Well, I've had my truck for about a week. I knew before I took delivery it had steering wander. I've had enough old vehicles to know that's not that big a deal. Being a member here definitely helped me a lot to narrow it down to a couple common problem spots. The steering box had quite a bit of play in it. I was able to take most of it out by adjusting the srew for side play in the sector shaft. I still wasn't satisfied so I slipped the steering column shaft off the box to adjust end play. Sadly, the funny-looking dust cover thingy was stuck on there so good that when I used a hammer and screwdriver to try and loosen it, the srewdriver blade started to just rip the cover. So, I stopped. Is there a special tool I should be using instead to get it loose? The srewdriver's definitely going to trash it. Also, the real problem causing the wander isn't the steering box at all. It appears to be the track bar. I'm going to go to solidsteel.biz and get the '03 track bar conversion kit and DSS. I hate sloppy steering and lousy brakes. The brakes are fine. The steering will be soon. Thanks to this site, I know right where to go and what to do. Many, many thanks!

 

So, has anyone else had trouble getting the lock 'nut' loose while attempting to adjust their steering box? Not the one on the top of the box, the one where the steeing column hooks up. Is there a special tool? I don't want to do any more damage than I've already done. Minimal at this point.

 

Are you following the instructions here?
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1997/19-10-97.htm

 

Yessir, I am. The place I'm getting stuck is where I'm supposed to temove the plug locknut. It is apparently stuck, because I'm tearing it up trying to get it loose.

 

Red70ragtop, I've had the same problem with that locknut. What nut exactly did you tighten on the sector shaft?