My truck seems to steer well and keep itself in a straight line on the highway but its far has too much play before it starts to steer and it doesn't want to go back to center unless you turn it back. It doesn't seem right how far i have to crank the wheel when going around corners at highway speeds. Since the truck goes in a straight line just fine i think my trackbar is ok but is my steering box toast? are there bushings i can replace to get rid of the slop?

 

You could try adjusting the box. There is a allen screw and a lock nut on the top of the box. Just loosen the locknut at tighten up th allen screw. They say to do it in 1/8-1/4 turn incriments, drive and then do it again. It will take the slop out of the wheel.
But, it sounds to me that the box is toast, because the wheel wont center back up.
Time to order the 3 1/4 turn box from PSC. Mine will be hear on Tues.
Just do a search on hear for PSC steering box, and you will see all the great reviews it has gotten.

 

Check this out http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1997/19-10-97.htm

 

I'm fighting that as well. I'm on my fourth PSC box and it takes a lot of steering input before it actually starts to turn the truck. I've tightened the allen screw on the top of the pump about 3/4 of a turn and it's helped but it's still not perfect. I'm gonna try another 1/2 turn tomorrow. It's ridiculous though. This box has 1000 miles on it.

 

In the Service Bulletin that you listed, under the instructions after performing the preload, your to back off the Adjuster Plug 9 mm, yet in the notes at the bottom of the page, it say to back it off 3-5 mm. Anyone know which is the proper adjustment and why the conflict?

 

I just installed a PSC box (3.25 turn) 3 weeks ago and now it pulls to the right. The box did help but didn't cure anything. I've also put a new track bar and a new tie rod end at the pitman arm trying to make it steer better. NO LUCK, the caster is around 3.5 I've increased the toe in that helped, I'm just about to give up and sell it.

Also, my lift pump is losing pressure again!!!

Good luck

 

I know how you feel Tommy. Have you checked ALL of the alignment adjustments and checked recently that ALL of the suspension joints etc have no play at all?
R

 

If you've got a pulling issue then its not going to be steering box related. It's either the caster or a tire pull. Did you try swapping the front tires from side to side? Of course there are other possible causes such as a sticking caliper but usually one of the two things I mentioned are the cause of the pull.

John

 

Thanks guys, sorry for the hijack sledneck1. Keep doing searches, I've spend hours filtering posts for information that would pertain to my truck. I have found that caster and play is the main issues play cause the wondering.

I've also found that not all alignment shops will align these trucks the same. Last year I had a speciality alignment shop (the guy left the dealer to start his own business) to align my truck and it drove the worse when I left. I went straight home and added caster a little drove it a week , add caster drove it a week until I found a happy medium.

It acually didn't wonder bad when I had a loose joint, it would just jerk on bad roads. Now that its tight, it wonders. I'm going to add more caster.

Good luck and keep reseaching the posts.