So got a 19 ram 3500 dually and noticed my steering wheel is off and truck drives straight. So I parked and made sure tires are straight and steering wheel was off so I adjusted the bar on the bottom and my friend was guiding me to make sure when the steering wheel was straight. Then I tighten everything again and drove truck and truck goes straight but now steering wheel is off again. Anyone have this issue before and any fix to it. Thanks
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Steering issue
- Thread starter bigblue08
- Start date
G Mcpherson
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So you loosened the Bolt and turned the Split nut? It shouldn't take much turning to move the Steering wheel.
jetrinka
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How far off was it? Were you sure to adjust the drag link (the bar connected to the steering box on one side and the passenger steering knuckle on the other)? Did it get any better after adjusting it? Sometimes it takes multiple adjustments and test drives to get it right. Having a buddy sit in the truck while you adjust it only gets you in the ball park - multiple test drives on various roads and adjustments are needed to dial it in.
Keep in mind these trucks are quite sensitive to road crown - the steering could be perfectly centered on the alignment rack and flat road but off to the left or right when driving down crowned roads (depending on the crown direction). My trucks wheel is perfectly centered on flat roads but I have to correct to the left on most roads around here due to crown.
Keep in mind these trucks are quite sensitive to road crown - the steering could be perfectly centered on the alignment rack and flat road but off to the left or right when driving down crowned roads (depending on the crown direction). My trucks wheel is perfectly centered on flat roads but I have to correct to the left on most roads around here due to crown.
I tried adjusting twice and every time I centered the steering wheel and then drove it the steering was off. Funny you say that about road crown because when on the freeway in the middle lane I feel the truck drives pretty straight without me moving steering wheel at all but when driving on the sides of freeway I tend to be moving steering wheel side to side.
jetrinka
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Exactly. Honestly I've found it best to make an adjustment and then drive the truck for quite a few miles on differing roads. When you find roads that you don't have the feeling of having to pull the steering wheel one way or the other (you can let it go carefully and it just stays put) then you've found a pretty flat road. Use it to dial the steering wheel to true straight and then just know its gonna be off one way or another when crown hits. Its the nature of solid front axle trucks. Independent front suspension trucks like the Chevy's resist crown much better - most cars do as well.
jetrinka
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Anytime!
Last question..when driving I do noticed I hot of play in my steering wheel when I'm driving forward. I could move my steering wheel left to right but tires don't move unless I do it alot.
I have to ask, you said you "adjusted the bar on the bottom"
Are you sure you didn't adjust the tie rod? The drag link (what you want to adjust) goes from the passenger side UP to the steering arm, it is Not on the bottom.
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Are you sure you didn't adjust the tie rod? The drag link (what you want to adjust) goes from the passenger side UP to the steering arm, it is Not on the bottom.
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Yes the top one.
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Ok.
So it looks like you have some other suspension mods installed? Lifted? I would start checking all the bolts, especially the track bar and make sure they are tight, really tight. I would also go as far as to remove that steering brace to make sure it's not binding, I've seen it before.
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techman
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My wheel wasn't centered on delivery and I adjusted the drag link as well. It took me about a dozen adjustments before I got it where I wanted it. These solid axle trucks have a lot of slop in the steering system and they follow the crest of the road so be warned it will never be pin straight at all times.
My adjustment actually favors the right hand lane where we spend a majority of our time. So in the middle and left lanes the wheel is slightly off. So, it is a compromise and something you have to get use to.
My adjustment actually favors the right hand lane where we spend a majority of our time. So in the middle and left lanes the wheel is slightly off. So, it is a compromise and something you have to get use to.
Yes I have a 4in bds lift kit. My buddy said it might be my steering box but I don't think so..truck has 70k miles barely
Oh, well that changes everything as far as it handling crappy and slop in the steering. That 4" is throwing off the geometry and there could be something loose. BDS is a "budget" lift so keep that in mind.
I would go back and make sure everything is tight for starters like I said.
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K thanks
jetrinka
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Yes quite a bit of slop as the others have said. Totally normal.
As the wise @Rockcrawlerdude once said “it’s a meat cleaver not a scalpel.”
dieselscout80
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There was a post here a week or two back about slop in the steering column due to a worn bushing that linked to a video on youtube.
Found it.
Found it.
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Everything seems tight.
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Did you pry on the track bar with a large pry bar? That's about the only way to really tell. Or crawl under and have someone move the steering wheel back and forth and see if anything is moving.