Doing a little fixing on my 2001 Dodge Ram 2500. It has the 5.9 cummins with an automatic transmission. First I need to know a good aftermarket brand or a place to get a decent priced OEM steering box. Mine has so much play that it is getting to be half scary to drive. Also my AC compress went to heck. Anyone have the part number I need or the model so I can order one off ebay? Thanks

 

Assuming you have done things like add a DSS steering brace and you are still sure you need a new steering box, Redhead is the way to go. Search on this forum for their contact info and if you cannot find them, just say so, one of will help you find their contact info.

 

I do not have a stabilizer bar installed yet. I just assumed my steering box was ruined with all the play in it. So installing a steering stabilizer bar may save my old steering box? Any stabilizers better than others? I have seen some on ebay for around $109. Would appreciate the contact info for Redheads. Thanks

 

Dog800,
I might not get the exact wording right so if I mess up, someone else is welcome to jump in and correct me, my feelings won't be hurt. When I bought my truck a few years back, the steering was awful. It was taking me constantly sawing back and forth on the steering wheel between a quarter and a third of a turn just to keep it in the lanes on the highway. That became boring REALLY quickly. Following the advice of some folks here on DTR I lay under the front of the truck while I had a helper turn my steering wheel back and forth. I had a number of warn parts to deal with but the 2 biggest problems were the trackbar and the steering box. The bearings in the steering box that allowed the shaft that is connected to the pitman arm to rotate were worn. As a result, when the steering wheel was turned, this vertical shaft rocked around and had a lot of play in it. I bought a DSS brace (I got mine from an outfit in Saskatchewan since I live nearby shipping was way cheaper than cross border shipping) and installed it. Oh my word, what a difference. The steering brace adds a great big bearing to the bottom of the steering shaft and then the brace is bolted to the frame at the front of the truck. Some people cannot use the brace if they have a snowplow as the two installations interfere with each other. I think my brace cost me about $200 and the installation took less than an hour.

Like I said at the start, I was going to replace my steering box. That same steering box is still in the truck and I have no plans to change it out anytime soon. If the play is in the horizontal components of your steering box (the parts attached to the steering wheel shaft) there is a great set of instructions in your FSM about how to tighten up those components. If you don't have an FSM (Field Service Manual) then PM me an email address and I will scan and email the pages in the FSM about tightening / adjusting your steering box.

Now to where should you get your steering brace, hopefully someone in or near Nebraska will chime on and tell you a good supplier that is reasonably local. Like I said, I bought mine from Saskatchewan and here is the link to where I got it, but I am sure there is a supplier more sensible for you.

http://www.solidsteel.biz/

 

Dog800,
If you do have to replace your steering box, do a search on both Borgeson and Redhead. There is lots of debate about which one is better - I haven't had to use either so I don't actually have an opinion.

Here is the website for Redhead.

http://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/

 

Hey thanks Tallguy! Really appreciate all your help