Bomb-proof bolt on 2nd gen steering! Cheap!
 

So I went to the dealership and picked up one of their steering "upgrade" packages. It is the one that uses factory '09-'10 steering parts to upgrade your '03-'08 truck to the inverted "T" style steering instead of the inverted "Y" that came factory. It uses a gigantic 1.5" diameter SOLID tie rod... I was anticipating having to make a few changes to get it to fit my 2001 2500 (using a reamer to make the tapers in the knuckles/pitman bigger...) and was totally prepared to do so. BUT, to my surprise, the entire kit BOLTED ON with absolutely zero modification. I didn't have to trim anything for length, didn't have to ream any holes, didn't have to clearance anything... It just fit! I gave it a tape-measure alignment (gave it 1/4" overall toe-in as measured from the outsides of my 35" tires) and straightened the steering wheel. Drives like a dream! I'm sure the KORE springs and Bilsteins I installed at the same time helped, but the steering is much more solid and precise. It also came with a factory style shimmy-shock bracket, but my old and busted skycrapper stabilizer wouldn't fit. So I didn't run one at all. Drove it 100+ miles (~20 or so on dirt) last night and never missed the stabilizer, or the old crappy steering!

This may be common knowledge, but I did several searches and couldn't find anyone who had actually tried the swap. I'm posting here to let you know it was easy, and was relatively cheap! I'm assuming this will only work as a "bolt on" for 01-02 trucks (maybe '00?) but I'm assuming the older 94-99 owners will have to ream out the holes in the knuckles and pitman arm with a tapered reamer. Still not a lot of work for a cheap, huge upgrade!

Mopar # 52122362AF Complete kit including all tie rod and drag link components.

List price was $350, but I got it for wholesale using a local 4x4 club that I'm a member of (most dealerships will offer wholesale pricing to members of auto/4x4 clubs...) So the whole kit only cost me $262.50 + tax!

I hope this info is helpful to someone.:tu:

:tu::c:

You've not seen anyone do this because it is not right. The tapers are indeed different enough (not to the touch/look) that you will inevitably find the parts installed loosening up prematurely. Something about "improper loads promoting failure" as one suspension guru put it when asked about doing this upgrade.

Not trying to be such a downer on this; and I wish you the best of luck. Go put the truck through some tests on/off road and put some miles on this setup and get back to us on how things work out for ya. :pca1:

As for 94-98 folk, the 99HD steering setup is about the beefiest bolt on upgrade for steering, short of going to an aftermarket setup. :hellox:

Believe me...I thought the same thing when I was starting this project, but I did my homework, and took very careful measurements, and the tapers are indeed the same. It was verified with digital calipers, feel, sight... I even went as far as using gear marking compound to make sure there was even engagement along the entire length of the taper. And I took pics.:hellox:

Note that for the pictures, I put a thin coat of gear marking compound inside the tapered hole only - I did not put any on the rod end itself. The rod end was inserted into the taper until it bottomed out, and then pulled straight out. Looks like a nice match to me. The funny marks at the top of the tapered hole are where the rod end threads bumped it as it came out.

You are right that the older trucks (pre '99 maybe?) have a different size/taper for the tie rod end, but the newer 2nd gens have the bigger version. The 98-99 HD steering is probably the best "bolt on" setup for the older 2nd gens, but it still doesn't compare in size and strength to the 09-10 steering that could be installed with an easy re-taper job on the knuckles and pitman arm.

Hope this helps.:c:

Any updates? Is it holding up and staying tight? Alignment good? Im getting ready to do some front end work as well and if this works would love to use this setup!! Thanks for the info.!! :tu:

I know a few people have actually swapped to third gen steering but i think thats spendy

Looks good, when my '99 conversion wears out I'll be looking at this. Thanks

do those tie rod ends have grease zircs. looks like they don't, since they are from the dealer. any way very nice set up!

It is still working great, and still feels as tight as the day it was installed. Alignment has stayed right on the money, and I'd do the conversion all over again in a heartbeat.

Scott - There is nothing spendy about this swap - it only cost me $262! You can't even buy aftermarket stock-style replacement parts from AutoZone for that cheap. This is by far the cheapest and best upgrade you can do for your truck (assuming you have a newer 2nd gen with the larger tapers.) Granted, you could swap steering boxes and all that jazz and spend some coin, but my steering box is still tight, and has given me no guff yet.

Ramrob - the ends do not have grease zirks, which isn't awesome, but I checked all the aftermarket suppliers, and nobody else even makes these components yet, so the OEM was the only option.

I still highly recommend this conversion.:rocking:

I just put this upgrade on my 2001 ram 2500 diesel today worked great takes 20 minnutes to install plus the alignment and its a whole different truck great cheap upgrade:tu:

http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/d...8&d=1240698377, hope this link works. Good way for an inexpensive damper bracket. i think i will be doing this up grade when it come time. Bryson what did you paint your axle with?

I painted it with Rustoleum high temp engine paint. I know the axle will never be warm enough to need the high temp paint, but it holds up WAY better to oil/grease/salt/road grime than any other paint I have ever used from a spray can. I think it's about $7 for a can.

Bryson, what do think abou your DLUX FAB, warn hub conversions, I have a friend that builds rock crawlers he says they are about the best how there. I checked out dlux's web site the kit conversion seems very reasonable. just wanted to know what you thought, are they easy to install and worth it.? thanks

I know I am new here, but has anyone told you that you need your azz kicked for having such a well painted and clean front end? :c:

I hope you know I am just yanking your chain. Thanks for the great write up and follow up. I have done a lot of modifying on my 2000 Dodge 4x4 with the PSC box, steering support, and Borgeson steering shaft. It is pretty good, but what can one expect with a solid axle front end. Maybe your set up is even better. I will need to study it.

