somis13

I have some play in the wheel.it hasn't done the death wobble, but I think thats not far away. what should i check first? is there any adjustments, or just replacement parts. its a 98 12 valve quad cab 4x4 with a leveling kit and 315/75/R16 tires. they're close to 35's. thanks

mrbluegrass

Check the Track Bar across the front. The ball stud may be wore out.

ANG012

Get a DSS steering stabilizer. It took alot of play out of my steering.

Geico266

Try adjusting your steering box. There is an allen set screw and a nut on top of it. Try loosening the nut and turning the allen screw 45-90 degrees and see if that helps. It's too tight if when turning around a corner the steering wheel won't come back to center.

scottsjeeprolet

why adjust the steering box when the problem is in the track bar? Steering dampners only mask a problem, the problem should found and fixed, to make your truck safe.

oestreich84

I don't think a bad trac bar would cause play in the steering wheel. It can cause the truck to wander down the road, but how would it have anything to do with play in the wheel?

robert chilton

The front end wanders under the truck. This translates to play in the wheel while driving. A better question would be is there play when sitting still? If yes it could be steering linkages, boreson joint or steering gear box slop.

Racer9

Leave the steering box 'til last, too easy to get it too tight. As stated, check; track bar (very likely, upgrade it and forget it), tie rod ends (inner and outer), pitman arm, and ball joints. Also the steering column shaft where it enters the steering box. That little u-joint looking thing can loosen up.
Have someone wobble the steering wheel back and forth while you look it over to see whats loose.

oestreich84

There are no inner tie-rod ends on a 98. Only outers. I still don't see how a trac bar would cause slop in the steering wheel

robert chilton

The trac bar wont actually put slop in the gear box. When driving a vehicle with a bad trac bar the front axle will wiggle around under the truck. This wiggle as the axle wanders is noticed at the steering wheel as play because you are always sawing on the wheel to keep the truck going straight.
The reason that the trac bar is so critical is that the control arms have rubber bushings at both ends. Just a little bit of flex at one end is amplified by the length of the arm. A fraction of an inch at the frame may be a 1/4" at the axle. The trac bar is the only thing under the front end that keeps this deflection in check. Hope this explains it for you.

dansdodgediesel

Take a truck with a bad track bar, or you may think not bad track bar. Have somebody turn the steering wheel, and you look at the ball joint. You will see how a bad track bar makes alot of slop in the steering.


Dan

wcjp

A friend recently bought a 98 12v. Couldn't believe how great it drove. Once I looked at the truck I told him the tracbar was toast. On my advice we installed the new tracbar. He was surprised the steering was better. It still needs the DSS. Some have reported tracbars lasting upto 10k. I sold my 96' with 50k on the tracbar I installed.

I highly suggest the DSS. This will clear up lots of slop in the steering. Also, carefully inspect the control arm bushing.

strokethis96

I would check the bolts that mount the box to the frame first! I just replaced mine cause the top two bolts were loose and the tabs on the box were broke! it can cause lots of play also

rmjim

The bushing in the top of the steering box is often a problem a little play in it is a lot of play in the steering wheel.. The rebuilt ones have needle bearings
instead of the bushing.. The box is about $125 outright at local shops..

jkretzer

drag link (ie outer tie rod end on drivers side) was shot on mine. ordered it from advanced auto and put in on yesterday. drives like a completely different truck. there are so many joints in the steering system. have someone wiggle the wheel and you look at each part to find where the problem is then fix it. josh