4 hours is exhausting, you always have to correct the steering, it's not that bad but you can't take you're eyes off the road. I brought the truck in for an alignment and they told me that everything is in good shape (ball joints, trackbar, tie rod ends). There's about an inch play in the steering wheel. I got the local mechanic take a look and he replaced the steering knuckle on the pitman arm. He also told me that there's some play in the gear box before the wheel starts turning.
Would replacing the gear box help? Would putting on the 03 upgrade trackbar help even if the existing trackbar is ok?

 

I initially had quite some play in the steering but the truck did not wander very much.

Once the notorious "Death Wobble" started a few weeks ago, I replaced the existing trackbar with the trackbar conversion kit and an adjustable trackbar, installed a DSS stabilizer and renewed the complete tie rod system from the pitman arm down.

All this substatially firmed up my steering.

 

I've got 137,924 miles or 221,961km on her. I replaced one balljoint and installed the SS Streering Stabilizer, it better than it was but it still wander, too much for my liking. I'm really tempted to swap the gear box since everything else is good. Have I missed anything?
I don't see the point the put the trackbar conversion kit if the existing tackbar is good, am I wrong? Does the conversion kit make that much of a difference compared to a 2nd gen tackbar?

 

I hope some other people with much more knowledge than me can help you out.

 

I've replaced all the parts on my front end. ball joints, thuren track bar, gear box. Only the tie rods & steering damper haven't been changed. No parts swapping. All needed to be changed.

My gear box is a new AGR 3 1/2 turn box. I'm on my 5th install & it still isn't right. There is play in the gearbox allowing the steering wheel to turn with no effect on the road wheels. The alignment shop said that they couldn't lock the wheels enough to align it. Last night I took my old box apart per the FSM to have a look at how it works. You can try adjusting the screw on the top of the box. Go a little at a time. Too much & box won't return to center & will likely wear bearings. I looked at adjusting the worm bearing thrust load & decided that it likely would not be necessary but this is a new box & factory people can probably set it in their sleep. Have a look in the FSM & you'll see.

Today I adjusted the top screw (preload adjuster on pitman shaft). Hopefully shop can align it. Wandering is also likely caused by not enough caster. (I maxed mine out as the shop said it was in specs so wouldn't change it.) Also negative toe (out) will cause erratic steering. (Google toe out & slip angle.)

 

When my track bar was bad (excessive play in the ball stud end), the truck constantly pulled to one side. I replaced it with a cheap bar and it did not last very long. Next I installed a Luke's Link on the cheap bar. The bushing in the bolt end went bad next. So I rebuilt the original tack bar with the Luke's Link. To date (almost a year) I have not had any problems. Next the steering box started to leak so I replaced it. The truck seemed to wander from side to side. So I replaced the ball joints. That helped some, but it still wandered side to side. Using my Xterra steering as an example, I concluded that the new steering box was not adjusted right. So I got a replacement, its good and tight , no slop. The wandering has disappeared. One other thing to check is the steering shaft. Mine had some play in it so I shimmed it to take out most of the play. Check this where it is normally extended to.
The track bar and steering linkage is the same as used on a half ton. They do not seem to have problems, but they have a lot less weight on the front end.

 

hi
DO the ssi bracket and 03 up trackbar and adjust both input bearing preloadand sector shaft adj. and youu will not believe the differance !!!

i now drive my truck most of the time with i hand , no more wander !

 

I was wondering how much work it would be to adjust Bearing Preload Adjustment .... I crawled under the truck and grabbed the intermediate shaft at the gear box and noticed a lot of play from side to side. Is that normal? Should the truck be running to check the play? Actually, even when the truck is running I still have a lot of play.
What do you guys think, would the preload adjustment take the side to side play out?

 

I had the same issue, I was able to adjust some of the play out of the box but it still wasn't right. I noticed I had a lot of play in my sector shaft, have someone turn the wheel with the truck off and watch the deflection on the pitman arm. You can install a brace that will take some of that slop out and keep the shaft centered. I ended up buying a rebuilt readhead box because they machine the housing and put in a roller bearing to support the sector shaft. RedHead also put's in custom sized roller *****, much tighter tolerance than stock rebuild. Most of the rebuilt boxes just get seals and pressure tested and probably as sloppy as the unit you just took out.

The only issue I had is the redhead box is tight and really increased the power steering pressure (must have had a lot of internal leakage on the old one), I had way better brake assist but it ended up blowing the seal in my OEM power steering pump . A rebuilt pump later and all is good now . I'm going to install a steering brace soon to keep some of the load off the sector shaft so this one will stay tight for a while.

 

If the pitman shaft has side to side play it is worn and contributes to sloppiness. You must test the gearbox play with engine running. Normally virtually any movement of steering wheel will result in movement of tire. Find the loose member!!! The steering column couplings will frequentlly be worn and someone makes a better coupling shaft(??) as I understand. Someone else also makes a sector shaft support that would be helpfull on lifted and big tires or wide wheels. On 4x4's the ball studs give up quickly also. I like the bearing mentioned in gearbox, but it should not increase steering pressure. Do not recomend going to fast ratio boxes as it loads the system far more than desired, causing you guessed it, additional wear. JMHO

 

Thanks Stormin Norman and dozer> Last time I checked I had no deflection on the pitman arm but I don't remember if we checked it with the truck running. I will check it again as soon as I find someone to turn the wheel for me. I do have a the SS steering stabilizer. Is there another brace that I'm not aware of?

Thanks for your help guys.

 

I went through my whole steering and put lukes links on everything, still had play, wandering and this wierd clunk felt in the floorboard. I even replaced my upper and lower 4 link arms because I though the bushings were bad. Turns out there is a poorly designed bearing in the firewall that wears and lets the shaft move around giving you play and this clunk. I orderd this and it was a simple install and cheap. Worth a look. http://rocksolidramtrucksteering.com/

 

flood light.I put a new track bar from advance auto for 148.00,I put a B&D steering brace on for 225.00,I put a new steering damper on a rancho from advance auto for 56.00,and I put a reman steering box on from advance auto for 171.00 and you would not beleive the difference.It is like driving a new truck.I could have went with more expensive track bar or a new steering box but hey this is alot of money already.The track bar has a lifetime warranty and so does the steering box.I think the damper does to.So everyone will tell you all kind's of stuff but this is the way I went and i'm totally satisfied!!

 

If only the cost for a steering box was only $171 in Canada I would jump on it. I looked around and the cheapest price for a rebuilt steering box is $469cnd at NAPA, with the dollar exchange it is still over $400us. My problem has to be with the steering box. I don't hear any clunking or have any loose on the steering shaft. I'll keep driving it this way until I can find one at a cheaper price. I might even take a drive to New York State (2.5 hours away) if I get tired of the way it drives.

 

I tried to R&R my steering gear but did not have a big enough socker to remove the nut holding the Pitman arm on the shaft. What is the size of the big nut holding the Pitman Arm on the Pitman shart?

Also, accessing the steering lines connected to the steering gear seem somewhat difficult to access. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.