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I came back from a trip to the Oregon Dunes last week(towing trailer and carrying 4 quads in the bed) and noticed a few days later the steering in my 05 3500 SRW 4x4 seemed a little stiff. At first I thought it may be my imagination becuase on vacation I drove around with so much weight on the rear the front end was light and now that it's unloaded...well you know. I drove my dads (same truck) and found that my steering is definately stiff. When I go down the road I can turn the wheel and it does not turn back by itself. I replaced the ball joints a few weeks before I left on my trip (used the procedure from this website, thanks!! It worked great!!). I checked everything out last night and all areas that I worked in for the ball joints are OK, all torque values ok etc. Power steering was between the add and full mark. Could the damper be the culprit?
Any ideas?
Last edited by Mech Engineer; 07-06-2009 at 12:48 PM.
Reason: Forgot somthing.
The steering damper could be a problem did you do much playing in the truck at the dunes?
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06 2500 SB QC G56 4X4 GDP fuel boss, Colt Cams Big Stick, MFE 100 hp injectors, II super phatshaft 64, Head Studs, SBC 3600 DD, 110# valve springs, tuned by cummins tuner.
The steering damper could be a problem did you do much playing in the truck at the dunes?
No way!! I'm scared to get that heavy beast anywhere near the sand!! I see guys towing huge 3 axle toy haulers out there to camp in stock CTD's but they get stuck about 50% of the time and it takes several trucks and hours of time to get um out! They deflate all the tires (trailer too) and out they go into the sand. When back on pavment they reinflate. I stay in the parking lot and save the sand for my quads. I built a rack for the back of my truck that can be installed by one person. Whenin the truck I have my two kids quads in the bed under the rack and my wife and my quads side load on top! Get a lot of people looking at the rack (atv not wifes!). John
Going through a similar thing right now with mine. Steering seems stiff and does not want to return to centre. I am on the road til tonight and will do a little more figuring on the drive home this afternoon. I have a 4" Tuff Country lift and dual steering stabs (2 month old RS9000), picked up a "groan" over the weekend that sounds like a dry socket but the heavy steering with lack of return is more concerning. I will be spending some quality time this week under the beast and will post my findings, at least you're not alone!
I thought maybe a bent steering stabilizer, but you said you didn't off road the truck. Considering simple things firast, if your caster is way off it can feel stiff. Mine did that after changing BJs to Moogs and the dealer miss aligned the truck. Took it to a good shop and 15 min later it drove great and has gor over 2 years.
Pete
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2004 Laramie, 4x4, QC, 48RE, 3.73, SRS, Molten Red, BFG 285s, xfer and fuel tank skid plates, Frontier back bumper, Cool Blue (removed), Moog greasables, Defiant sector plate, FASS-150, billet TC and performance VB w/Sonnex, Yaesu 2M and CB radios, Nav 1, Rokk sens.
just went through this last week it is the steering gear box about 350 through dodge at first i went anad replaced all ball joints and u joints but it ended up being the steering gear box before you go out and buy one though check the mini u joints in the steering shaft there are 2!
mine still won't return to center either. New ball joints, tie rods, steering box, trac bar and alignment! Piece of crap is all i can say. i'm sick of it! I'm about to give up but i just don't see how noone can get these trucks steering good, mine was fine before i replaced everything. I'm kinda leaning towards somthing to do with the ball joints. they are moogs.
__________________ 2004.5 2500 CC SB Volant CAI, 4" magnaflow, no cat, 305/70 MTR's
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2004.5 2500 CC SB Volant CAI, 4" magnaflow, no cat, 305/70 MTR's
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