Adjusting the Slop Out Of A 2nd Gen Steering Box
 

is there any trick to doing this or is it like the old 70's fords where you just loosen the nut then drive the screw home til it bottoms out and back it off a quarter turn and relock the nut?

From all the info I have gathered from a few different dealers and these boards you can do it but it won't work. Once you get slop in the steering if it is caused by the steering gear it is officially adjustable but that you will probably grenade the gear by doing it. The adjustment is more intended to adjust when the truck is new at the factory. The dealers won't do it at all, period. Everybody I have talked to on the boards that have adjusted it have either not moved it enough to make a difference or have exploded it a few miles down the road after doing it. Not worth the risk for me, I'm savin up for a new PSC gear.

Check this thread. https://www.dieselbombers.com/5-9l-2...x-options.html

Tried it also. All it did was make a hard spot in the steering.

i dont think theres anything to fix a dodge steering box, every one i've driven had slop and so does mine i guess i just got used to it:argh:

I just got used to mine also i get in the wifes car and about crash

I did mine, it worked a little bit, but not enough to justify it. Now the gear creaks and pops everytime I turn with any pressure on the thing. Just get a PSC, it'll last you a lot longer, and handle leaps and bounds better than the stocker.

The screw on the top of the box is your "over center" adjustment. It should only be turned 1/8 of a turn right or left to fix over center only. This means, if your steering wheel doesn't return to center after making a turn. The adjustment that does make a difference with steering slop is the bearing preload. This is done by removing the steering column shaft & you loosen the lock collar by gently tapping it with a screwdriver, then you turn the bearing inward till it bottoms out, back it off just enough so that oil can pass through it. Tighten up the lock collar, but be sure that the bearing doesn't turn. Here is the TSB. Ram Steering Gear Adjustments

I dont think its the gear at all its the Shaft

http://www.genosgarage.com/images/000950.gif

* These steering shafts are replacements for the underhood intermediate shaft.
Full-size Dodge Pickups have a type of steering coupler that can show signs of wear in as little as 4500 miles, depending on how the truck is used. This wear, which causes play in the truck’s steering, is even more noticeable if your truck is used for plowing, towing or if oversized tires have been installed. Replacing the worn steering shaft with another OEM shaft only gives you a temporary fix. Borgeson has replacement steering shaft assemblies with precision needle bearing u-joints available for ‘79 to ‘08 full-size Dodge trucks.

Half the price of the a new steering gear also.