I did research on top of research back a couple years ago when I was a TDR member. I came away with PSC as the "bomb-diggity" box. I've got the DSS, I've got the DT Trackbar, I've got new ball joints and a fresh alignment, and I've had my undercar shop that I trust with my life checkout everything else under there.... I've still got wander. They say a steering box is all that's left to cure it. I suppose I'll go after a PSC whenever I can save up the $$'s. That's just my .02.

 

That's where I'm at to. Just rebuilt the whole suspension. The truck does ride like a cadillac now and on highway it does just fine for steering but it still wanders over the rough stuff and the crown in the roads seem grab the steering wheel pretty good. So yea, the steering box is about all that's left.

Checked on NAPA's price online last night and they are only about $220 for the gear and another $100 or so for the pump with a fluid resevoir and filter. Think I'm goin that route unless somebody knows somethin more about the NAPA stuff I don't.

 

Seems like a good enough deal. I generally trust NAPA. Lemme know how it turns out.

 

You all just keep costin me more and more money. Ok, here's the new line of thinkin after all the discussions on different steering boxes. Since I have the RanchHand bumper hangin off the front end along with the Rickson 19.5 inch wheels and tires I'm thinkin about the enhanced version of the PSC steering gear. (SG-841MX) '94-'02 Dodge Steering Gear Light Valving [SG-841MX] - $446.50 : PSC Motorsports, Off-Road Steering Experts

It's only a few dollars more and hopefully would save some wear and tear on my old arm and shoulder. This truck is a stick so I drive with the left hand all the time and this truck has made that shoulder bad cause it steers so hard. The question I still have is would this be to much gear and make the truck squirlly to drive.
I know it's either gonna be this gear or the PSC standard replacement. Down the road I will also replace the pump and the shaft but I can't afford all of it at once. Gonna be a struggle to get the gear right now. Timing couldn't be worse. Gettin ready to start haulin in over $4G worth a hay to get the year started. This is why I need this truck rollin right now cause I'm havin to travel for hay this years. It's gonna be about a 90 mile round trip with a 40 foot gooseneck at about 28000 pounds on the return trip with trailer and hay included.

 

has any of you tried the chevy 1 ton steering upgrade?

 

Never heard of the Chevy upgrade for steering. Another option is an upgrade to a 3rd generation steering gear. There is a kit out there someplace at about $1200 to this with or there is an old post I found about a guy buildin it himself from parts.

[Quote]It cost me less then $300 and a little time in the wrecking yards and the shop. got a 3gen rebuilt steering box w/lifetime warr. $160 and they took my 2gen as a core. used 3/4 flat stock for spacer mat. drilled and counter bored for flathead screws then drilled and taped for frame bolts. got a double d steering driveshaft shorten to length, fitting for return line in box and a 3gen pittman arm.[Quote]

 

heres the chevy 1 ton setup. you do need a reemer to taper the holes. But I have one that I will lone out to anyone who needs it. the reamer is $50 from Snap on.
PavementSucks.com - Truck Tech - 1 ton Steering Upgrade for Dodge Ram - Dodge, Ram, 4x4, 4 wheel drive, 4wd, off road, off-road, wheeling, trails, DIY, trucks, Chevy, Ford, clubs, mud bog, rockcrawling, Toyota, Gallery, mud, rocks, readers rides, ful

you can make your own or buy a whole set up from shakerbuilt.
I went with the shaker built setup because all the ends are threaded.

Tech_Info

this was another mod i did that helped quite a bit as well.

 

Yeah, that 1 Ton chebby upgrade is interesting. Like Uncle B, I've never heard of it before.

 

Our 99 has a Chevy box on it, PO put it in so I don't know whats involved, I was wondering if it was a direct bolt in. Anyways, the trucks got just over 200k on the clock, but the steering box was "New" when we bought the truck, at 178K, and its already as bad as the original box in my 97. It does get beat on pretty good, but still, 30k miles out of a steering box is pretty shameful.

For the extra cash I'll spend it on something that makes the truck much more pleasurable to drive, like a good steering box.

 

Personal exp. with them being sucky? I was thinking about getting one,but if they suck I won't bother...I stay on road most times,but run Canada alot,and SK has some roads that I'd be better off running up the ditches