Steering Issue

[rkbowles]

Hey Guys:
I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 that has had steering issues since I bought it 4 years ago. I am constantly having to work the steering wheel to keep it going straight. Also when I hit a pothole with the passenger front tire, it becomes almost uncontrollable. No mechanic so far has been able to see any issues. Here is what I hae done:
Steering box replaced. (3 times)
Upper ball joints
Tires
front end alignment
shocks
Please help if you have had this issue. I am lost.

 

[Sherman Bird]

Hey Guys:
I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 that has had steering issues since I bought it 4 years ago. I am constantly having to work the steering wheel to keep it going straight. Also when I hit a pothole with the passenger front tire, it becomes almost uncontrollable. No mechanic so far has been able to see any issues. Here is what I hae done:
Steering box replaced. (3 times)
Upper ball joints
Tires
front end alignment
shocks
Please help if you have had this issue. I am lost.

Have you ever, as a kid, turned the handlebars and front wheel/fork on your bicycle and attempted to ride said bike and control it in a straight line?

Given no bent frame, broken, worn, or bent components on the front steering/ suspension, and hoping the rear diff is in proper square to the frame, you need someone who knows what they're doing to give a good alignment.

 

[rkbowles]

I am going to look into getting the frame checked, but it is like it won't straighten up on its own.

 

[jws123]

I am going to look into getting the frame checked, but it is like it won't straighten up on its own.

yea your going to need to get it ona alignment machine and have someone look at it avoid all quick lube shops ect find a private tire shop.

 

[Rlaman]

Hi everyone. I am having the same issues. The truck wants to wonder going down the road. I have a 2019, 2500 with the 6.4 and the 8 speed. We camp so the bed is constantly loaded with a generator and fire wood plus other camping equipment. I checked the door jamb and it states 60 lbs in the front and 65 in the rear. This helped a little but when I hook my bumper pool 20 footer on it is really bad. I am constantly correcting the steering. I bought this truck new so there is no damage to it. It seems to be better when I run the front tires around 57 lbs. I am on the second set of tires now. About 32k miles on the truck. But the wondering didn't change any with the new tires. I actually put a slightly shorter tire on to help with the wife getting in. They are Coopers. Not some cheap junks. Anybody have any ideas how to correct this? Maybe the alignment is off. I haven't checked that yet. Any ideas??????

 

[rzr6-4]

Hi everyone. I am having the same issues. The truck wants to wonder going down the road. I have a 2019, 2500 with the 6.4 and the 8 speed. We camp so the bed is constantly loaded with a generator and fire wood plus other camping equipment. I checked the door jamb and it states 60 lbs in the front and 65 in the rear. This helped a little but when I hook my bumper pool 20 footer on it is really bad. I am constantly correcting the steering. I bought this truck new so there is no damage to it. It seems to be better when I run the front tires around 57 lbs. I am on the second set of tires now. About 32k miles on the truck. But the wondering didn't change any with the new tires. I actually put a slightly shorter tire on to help with the wife getting in. They are Coopers. Not some cheap junks. Anybody have any ideas how to correct this? Maybe the alignment is off. I haven't checked that yet. Any ideas??????

If you have play in the steering that you are fighting then you have something loose somewhere.

If there's no play and the truck just doesn't want to go in a straight line, then its an alignment issue. If you know what you are doing the 2500s are pretty simple and you can do it on your own, but otherwise take it to a reputable shop.

 

[Dean2]

Get them to align your 2500 to the Thuren alignment specs. Works great for those that have tried it.

2014-2022 RAM 2500 ALIGNMENT

Aligning your Dodge Ram Truck made easy! Get our How-To guide for optimal results. #TruckAlignment #ThurenFabrication #DodgeRam

www.thurenfabrication.com

 

[Dean2]

Hey Guys:
I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 that has had steering issues since I bought it 4 years ago. I am constantly having to work the steering wheel to keep it going straight. Also when I hit a pothole with the passenger front tire, it becomes almost uncontrollable. No mechanic so far has been able to see any issues. Here is what I hae done:
Steering box replaced. (3 times)
Upper ball joints
Tires
front end alignment
shocks
Please help if you have had this issue. I am lost.

You have the old solid axle, pre the change to independant in late 2001. Make sure the shop knows how to align that correctly. Search Ram death wobble. You will find a ton of useful info.

 

[A child of God]

See if semi truck shops will align your truck. It's not gonna be cheap.

 

[Rlaman]

Thanks fellows for the feed back. I got alot of useful info. We have a great alignment shop in town. Not your genaric tire shop. I will schedule a line up and let you all know how it turns out. Thanks again !

 

[Sherman Bird]

Get them to align your 2500 to the Thuren alignment specs. Works great for those that have tried it.

2014-2022 RAM 2500 ALIGNMENT

Aligning your Dodge Ram Truck made easy! Get our How-To guide for optimal results. #TruckAlignment #ThurenFabrication #DodgeRam

www.thurenfabrication.com

It's funny how most technicians do not look into the past regarding our profession. I've studied Dy kes automotive encyclopedias, and early Chilton directives.

I came to realize through my own paths in life that thinking outside the box frequently brings about effective repairs due to being iconoclastic in using information to truly FIX a problem, especially a chronic one!

MANY fixes simply are not published. Many of the methodologies of 100 years ago, when applied in today's modern market, fix problems.

Many years ago, I attended a front suspension/ alignment symposium put on by Lloyd McAfee. I was still young, had hair, and wasn't fat.

I abandoned "factory specs" as the end-all, be-all for alignments and began applying this man's methods. Guess what? I had people thinking I'd invented the moon after I'd align their rides using these applications. Their tires quit wearing out so quickly, the pulling stopped, as did wandering.

 

[JimJam300]

If the problem is imprecise steering it may not be an alignment problem. When I first got my 2001 the steering had a large dead zone in the center. I bought the bushing from Rock Solid Ram Truck Steering and a Red Head steering box. Both fixed my issue.

 

[Yeret]

Had all of the same problems. Recently replaced the steering gear with a Redhead unit. Steering is MUCH better now, the best it's ever been. Definitely one of those "shoulda done this years ago" fixes!

Factory steering gears are well known for being crappy in the second gens. Guess Dodge didn't figure precise handling was much of a priority, but, you know...it's kinda nice to not zig-zag down the damned road when all you wanna do is go straight!

Link to steering gear I bought.

 

[Dean2]

In addition to the above, just in case you guys don't know, the steering box on the second gen, and later gen HDs, has a nut and Allen head bolts on the top of the steering box that can be used to adjust the play in the steering box. I adjust mine every 5 or 6 years and it keeps the steering a lot more precise.

There are a ton of these Videos, many a lot better than this one, but at least on this one you can see what he is doing the the steering box bolt and nut. Usually takes no more than a quarter turn of the Allen head bolt.

Adjust 1996 Ram 2500 steering box play at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[Sherman Bird]

Napa might sell anti-sway fluid. They DO sell cans of Napa know-how, and are supposed to begin carrying elbow grease in tubes soon. LOL!

 

[Dean2]

Napa might sell anti-sway fluid. They DO sell cans of Napa know-how, and are supposed to begin carrying elbow grease in tubes soon. LOL!

Soon as thy gone on sale I am going to grt one of each.