I couldn't agree more about the too-shiny front end... the pics were taken just after the paint job.:tu:

As far as the hub kit--I love it and i'd do it again in a heartbeat. Dlux is a great company to deal with! Believe it or not, having less parts rotating up front actually helped the steering feel more solid as well.

How would you recommend changing the taper in the knuckles for an older 2nd gen? I would imagine it would need to be pretty exact... anyone?

There are tapered reamers that are intended just for this purpose, but without measuring, I couldn't tell you which one to use.

Something similar to this tool...
Tapered Ball Joint Reamers - 7 Degree

That link is just for illustrative use, and I do not know if it is the proper taper.

do you have any bump steer with the t steer conversion. I read an article in four wheeler where they did the same conversion on a third gen truck. It said they experienced slight bump steer but that is was much better than the y overall.

I see that you have 3rd gen 17" wheels on your second gen. Do you think this kit would have enough clearance with the 2nd gen OEM 16" aluminum wheels. I know some people have had 16" wheel clearance problems with the old second gen "T" steering upgrade when they put it on 00-02 trucks.

Great question!

On a 2nd gen 2002 4wd 4x4 does the stock pitmen-arm need to replaced to do this upgrade? Source automotive sells this kit and has the option of a pitmen-arm for $75.00. kit is massive. my dad has a stock 2000 powerstroke with t-type steering and the tierods on that a the same diameter as this dodge upgrade kit. dodge finially got with the program!

I'm iterested in this up grade,this part# fits a 2001 ram 2500 8800lb 4x4 ?

I can't attest to the fit of the kit with stock backspacing 16" wheels, but I do imagine it could be a problem - the tie rod ends are pretty big.

I used my stock pitman arm on the 2001. Didn't need to upgrade or modify in any way.

No reportable bumpsteer either.

Chadcycle - I see no reason this wouldn't fit your 2001 the same way it fit mine.

Is this upgrade for helping with "wander" or strength?

It will help wander only if your current steering setup is loose/worn and causing the wander. It is mostly just a heavy duty upgrade that should prevent parts from wearing out faster than they should.

Steering Stabilizers?
 

What is going to work for dual stabilizers once I have this kit installed on my 2nd Gen? Obviously The center mounting bracket will have to mount to the 08-10 style steering linkage due to size, but what about the brackets on the outsides? Has anyone mounted the outside brackets that come with an 08-10 kit to a 2nd gen? Or was it all custom? just looking to order a kit and want to know what I should be looking for! Thanx in advance for your time and responses!

I don't have any experience with a dual stabilizer setup, but i'd imagine the tie-rod bracket size would be the only thing you'd need to change. I ran mine with 35's and no stabilizer for quite some time with no ill effects, so I'd be surprised if duals were even needed, but I don't know your situation.:tu:

Is there a detailed write up on this mod anywhere? My front end is a sloppy mess.

I have a 98.5 24v, would thta qualify as a 'newer 2nd gen' for the purpose of fitting this part ?!

How are you liking the Kore setup you put in as well? Is it just the leveling kit?

Add another up to the list of things to do! Thanks for the info Bryson!

Does anyone know what the taper is on the newer steering parts? I'd love to upgrade my sloppy steering to this setup. I just need to know what size reamer to buy. My truck is a 96.

So has anyone done this on a 99 yet? Very interested. Would I be looking at doing some tapering? Checked with my local dealer and the price is $350. Thanks for the help in advance.

This is about as detailed as it gets I guess... As long as your truck is '00-'02 it just bolts on, so nothing to detail really.

No. You could fit it, but it would require reaming the knuckles and reaming/replacing your pitman arm to fit the different taper of the new ends.

I liked (sold the truck recently...) the Kore setup a lot. It was their front springs, and Bilsteins all the way around. I also made some heim jointed swaybar links front and rear that added a noticeably tighter feel, and fixed a surprising number of squeaks and clunks!

I don't personally know of this done to a '99 yet, but I am pretty sure it'd require re-tapering the knuckles and pitman arm.

I am sorry, but I don't know what taper it is for the newer trucks. The best way I can think of (unless you can get a Chrysler engineer to speak up...) would be to have the newer steering with you when you are shopping for the reamer. I am sure they can be measured with calipers, but I can't think of a method that would be accurate enough that I'd trust it...


As far as I can tell, this upgrade should bolt on to '00-'02 4x4 trucks, and will require re-tapering at the least on '94-'99 4x4 trucks, but I make no guarantees.:tu:

I would think this mod would work with 99 and older trucks too since many 00-02 trucks "upgraded" to the t steering system on 98-99 trucks. The taper would be the same correct???

Anyone tried this with stick 16" rims yet?

This mod doesn't change anything that would require you to have 17"+ wheels, so it should work just fine with stock wheels.

Just wanted to let everyone out there know, I just put this set-up on my 99 this weekend. Had to do just little trimming but everything is how it should be. Tappers are correct, at least on my truck. Much more solid that stock.

Pay attention to page 10 of the H46 Chrysler safety recall, which started the ball rolling on this gear getting installed on alot of earlier trucks a couple years ago. It works great, but is sensitive to joint alignment. Mine ate the first inner tie rod joint in under a year.

Most alignment shops are probably oblivious to this information. It is critical and can cause premature wear and even failure in service due to joint binding if not installed correctly.

where do we find this recall info and how does is it related to the 2nd gen's?