steering problem

[tnsilverfx4]

Hi all, I think some of you may have heard me complaining about the steering on my truck a while back. I have an 08 250SD with a six inch pro comp lift on it from the dealer. I had some horrible steering problems with it earlier. I dropped it off once to replace drag link with ball joints that were just shredded at 6k miles. Drove it for two weeks, steering gets cruddy again. This time i took it to the four wheel shop that did all of my work on my other truck, and they inform me that the ball joint on the drag link is shot AGAIN and that the pitman arm is loose. They fixed the drag link again and tightened the pitnman arm to 250lbs.

The truck drives much better but the steering still feels a little loose, with about an inch of play left to right where it feels like the turning the wheel isn't connected to anything. I have a dual stabilizer on the front axle as well as the stock stabilizer.

Is there anything else I can do? or should I just live with it? I just want to make sure that i get this handled under my warranty rather than find out after it expires. Thanks for your help!

 

[DaveBen]

Check the steering box. Have someone move the wheel 1" back and forth while you look at all of the joints. If nothing moves, then the steering box needs to be tightened up a little.

Dave

 

[tnsilverfx4]

Thanks Dave. Where would they tighten the steering box? I already had them tighten the bolt coming from the box to the pitman arm.

 

[DaveBen]

There is a bolt with a nut on it. It is located on top of the steering box. It looks like an adjustment. Have fun!!

Dave

 

[tnsilverfx4]

Is this something I need a socket for or will pliers work? I will take a look at it tonight. Do you know how tight I need to get it? Sorry for all the questions. Im a newbie to a dana 60 and the SD steering setups.

 

[DaveBen]

The nut is a jamb nut and that secures the bolt. The bolt actually does the adjusting. Crack the nut half a turn loose and then adjust your boilt down 1/4 turn. Tighten the nut and drive it. You should not feel any slop nor any binding. You can go more if you need it. I hate to say it is OK to use pliers. Rounding the nut or bolt is a sin.

Dave

 

[tnsilverfx4]

Allright Dave, I crawled under there last and low and behold I found what felt like 3 bolts on top of steering box. I never really felt one that was longer than the other or felt like it had the jam nut setup.
Whats next? I wasn't too keen about just loosening stuff up and tightening it up until i felt comfortable.

 

[DaveBen]

PM me with your email address and I will send you what I have. This is the easiest way.

Dave

 

[tnsilverfx4]

dave, i took it to the dealer as i didnt feel comfortable working on it by myself. They tightened the steering box and the problem is still there. They are taking it to the local off-road shop to have them take a look.

Anything else you can think of?

 

[DaveBen]

Good Luck.

Dave