I've noticed alittle slack when turning the steering wheel after 136K miles. What is the proceedure for tighten up the play in the steering gear box? I've done is before on other trucks, but I've never had instruction.

What I have been doing in the past is loosen the 5/8" nut on the steering gearbox and tighten the allen screw 1/4 turn. Re-tighen 5/8" nut and road test. Am I close?

 

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1997/19-10-97.htm has the information on the adjustments.

What finally cured my truck of the 'wander' and steering play, was Darin's steering stablizer from soild steel products of Canada.

 

Geico266 what you said is the way I did mine and it worked. I know it is not the "propper" way, but it does work.
Tom

 

Instead of the over center, I did the bearing pre-load and it took the play out. Mine was slack from the factory and when I checked the preload disc, it was only about finger tight.

 

1/2 turn on the steering box adjusting screw was too much. Would not allow the truck to straighten out on its own after a turn. I backed it back to a 1/4 turn and she is good to go, just like new.

 

Surprising how little it takes to tighten it up isn't it?