Yep - that's a silly price on the dealer steering box; a reman will be a lot cheaper from Ghetto Zone and you can do it easily enough.

Don't forget to help the new one last longer by installing an SSSSS !

 

What benefits will a STOCK truck see from this mod?

How hard is the install?

UPDATE: Due to my low mileage, and the fact I've had all previous service done at dealer they're gonna help me out. I should end paying about $350. I think it's fair.

I'm thinking an extended warranty is in my future. It would have paid for itself in this instance.

 

Dealer ordered me a new steering box, should have it for next week sometime. I think mine is covered under warranty, I hope. I imagine that price was with labor????

 

Get a DSS and be done with it. I think they run a couple hundred dollars.

Every Dodge should have one whether it be stock or not.

I have a DSS on both of my trucks. They eliminate/reduce wander dramatically and will extend the life of your steering box.

I had the wander issue with my 04 starting at about 20k miles and I installed a DSS (Darrin's steering stabilizer) and it was like it was brand new again. You will feel much more control over your truck with one installed.

 

i have a love hate rtelationship with my truck right now, steering sux, popping popping and clanging sounds when i turn installed a sssss but no help i think i have a balljoint problem hopefully later today i can confirm this....the sssss is a fine piece though and is not the issue.

 

I have the same symptoms with mine - My dealer already replaced my steering box, but it still wanders all over the road, and my front passenger tire is almost bald on the outside edge since December. I'll be going back next week to have them check it out again.

 

Some trucks have ball-joint problems in a relatively short period of time, for no apparent reason... hard to find a common denominator.

Last month I noticed one of the front tires on the '05 suddenly was wearing a LOT more than the other - haven't diagnosed why yet.

Why is the mechanic's junk always the biggest POS?

 

after i get this suspension situation figured out on this truck im gonna stop messin with it for a while....its already brought me to a point where im getting fed up.

 

Call the 1-800 number for customer service in the Owner's manual. Absurd! The dealer has the authority ( unless they have abused it in the past! ) to SELF AUTHORIZE repairs up to 12 months and 12,000 miles out of warranty! Ask me HOW I know this!???? Worked in the service department at a local Dodge Dealer and I've seen it done MANY times! If they won't take care of it, and the 1-800 wont help, ask to be contacted by the area service representative. Be calm, but assertive, and make it known that you are not satisfied with how this is being treated, and you will continue to make phone calls until some sort of a reasonable resolution has been arranged. Before anything, though, call the dealer one last time, and make sure they understand you are not happy, and calmly explain to them that you are not satisfied with their response, and that you intend on calling Dodge customer service. Remind them of your faithfullness, and that maybe THEY could have prevented this situation had they done a thorough inspection when the vehicle was in THEIR shop for routine maintenance. Good luck!

 

Mine is almost ALWAYS the last one to get worked on! Paying jobs have to come first! LOL

 

I priced out the DSS and then looked into the PSC...They look almost identical but one is almost twice the price.....

I ordered the unit that was half the price as I was told when I called that the major reason behind the price differences are the cost of shipping and importation taxes on the "Other" unit.

Needless to say I have a slight bit of play in my steering as well....About 15-20 minutes worth on each side with my hand at 12:00. The dealer has done this....

Which I think helped my steering box get closer to failure. I switched dealers as it took the dealer I was at with the above ticket and the first thing the guy said when I explained the issue and showed him my service ticket was "Steering Box". The previous dealer only fixed the tie-rods and track-bar after I told him they were absolutely bad...This on the second try as my first visit resulted in getting the trackbar bolts tightened and the tire pressure set???

So appointment next week hoping for a steering box and a new PSC brace enroute I'm hoping it will work out!

 

took apart my suspension again and put it back together taking our time and slightly adjusting everything and finally my suspension is fine....gonna take it to get aligned on monday and that should be it....sssss works perfectly. while we were under there i checked for play in my ball joints and there was a slight movement but not enough to be considered play

 

UPDATE

Picked up truck today. They also found a tie rod to be frozen. Said they put it on some machine and still couldn't get it to move.

I think I have no choice but to get an extended warranty at this point.

Questions:

1. Which Dodge warranty would you recommend?

2. What are the price ranges?

3. Can you buy a Dodge warranty online to find the best price, or do you have to buy it in person?

I love this truck but I don't think the quality is there.

 

Try the tie rod end first! $40 or so @ Rock Auto, and another $50 or so for an alignment. Save the money on the warranty. If your factory warranty is up, you can no longer buy the extended warranty thru Dodge. All of the others are gonna cost more than they will be worth, and more than likely won't cover the tie rod ends anyway. Do some shopping for your own gear box too, but you may not even need it once you fox the tie rod end.

 

No doubt - we have to work before we can play!