[Bobalos]

I have a 99 Dodge, 3/4T, 2x4, quad cab, cummins truck that I use to tow my car with. anywho, there is something up with the steering.

The steering is kind of sloppy. it feels like a bad Drag Link, Idler Arm, steering box or pitman arm something.

the tires wear fine, there is no obvious damage to the A-Arm bushings or any of the rest of it.

I know that on these trucks the steering boxes have gone out a bunch, but Im pretty sure thats mostly on the 4x4 trucks.

Is there any kind of test I can do to see if there is something wrong?? maybe put a dial indicator on something & pry it up & back or something I can do to figure out whats wrong with it???? There is something up, I just cant put my finger on it & I dont want to shotgun it & just start buying a bunch of parts for it.

thanks
bob

 

[Kevin Zaske]

Get someone in the truck to wiggle the wheel back and forth. 1/4 turn. Follow the path begining with the steering shaft into the box. Follow the amount of movement. You should find the slop or flex as you watch the pitman arm, drag link, idler are and tie rods.

 

[Bobalos]

thanks Kevin, I will give it a go.

Bob

 

[mj79stang]

track bar and/or sloppy boxes are very common. do the check mentioned earlier and you'll find the problem

 

[JoyRide57]

I was going to say track bar but someone allready did, make sure the ball joints have Zero movment in them also, tie rods ect ect!!! Hope you find the problem, and if you can't then take it too a front end alignment shop and they will evaluate the suspension and tell you what is wrong for a small fee////

 

[Bobalos]

its a 2x4, I dont think it has a track bar. I was gonna get up under it last night, but ran out of time.

bob