btak

I have a 06 3500 4x4 5.9 MegaCab that has a small tiny clunk under the front end. All ball joints / bushings / tie rods are in great shape. However the one thing that I noticed is that when the steeing wheel is being rocked left to right I notice a small amout of play in the output shaft on the power steering box. This is the shaft that the pitman arm attaches to. It is probabaly moving 1/32" side to side.

Does anybody know if the box can be adjusted to get rid of this slop or do I need to purchase a new box.

no_6_oh_no

You need a steering brace that holds the bottom of the steering shaft so it can't do that little wobble. If its not leaking your good for a while and just adding the brace wil normalyl tighten the steering up.

btak

So the adjuster nut on top will not take up any of the wobble, is this correct?

Where would you purchase the brace, are any other members using one?

Smithereen

I have the same movement in my steering box. The movement is between the sector shaft bearing and sector shaft and it cannot be adjusted out with the adjuster screw. I installed the bd steering support bar and it was like a new truck, very positive feel. Unfortunatly my seal is weeping and I think I will have to get and exchange box soon.

no_6_oh_no

That is correct, the adjuster just sets the back lash on the worm gear.

The BD brace is good as evidenced here, DSS is another option, and I thnk Lazrsmith has one also.

jcismo1

I've got the BD and it works great. Still get the noise when rolling slow and turning, but I just ignore it. That noise has been there since brand new. You will have a much more positive or secure feel in the steering using one of the steering stabilizers.

FLYH2O

I had to replace the box in mine so I purchased a DSS brace the next day. Not a huge difference in feel but no more flexing.

fatpete

I have what I think to be the same problem: a cluck when turning the steering wheel left to right or right to left. At the steering wheel while driving, it feels like just play but wanders all over the road at highway speeds. On the driveway having someone steer back/forth while I feel the components underneath there is a definite clunk at the bottom of the steering box.
BTW: I had my all the tierods/pitman arm etc warrantied with the steering recall 14,000 miles ago.
Here is my question:
Will this product work with the "new" pitman arm?
Am I suffering the same problem you guys had?

SuperGewl

New steering box installed $1200 Extra measeure SBS $180, Inastall fee $50 cost me less to have someone install it than it would have to buy the socket and a big enough cresent hammer to put it on

Well worth it

Colo~Dirtbikers

Check with Red Head Steering Gears, Seattle, Wa. His rebuilts are better than new. They are 325 bucks.

http://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/

15 Digger

I had a clunk I could here on slow speed turns with under 12000 miles and it was a driver side ball joint worn. All four replaced and clunk is gone.

hart

I wish I would have researched this steering brace earlier. I also found play in the sector shaft and went and installed a new steering box. The new one is also the same after about one month.

1985cucv

there is a rubber plug and pin on the steering shaft i drilled mine out and put a 9/16th bolt in. no it is not a shear pin it helped substantially!

bcfitzsimons

I agree with Colo Dirtbikers-I put a Redhead steering box in about a year ago-between that and my PSC brace, my truck handles way better than it ever did before.

cbrahs

also what will help on the intermediate shaft is a borgeson shaft. part number 000951 fits our trucks. that is my next purchase. I already have a new gear box sittin in the shop ready to go on. just need the time to get it on and the money to get the upgraded steering. might send my old gear box to redheaded and get it gone thru. sounds like a killer idea rit there