How much play is in your steering on your CTD 600?

My truck's steering is tight but not as tight as my car.

If I turn the steering wheel slightly in either direction, the truck will turn very slightly, i.e., the response isn't all that quick. My car's steering seems more responsive.

When I'm cruising down the highway and making steering corrections, I find that when I move the steering wheel, I need to move it further in either direction to keep the truck straight than I would have to do to keep my car straight.

The only reason I'm asking is that the steering wheel is a little off center. When you're going straight down the road the wheel is oriented at about 14:42 oclock instead of 15:45.

The dealer's going to fix that next week.

Thanks for your response.

DT.

 

I have alot of play in mine, but will be corrected when I get the DSS steering stabalizer. I thought DC fixed this issue in the newer trucks.

 

Maybe I need some leaded coffee this morning instead of de-caf that they used; but am still trying to figger out a 14:42 instead of 15:45 orientation on the steering wheel to go straight ahead.

It doesn't sound like there's any play in your truck system either; you should have driven my old Ford if you wanted sloppy steering.

Ain't nuthing wrong with my trucks steering; I think it steers better than any 8000lb pickup truck has a right too.

 

Thanks.

I was just curious if the steering in a bigger pickup was a tight as a mid size car, which it doesn't sound like it is.

The truck's steering seems tight, just but not as tight as my car.

DT.

 

You should go drive a 2nd gen with 100K+ on it for a while, or even a mid 90's Ferd for a while... then when you hop back into your 3rd gen it'll feel like a Porche.

 

I'd venture to say that it's highly doubtful that a truck this size and weight would ever be able to steer like a mid-sized sedan... it's just the nature of the beast. It seems that the farther you get away from the ground, the less reponsive the steering gets, i.e. if you have a 4x4 and even more so if you have a 4x4 with bigger tires... linkages are longer and responses slower than in a car... the bigger tires exaggerate the effect due to the taller sidewall and increased flex that accompanies it.

That being said, I have to say that this is the best steering full size truck I've ever driven... driving it back to back with my '99 (which I used to think handled great) makes the old truck feel like something is broken on it... wandering all over the place, while the new one is like it's on rails.

Your wheel being off center should be an easy fix... it's usually just a drag link adjustment.

 

I drove the F-250 and Sierra 2500 when I was looking, the Ram has the tightest steering of the bunch. A couple days ago I drove my old company Silverado 1500. I couldn't believe how loose that truck was, of course it has 90 K on the ticker. I think the Dodge handles prett darn good for a 7000 lb truck!

 

I was scratching my head for a few moments also.

I'm guessing right hand at 15 minutes after the hour and left at 45 minutes.

As for the steering wheel having play, mine was tight when new but loosened up considerably when I lifted it and added 315's. Depending on whether on I'm on the right or left side of the highway depends on whether the steering wheel is turned slightly left or right (highway's are slightly angled for rain runoff).

 

I wouldn't try to compare the steering of a truck to a car. Remember, it's a 7k lb+ vehicle you're trying to fling around.
My last truck was a Chevy 1/2 ton and it's steering is very sloppy compared to the new Dodge. I test drove the other brand's diesels and by far the Dodge has the best steering, and brakes.

MikeyB