Hello, I am getting ready to change out the steering gear on my 1999 ram 2500 diesel. I have the gearbox and ready to change it. Any advice before I start?

 

hi
put beer in fridge first !

well if it is all greasy / dirty down there i would spray it with some gunk engine bright and preasure wash the area first as it is much easier to work and see what you are doing .

have a drain pan handy to catch some fluid spills .

have something to plug the lines to keep out dirt .

the right size socket for the pitman arm nut .

a good puller for the pitman arm , and a propane tourch to add some heat if it is stubbern .

removing the sway bar mount bolts and let it drop down out of the way makes much easier , dont have to remove the end links !

have the fluid to refill it .

have anti sieze ffor all bolts when reinstalling !

care full reinstalling the stearing shaft bolt as i think that piece is aluminum , dont cross thread or make too tight .

now get to it !

 

Well thats done! Not too bad actually. Sure took the play out of my front end. Feels like I'm driving a brand new truck!
Thanks for the advice old blues.
Especially about the beer. Keeps the frustration level down, broken parts level down, tools thrown through the neighbors window level down...

Also the steering shaft coupler is aluminum. What a bummer if you got it all back together and broke or stripped that piece!

Definetly get a good pitman arm puller. I got a loaner pickle fork set. Could tell right away that was useless, bought a cheapo china pitman arm puller, stripped it right away (3 foot cheater pipe). Went and exchanged that one, pulled the steering gear put the pitman in a vise to hold it steady and applied oil, heat and pressure and got no movement. Let it sit overnight with pressure on the pullers came out this morning still no movement. Heated it up again smacked it a couple of times with a hammer and viola! off it came.