Lil Dog

In the last little while I have been getting some spongy feedback on the wheel with my 08. Turning corners on the highway at speed, the wheel seems spongy to get small corrections to steer. You will begin to add pressure on the steering wheel say to the right and it will feel sort of stiff for just a bit of resistance and then just go easy. With that you make too much of a correction so it really becomes annoying. Is this a pressure problem with my steering box? Need to figure this out..

The truck only has 35,000 km on it and not on harsh roads at all. Any help appreciated!

mega-engr

Do you run any steering box stabilizer or stiffener? Sounds like it could be several differnt things.

Lil Dog

I was contemplating the DSS for this one too. I've had it on my 97 since I can remember. I did get all the upgrades done for the 08 recall when I bought it.

Any thoughts? It just feels like the steering box is having issues to me.

cbrahs

pull the inner fender on the drivers side and check the top of your steering box for leaks. my 07 mega was leaking on the top by the adjustment screw

Lil Dog

I looked at the steering box. Its all dry. I was also wondering if the PS pump is not providing correct pressure? The brakes seem to be unaffected.

whiteeye42

you might need to change the steering stabilizer it might be binding and getting ready to go out.

Scotty

A long shot...
Tire separation?
Any bumps on the sidewalls? Broken sidewall cords can make a tire and the ride squishy.

Lil Dog

Keep em coming.. Tires I will have to inspect, but I rotated them a while back and didn't notice a change in this behavior.

I will have to put the front end on jack stands and see about the stabilizer. Don't know if that would have enough umph to bind the steering.

Its not a big effort on the wheel, just a gradual turn at any speed will have this effect where your are pushing to turn and then it lets go so easy... It just gets amplified on the highway. Oh ya, loaded or not, no difference. ???????

Brian08Q35004x4

Maybe tire wear? They have worn to the point that they want to stay straight until they turn pass a certain point?

orr

When my front u-joints wore out I had a similar feeling in the steering, but mine went at around 115k and again at 175k.

Lil Dog

Well I don't usually dry steer it, like in park not moving and start cranking on the wheel. The same feeling is there. You pull the wheel and feel it power the front wheels then it stops. It really feels like a hydraulic problem to me.

I wonder if that failure of the PS hose I had a long time ago with the hydroboost hiss, has something to do with it? The fluid is clean and at the proper level. Either that or my PS box is shot already...

Lil Dog

TTT...

Still having this problem and its getting worse. The truck still only has 35,000 on it as it sits most of the winter. The control is being an issue now as its more amplified when you add pressure to the steering wheel for correction on the road.

Gonna have to get it looked at. I did hear that Dodge came out with a new steering box all together last month as part of a TSB replacement. Maybe I should upgrade...

dozer12216

Several are reporting a failed high pressure hose. Apparentlly it has a internal teflon coating that fails and restricts pressure to brakes or steering.

Lil Dog

Not to toot my own horn, but I was the first to post on that issue a couple years back on the TDR and here on the DTR. I have replaced that hose.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...s-t255765.html

Lil Dog

Took the truck in to my fav dealer in Lacombe and they went through the truck for the L-16 recall and also inspected the front end for me. Easier for them with the hoist. Everything checked out mechanically but both the technician and the service writer said the same thing I was reporting where the steering was not proportional and was not constant pressure to turn.

Prognosis.... Steering Gear Box is failing. They have upgraded the steering boxes to the new style on the Gen 4 trucks and 4500/5500 C&C that all use the same HD gear box. My option is to upgrade to this box as they don't even make the old style anymore.

I will have to save my pennies as my warranty expired in Feb. The kit retails just under $1000. Hope this helps someone along the way.