03-07 OEM steering upgrade/DW prevention
 

My truck will be going in for this as doing 60 or so my truck will get a little squirrely.

but an upgrade for sure.

The old style is inverted Y and this is an inverted T design with beefier links and TREs

http://www.fototime.com/6DC84F1FC67B98F/standard.jpg

TSB #22-005-06

Models:
2003-2007 (DR/DH/D1/DC) Ram Truck (2500/3500)

NOTE: This bulletin applies to four wheel drive (4x4) 2500 and 3500 model vehicles.

Symptom/Condition:
The customer may experience a self sustaining vibration (shimmy) felt in the front end of the vehicle after striking a bump or pothole.

Parts Required:
52106909AE--Damper, Steering
05086146AC--End Package, Tie Rod Outer
05086144AC--End Package, Tie Rod and Link Outer
06505623AA--Nut and Washer, Tie Rod

52122362AB--Steering Kit, $187
52122370AA--Steering Stabilizer, $138
6505623AA--Nuts (3), to attach new linkage
6502835--Nuts (2), to attach steering damper
6502473--Bolt (1), to attach steering damper

the linkage parts # has been superceded again from 52122362AB to AE,[E for more Expensive]? $222.00 [was $138.00]

Here is the old damper next to the new damper
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...t/100_0304.jpg
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...t/100_0306.jpg


heres a couple of shots of the new set up
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/100_0311.jpg
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/100_0308.jpg
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/100_0309.jpg
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/100_0310.jpg
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/100_0312.jpg


If you have a mid 08 truck you have this steering.
If you have a pre mid o8 you dont.

if you use the new steering kit it is recommended that you use the new pitman arm. The mid 08 truck has a slightly different pitman arm.
68039930AA is the number for the later 08

here are a few pictures.This first one is with the 03-07 pitman arm & new linkage, remember the axle & center link will also come forward some when compressed:

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/w.../IMG_13641.JPG

The next one is with the 08 pitman arm, notice the added clearance so when the suspension is compressed fully you have no chance of the center link contacting the stud that drops through the pitman arm, that would be pretty hard on the gear box if it happened

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/w.../IMG_13651.JPG


Enjoy!

So good info.

It probably doesn't have anything to do with DW elimination, but the best thing I did after essentially replacing my whole front end was to bolt on the "BD Steering Box Stabilizer". This bad boy is the real deal. No more vague steering response, no more bump steer, and the girl tracks like a sports car on the interstate. IMHO, this should be an OEM part, it's that good!!!

So how much total did this cost to do? I might be buying a buddies 06 Mega. It has a small lift and 35's on it and gets some bad DW at about 62.

~$350

my truck is getting this done as we speak under warranty. woo hoo

wow, what a difference in steering. I thought my steering was pretty tight before I took it in but wow! what a difference.

definitly a worth while project.:U:

did you say you paid $350 for all parts,and did you install them your self.I alsi live in ny can you tell me where you purchase tham thank kully:

I had it done under warranty. so the dealer did it. you can get them from any dealer or you can go to an online dodge oem part site and order them yourself.

I just had this TSB done under warranty, however they failed to change the pitman arm! I wonder if I should push back on it...

it depends. I know some didnt have issues with the pitman

So, if you still have warranty its covered? And if not you have to pay for it?

correct

Is the warranty on steering 3 yr 36k mi or the 100k mi powertrain?

3 yr 36.

I have the 7yr extended warranty.

boy im not happy. i bought mt truck on oct 30, i am putting new tires on it this week and needed a spair so i checked if a ford rim i had would fit, (hits the caliper) anyway a have noticed a high pitched squeek and wile i had the tire off i noiticed my pads were down to metal, funny since i bought it oct 30 , and sales guy said they put new brakes on:humm:. and a could shake the front wheele back and forth at least 1/2 '' and could see the drag link and everything move , loose parts. took it to the dealer yesterday with parts list in hand, service guy was supprised , they told me they would look at the front end to see what was loose , they put brakes on it and never looked at anything else ,told me it was done . i noticed my warrentry ends tomorrow , so did they. think there trying to screw me??????? its a dealer warrentry not a factory one. on my way now to take it back.

thanks for info , didnt feel so helpless

tell them at over 55 it wobbles horribly when a bump is hit and you wouldnt suggest they trying to get it to do it as they will be paying for a new truck instead of just some tie rods as it is dangerously violent

I have noticed lately, that when I back up and turn either way, the front tires feel like they are bumping something. (The very same feeling as if the truck is in 4 wheel drive and you turn going forward.)
Is this possibly a symptom of the same problem you had?

nope you probably have a bad ujoint. jack the front up and turn the wheels one way and spin one wheel. if nothing spin the other side. itf the ujoinst are bad it will straighten out the wheels.

or what I had that drove me nutz one time was a dented steerring dampener that made it steer hard at one point

I'll do that. Thanks. :ok1:

2008 dually with 5 inch liftold style steering will the upgrade steering fix the dreaded death wobble

how much if you just had to come out of pocket to get the new set up? i have no warrenty!

somewhere around $300-400

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only if you have worn or bad steering stuff it might.

or you could get lifetime warranty MOOG parts it's what i did since chrysler decided to red flag my truck and void every warranty it ever had, all because of a little lift and a dealer that didn't want to front the money for a tranny, I have a Goerend now and love it:c:

fyi that upgraded kit is now recalled, the style with the u bolt on style steering damper is a dead giveaway.......

yup got my recal notice yesterday

Danged ol' dealership just qouted me a price of $900 to change the parts out. Screw them, I bought a tie rod online and changed it in about 25 minutes at a cost of $50 amazon. :moon:

Just went to dealer today for the recall notice about the steering linkage, I have the old style and they said it doesn't apply. Only the new style applies, they change the pittman arm and redo the mount for the stabilizer if you have the new style.

I just priced the steering kit from dodge and they said $400 just for that part.

found this finally