24 Valve 2nd Gen Dodge Cummins 98.5-02 Discussion of 24 Valve 5.9 Liter Dodge Cummins Diesels with VP44 Injection Pumps
Sponsored by Trailer Plus

If You Have Steering Problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 10, 2008 | 05:47 PM
  #1  
Uncle Bubba's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
BOMBARDIER
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,854
Likes: 1,112
From: Illinois?
Default If You Have Steering Problems

I have been fightin with front end and steering problems on my truck from the first day I bought it new. The dealer always said it was the heavy weight on the front end with the big tires just bein grabby and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. So through the years I've gone through spells of just ignoring it, then trying to fix it and back to ignorin it. In attempting to fix it I've change the Bearings, ball joints, Tie Rods and Ends, Pitman Arm, and shocks. I've had it alligned, rotated the tires, had the steering box checked and even checked all the bolts in the steering box area to make sure everything was tight. Still had the same problems. Not horrible to drive just annoying. The truck would wander here and there and depending on where I was ridin on the crown of the road would pull pretty good to either direction.

Finally had my fill a few days ago and put the front of the truck up on stands and started measuring everything thinking maybe the axles were out of alignment. So I measured fom points here and there corner to corner, side to side and from front to rear axle.

Right from the factory as a brand new truck came out off center. When I installed the DT Trac Bar some years back I used the sway bar to center it with thinking that the sway bar is attached in essence to both frame rails it was easier this way. Turns out my sway bar is almost 1 1/2 inches off center. So all these years my truck has been dog trackin down the road. When I'm rollin over the crest in the road the front and back tires are pullin against each other. So now I'm waitin on parts to get this fixed up with.

One more thing to check for now. Once again, I luv my Cummins but I hate this Dodge. I have yet to have a single problem with the engine but I have fought the hell out a the Dodge parts.
 
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2008 | 09:58 PM
  #2  
2500HeavyDuty's Avatar
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,872
Likes: 764
From: Houston, Tx
Default

Good thing you got that problem figured out
 
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2008 | 10:43 PM
  #3  
Uncle Bubba's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
BOMBARDIER
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,854
Likes: 1,112
From: Illinois?
Default

Thanks. Now I just gotta figure out all the fix for it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 27, 2008 | 09:40 PM
  #4  
Mopar1973Man's Avatar
Diesel Wrench
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 820
Likes: 132
From: New Meadows, Idaho
Default

You got that right the Cummins engine is tough to kill... But the Dodge body is a pain in the **** at times...
 
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2008 | 08:28 PM
  #5  
2001.5CTD2500's Avatar
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces
Default

Since I got my truck, I have fixed many things, none on the engine. Let us know how it all works out.
 
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2008 | 08:59 PM
  #6  
Uncle Bubba's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
BOMBARDIER
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,854
Likes: 1,112
From: Illinois?
Default

As an update to this I have installed a set of massive extra heavy duty Sway Bar Links, Got the sway bar centered with new greasable bushings on it, Centered up the Trac bar and installed new ends on it. I still have a set of new Bilstein 5100, 2 inch taller and softer ride coils springs and rear helper springs to all get put on now. I'm being held up tryin to find the Polyeurathane fittings to replace all the rubber on these parts. I'm gettin rid of all the rubber as I replace parts.

Before I'm done I'm still gonna install a steering stiffener/stabilizer and a set of adjustable control arms. I'm still pondering the idea of a new power steering unit of some sort because the steering in mine is stiff and wares my arm on a long trip.
 
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2008 | 08:28 AM
  #7  
Whit's Avatar
Site Mascot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,010
Likes: 940
From: Why-homing
Default

you will like the steering stabilazier .......mine sure helped alot


so you put new ends on yer track bar..........is on end adjustable?
 
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2008 | 08:36 AM
  #8  
Uncle Bubba's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
BOMBARDIER
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,854
Likes: 1,112
From: Illinois?
Default

Ya, I got the same Trac Bar as you show in yer signature. I put a rebuild kit on it and cranked the truck over about 1 1/2 inches to center it up. It's all been a chain reaction since then. I had to adjust the Trac Bar and the sway bar at the same time so they would both sit in the right places and line up.

For anybody that hasn't seen these new Sway Bar Links, these things are awsome. They do away with the flexible joint in the Dodge system that allows slop in the sway bar and make it a rigid fitting that holds the truck exactly where it's supposed to be.
Suspension Maxx: MAXX Links Improved design front sway bar links
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Antwhite19
12 Valve 2nd Gen Dodge Cummins 94-98
4
Aug 23, 2015 06:07 AM
ramrunner01
24 Valve 2nd Gen Dodge Cummins 98.5-02
7
Jun 1, 2015 12:10 AM
Boostaddiction
1st Generation Dodge Cummins 89-93
0
May 4, 2015 06:28 AM
BubbaDT55
5.9 Liter CR Dodge Cummins 03-07
0
Apr 12, 2015 10:47 PM
sweetv8s10
12 Valve 2nd Gen Dodge Cummins 94-98
3
Oct 7, 2014 09:47 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:04 AM.