I am very new to this Forum...I have recently gotten into a 2004 dodge 2500. it is sitting on 35's and the engine is stock.

My question is about the power steering, there seems to be an issue with either the pump or box or both. When at a stand still, it seems to have a "sticky spot" while turning left. it is also difficult sometimes to turn the wheel at all while at a stand still. I attribute this in part to over size tires, however, it should be easier than it is to turn.

I am certain i will have many many questions....thanks for being here. have a great day.

Narced_1

 

I have the same problem with mine. It does feels like you do not have power steering at all when at a stand still (sometimes not all the time). I have to just start moving the truck a bit to be able to steer with little work. I will keep an I on this thread if there is a solution.

 

i replaced my whole entire front end this past june- i mean all new parts and after market parts!!. same issue with the steering box. i am hoping that some company will have an after market/heavy duty steering box out sometime in the near future.

 

with my 06, I also get a sticky spot while stopped. I have stock tires & no lift. I think dodge just gives enough power to barely turn them & no more.

too bad.

 

Sounds like your steering gear box has bit the dust. I had to replace the steering box on both my 05 and 06 model trucks. The 05 steering box failed at 18K miles and the one on my current 06 died at 42K miles. The 05 was repaired under warranty but I had to purchase (last week) a steering box for the 06. I bought a remanufactured/rebuilt steering box from NAPA. It seems to be working great and has a lifetime warranty. However, I am also going to install (currently on order) a "Darrin's Steering Stabilizer" (DSS). You can do a search on this forum on the DSS and get information about it. I think it will be just the right mod to protect the steering gear from failing and improve the steering characteristics of the truck.

 

I see you guys have 35's which is alot more surface area than stock 265s. With my 315's it seemed harder and inconsistant to turn when stopped or slow moving. When I went back to the 265's it felt so easy and smooth. Almost scary at first since it seemed so easy to move the truck around. Course I am used to it now again.

I always make a strong point to try not to turn wheel while sitting still, probably not a good thing no matter what you are driving.

 

It's a common problem. Lot's of weight up front pushing down on the front tires in these trucks. I feel the pump should be able to turn even a 35 at rest, but most times it won't. Makes parallel parking and getting out of tight spots a chore.....

 

IMHO, there is a misconception that steering problems are only caused by large tires. That certainly wasn't the case for me. My 05 truck had stock tires (265-70-17 BFG) and only 18,000 miles when the steering gears failed. My 06 truck had stock tires for the first 40,000 miles. The tires then were replaced with (almost stock) 285-70-17 Nitto Highway tread tires. The steering gear failed at 42,000 miles. I'm convinced that the problem is in the steering box design. Hopefully, the steering stabilizers/brackets, such as the DSS (which I have ordered), will relieve the stress from the gear box that apparently is damaging the gears.

 

i have a dss on my truck, along with an entire new front end. i think with everything new or replaced with after market parts-this really help speed up the down fall of the weak steering box

 

I recently changed my steering box to a PSC steering box with a DSS and borgeson steering shaft. I can drive it with one finger right now. Unbelievable how well it tightened up the front end. Felt like a watermelon before with massive play in the steering.
www.pscmotorsports.com

 

http://www.lazarsmith.com/SSSSS.html


Here is another option to consider. It helped tighten up my front end too and assist in taking some pressure off of the steering box. I have 35's also. They can still be a little slow to turn in slow moving situations but it was alot worse before the 'SSSSS' by Lazarsmith.


...

 

The problem is the deflection of the sector shaft at the bottom of the steering box caused by the resistance of the front tires to steering wheel input.
Besides increasing steering effort, the side loads wear out the seals and bearings in the bottom of the gearbox.

Before installing the SSSSS when my '05 had 315 BFGs - I had to use both hands on the steering wheel in a parking spot.

Since installing the SSSSS the year before last, I can turn the 37" Toyos lock-to-lock with the palm of my hand while sitting at a red light.

 

i contacted all the manufacturer's i could think of- nobody makes an after market steering box yet for the 3rd trucks.