Steering box bracing

[MBF]

My 50 2.5 ton has a collar around the output shaft of the steering box that is attached to a bar that goes under the engine to the passenger side frame rail.  I'm assuming that this was done to more solidly mount the steering box with the standoff bracket until the design change later in the series. (using the longer brace from the front cross member that extends back to the steering box mount).  I noticed some frame flex in my 49 1 ton when rocking the steering wheel.  No missing cross members or broken rails.   Did they every make a similar brace for the smaller trucks?  All my steering box and mount bolts are tight, and the mounting braket isn't broken.  Is there a fix for this other than boxing the frame or making a similar brace?   Has anyone taken the longer cross brace from a 51-53 B series and installed it on the earlier B series?   I have a really tight steering box from a 52 and the front brace  that I can use if this bracing arm will fit my chassis.   This looks like it will be a winter project.  Mike

[JBNeal]

I have seen several modifications available for 2nd Gen Ram steering gearbox stabilizers, so this might be one of them problems that Dodge lets the general public solve as needed, either from severe service or from wear&tear.  These B-series frames aren't all that stiff as they are riveted together compared to welded frames, so there probably is flex in the frame while turning or while traveling over rough roads.  I know of a few rub board roads near the house where I can have both hands, forearms & elbows on the wheel with tight steering joints and even at 35mph the truck wiggles to the left & right, presumably from some give from the tires & the frame.  I haven't seen anything on other 1/2 to 1-ton trucks I've come across, but I reckon I found the steering box reinforcement that you are talking about in the parts manual for the larger trucks.

 

On the 2nd Gen stabilizer, it is basically a bar that bridges the frame rails, with a plate that has a pilot bearing that rides over a special threaded extension rod that screws onto the steering gearbox output shaft.  This restrains the cantilever forces on the gearbox to stabilize steering inputs & outputs.  Something similar can be made with that big nut on the B-series gearboxes, possibly welding a tube & machined shaft to that nut as the output shaft extension.  Some pics of the big truck solution might be nice

[Don Coatney]

If you own a 1994 or newer Dodge Ram 2500/3500, then you’re already aware that the factory steering system is less than desired. As these trucks begin to age, the problems only seem to magnify.  You notice that the truck seems to “wander” while driving and you’re constantly trying to compensate. Then comes the “Death Wobble” and you find yourself in a crazed panic as the steering wheel violently shakes your whole body uncontrollably. The harsh and abrupt movement of the tires transfers all the way through the steering system to you…the driver, and all you can do is try to get the vehicle stopped before an accident occurs. If any of this sounds familiar, then Dodge Steering Stabilizer will stabilize your vehicle. If you have any more questions that this hasn't answered feel free to ask

Is this something that applies to Pilot House era trucks? Is this product something you are selling?

[Dave72dt]

Steering problems on the '94 and up Ram trucks are an indication of worn parts, changes in the suspension such as lifts, tire sizes, wheel offsets, abuse, etc. When parts are worn out they need to be replaced. The factory put steering stabilizers on some of those trucks. Stabilizer bars on the Pilothouse trucks are for frame flex at the steering box and have no relevance to the newer RAM series trucks.

[ggdad1951]

thread moderated.

[JBNeal]

One of my spring projects was to tighten up the steering on The Blue Bomber, as I-35 demolition/construction has constricted passage to what I call "gutter lanes" of minimal width bounded by unforgiving concrete barriers, with rapid lane transitions decorated with skid marks.  Worn parts were replaced, steering box was adjusted to specs, and the truck still needed to be jockeyed down the road with a significant pucker factor when passing 18-wheelers.  So I bit the bullet & installed a steering stabilizer, and it was like a new truck:  steering was precise, and wander was gone.  The only problem I've had since was cutting a tire at the start of a 2 mile long gutter lane and limping out, barely avoiding getting smoothed over by a Veracruz Jumbo Bus... 

 

The alternative to installing the steering stabilizer was to replace the steering gearbox, and that was gonna take a lot of time & cabbage to complete.  Even with the new gearbox, the frame flex may be enough to still induce steering wander at highway speeds.  The steering stabilizer is a bolt-on contraption that supports the cantilever steering gearbox output shaft, as well as adding a small crossmember in the steering area.  The best adjustments I made on the gearbox put it just barely within tolerance, so the gearbox still worked well at low speeds, but induced white-knuckling above 45mph.  The problem with the 2nd gen design is that the Pitman arm magnifies any play in the gearbox, as it is sized so that the gearbox would have a mechanical advantage to overcome any bumpsteer.  Compared with the Pilot-House Pitman arm, the 2nd gen Pitman arm is gigantic.

 

 

[Nick]

Where and what kind did you purchase?

Many Thanks

[48Dodger]

If it helps, this is a video I made about the PH steering brace.

48D