I was hoping that with all the folks on this site I could get a collective answer for my steering problem....yes I have read thru most of the postings.

I have a 2000 Dodge 2500 4x4 Diesel truck which I bought used. It has 4600 miles on it. The problem that it has is:

It's not really a wandering problem but more like a slight delay in the steering which causes me to oversteer.

For example when I steer to the right it seems to take a few milliseconds until it tracks to the right. The out come is that I actually have to oversteer and by the time it starts heading in the steered direction I am turning the wheel to bring the truck back straight again.

I tried the shotgun approach for the fix..replaced the TRAC bar with a DANA lifetime bar...no help. Took the truck to a reliable 4x4 center (HOAKS in PA). They said the TRAC bar was bad and they wanted to install a Lukes link fix..Mind you I just replaced the TRAC BAR.

They installed the Lukes Link coupler and aligned the front end per specs I got off of this site.

Well the truck still steers the same. I tried inflating the front tires to 60lbs and the back ones to 50lbs. Still no help. I just now purchased the DSS bar from Darin...will install this weekend. I really do not think that this will fix my problem.

The one thing that I am not sure of is when I first purchased the truck it had a set of Kelly Safari tires (load D) on which where slightly wider than stock. I do not remember having this problem then.

I replaced the Kellt tires which were worn with Pirelli Scorpian ATs 265/75-16 load e.


Any ideas???


Thanks in advance....like the truck but hate the way it steers...

 

Have you checked the tightness of the worm and sector in the steering box? If the gears are worn and have excessive play then you will get what you are describing. Most manuals for any vehicle with a Saginaw steering box have a routine for properly adjusting the lash of the steering box.

At 4600 miles it should not be exhibiting these symptoms unless it is a bad box from the factory. At 46K miles it should still not be as bad as you are describing, either.

If you can turn the steering shaft any without seeing movement of the pitman arm then something in the box is wrong. There should be just a little play but even that should cause an almost immediate movement of the pitman when the input is turned.

Other thing to look for is whether the box is tight to the frame. We have a couple of older W200s that have gotten loose over time. Talk about just trying to keep it between the ditches....

 

I am just a rookie but redramnc seems to have a greta place to go first. I was going to mention checking your tires inflation but you have. I doubt tires would cause a delay as bad as you have described, Maybe a shimmy or walking. I would however check my steering gear linkage, pump and fluids. I had a buddy with a dodge 4x4 who had problems with his steering. The factory had installed the wrong length shaft. Unsure of what its technical name is but it was not the right length and on occassion caused the steering to lock up or bind. I would put someone in the cab and someone under the hood. Go through several turns to each direction looking and listening for anything out of the norm. Check the lengths of the steering shafts(4x4 and 4x2 are different I believe), Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the responses.

The Steering box is securely attached to the frame...so check that off.
I installed the DSS this past weekend....as I expected still no inprovement.

I noticed with the engine "off" there is a fair amount of play (1/2" to 1&quot in the steering prior to it having any resistance. I need to try the test with the engine "on" and look at the pitman arm.....I noticed that there is a allen screen on the top of the steering box...Is there a procedure as to what this is for and how to adjust it?

Thanks

 

go to http://dodgeram.info/tsb/index.html .
Click the TSB link and look under steering.
Good luck

 

Once again thanks for all the responses. I am convinced that my problem is with the new tires I installed. As I have mentioned, I did not have this problem until I had new pirelli Scorpian AT 265/75 16's installed. They are suppose to be a load rating of E. It simply feels like the sidewalls are flexing. The front end componets all seem ok...everything is really tight. I am going to see what NTB will do for me on changing the tires to another brand...wish me luck with them

 

I suspect you have a loose steering bushing in the steering gear box. Have someone crank the wheel from right to left, and back, while you watch the pitman arm itself (the arm attached to the steering gear box). Watch for shifting from side to side. It is a very common problem, and a number of places (B-D is one) sell a pitman shaft bearing kit and brace that will solve that slop problem permanently.

 

Check the tire presure. If the tires are load range E try 72 in the front and 60 in the rear. I have noticed with my truck this seems to give the best results. If this dosent seem to make a difference let me know and I'll give you the name of the shop I use here for that type of work.

 

Thanks again for all the great advice..prior to reading some of the advice...i.e. increasing tire pressuer and the bushing problem. I went back to NTB and they are giving me full credit for my tires and I am having BFG TA's installed. They are suppose to have a very stiff side wall. So I will keep everyone posted on the results. If this does not work then I think its time for me to punt and take it to a shop...

Thanks

 

BTW before I go off and replace my new Pirelli AT's does anyone have a recommendation for a good tire? I was going to swap out the Pirelli's for BFG AT....however reading the reviews at Tire rack has me thinking about the Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo. This tire got the highest marks. There was one negative review where someone stated that the tires handled well except when they were towing an 8,000 lb horse trialer. My thinking is maybe these will not work for a heavy diesel truck??????????

 

my preference is michelin, th xt or m&s. sams, costco, bj's carry these. if you perfer a tire shop try Highlands in Carlisle.

 

I have the bridgestone dueller a/t revos on my 98 ram 4x4. I have to say the are awesome tires. i can actually drive in 2wd in the snow. I had the factory michelins on and all I did was 4 wheel burnouts. I have about 20,000 on the brigestones now and there is still more than half of the tread left.I will definatly buy another set.

 

I have the same problem, as well as when I hit bridge deck expansion joints or bumps, it swerves all over. i am looking at a Luke's Link it is a after market suspension product that rebuilds the ball and socket end of a Dodge 4x4 http://www.lukeslink.com/. I have read alot of posts saying this is the fix.

Shaun

 

My experience (202,000 miles) has been that the trackbar will wear out FAST if there are other loose parts in the front suspension. I had a worn ball joint that wore out my second (Napa) trackbar in about 4000 miles. I replaced the shocks, trailing (control) arms, and ball joint but still need to remedy the loose, second trackbar. I ordered a Luke's Link kit and new poly bushing for my factory trackbar, doing that this week...

 

Update...NTB managment got involved in my tire swap out. They said they will refund 75% cost of the tires and require me to purchase tires from the Pirelli again. Basically I said see ya I will never buy tires from them again..I have 5 vehicles.

So I am taking my truck to a dealer for an evaluation only.