Took my truck (in the sig) in for some maintenance and told them I had seen some hiway-speed steering wander. I suspected gear box, and was prepared to add DSS. When I called them today they said the driver's side upper and lower ball joints were completely shot. Interestingly, the psgr side is fine. Is itpossible some PO replaced one side and not the other?

What else could explain why one side was trashed but not the other?

 

It is possible for one side to go bad first. My driver side ball joints went bad first, but I went ahead & changed both sides while I was doing it.

 

Sure, or you got two good ball joints on one side and two crummy ones on the other in the past. Get MOOG ball joints and check the trac bar again.

Kurt

 

moogs are going in today.

 

wander can be anything from worn steering components to big tires. Theres not a lot of damping in that little steering damper for larger tires. My 12.50's make the truck wander constantly even with DSS, new trackbar, new gearbox and tight linkage.

 

what is DSS? This is like the Army everything is abbreviated.

 

DSS is a Steering Stabilzer made by a guy in Canada whose last name starts with a D. I forgot his name, but his stabilizer is great. I ordered one about 6-7 years ago, and bolted it on and my steering got better. It protects the bottom of the steering box from being pushed around by turning the wheels. The guy from Canada was the first guy to come up with this fix, and he's made many of them for Dodge/Cummins owners over the years. Wish I could remember his name.

Edit: I just found a link for it on the net.

http://www.puredieselpower.com/catal...b55992f3ecef9a

 

His name is Darin. It's for Darin's Steering Stabilizer. His is the original and then somebody stole his design and patented it or something. People around here push to purchase from him.

 

He is a darn fine guy too!!!

Got a call two weeks after I received it in the mail from him. He just wanted to make sure everything was good and I was happy. Customer for life right here. DSS made a big difference for me.

 

So I checked it out, Looks HD that is for sure. So does this replace the steering stabilizer on the truck now or work with it?

 

Is that true? Does anyone know the company name of the thieves so they can be avoided?

 

There is no steering stabilizer on the truck from the factory. The shaft that the pittman arm presses to is free floating and only supported from the top side, and forces being fed back from the tires not only can, but will act on it and cause early wear and leakage.



Here's an underside shot, after the DSS has been installed to provide support from the bottom as well:

 

The real deal on the DSS is http://www.solidsteel.biz/
There are others who know the history better then me. There were two men in Weyburn, Saskatchewan involved in the original design of the DSS one was named Darrin the other Russell Tessier. Some marital issues developed between the two and Russell and Darrin parted business ways. DSS is known as Darrin's Steering Stabilizer or Dodge Steering Stabilizer. I prefer Dodge Steering Stabilizer.
Russell is the one you want to deal with. I have a DSS from Russell on my truck and that one piece has done the most for improving the steering on my truck. If you call you will probably get him answering the phone. I believe Darrin is also making the DSS, but the quality of his work is not as good as Russell.
Since then there are several more manufacturers of the DSS.
I agree with those that think the original designers should be supported if at all possible.
Not trying to start a brand war just trying to add information.
Stan