Hi Everyone
I just purchased my first dodge diesel 1999 2500 ext 4x4 long box, and I found that it likes to wander on the highway. Is this normal or is there a fix for this? Thanks for all your help.

 

I'd suspect you have a worn out track bar, they don't tend to last very long. The 03+ trucks have a better design but it is about 3X as expensive to convert over to the new design that doesn't wear out. There is also a steel support available to help stop the steering gearbox from moving around if that is the problem. www.solidsteel.biz

Easiest way to find what it is, hop under the truck and let somebody move the wheel back and forth (while it isn't running obviously) and look for stuff moving.

 

check your tires. should be load range E try 65psi front and 45psi read if empty.

 

Ball Joints bad mabey?

Jamie

 

What vehicle did you previously drive?

I came from a Tacoma and noticed right off that my new off the lot 2002 liked to wander.

Now that I've been driving it for 3 years, I hardly notice it.


phox

 

Check all the front end joints and wheel bearings, tire pressures. If all is well get a 4 wheel alignment. If the tires have aggressive tread or *****, you will get tread squish that causes a little wander too.

 

I would say more the trac bar or ball joints...

Tires play a roll in it but if the tires are inflated well then there should be no problem. I've got Big O XT 265/75 R16 and they are inflated to 50 PSI Front and 40 PSI Rear. Never had any problem with wandering from tires.

I would take it to a alignment shop and have a 4 wheel alignment done to check everything out. It could be as simple as slack in the steering box or a wore tie rod end...

There is slack somewhere...

 

put the dss and track bar on it from solid steel and it will steer like it never did before. i put the dss on mine and it was night and day, all my front end stuff was in good shape before i installed the dss tires, b joints etc.