Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
steering box 88 model ram 4x4 #1387835
02/15/13 12:27 AM
02/15/13 12:27 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
cheapstreetdustr Offline OP
master
cheapstreetdustr  Offline OP
master

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
is there a faster ratio?
or longer pitman arm avail
who or where are you getting them from.
my sons truck is sloppy and the ratio is rediculous
would like a faster ration...4x4 with 31 tires


365" Iron J heads,,3480lbs best 1.39 60ft on SS springs.10.54,124 mph ...6.67 1/8th et.average 60fts 1.46 w/ small cam &.063 no2 pill tagged & insured
[image][/image]
Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: cheapstreetdustr] #1387836
02/15/13 09:06 AM
02/15/13 09:06 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,291
Kent, Wa
340SHORTY Offline
Truck Nut
340SHORTY  Offline
Truck Nut

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,291
Kent, Wa
Fix the slop and it should be ok.. Never had any problems with my 2 87 RCs. These trucks are not race cars and dont handle like 1..


I am truckless..
Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: cheapstreetdustr] #1387837
02/15/13 09:27 AM
02/15/13 09:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,389
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
N
NITROUSN Offline
I Live Here
NITROUSN  Offline
I Live Here
N

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,389
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
Most likely the steering shaft to gear box coupler is worn out.

Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: NITROUSN] #1387838
02/15/13 10:10 AM
02/15/13 10:10 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
S
scratchnfotraction Offline
I Live Here
scratchnfotraction  Offline
I Live Here
S

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
look at the coupler then look at a borguson shaft that replaces it with a small u-joint.

did you check the non adjustable drag link to make sure the joints are not sloppy? tie rodends? ball joints?

Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: scratchnfotraction] #1387839
02/15/13 10:21 AM
02/15/13 10:21 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,543
chicagoland,usa
B
buildanother Offline
I Live Here
buildanother  Offline
I Live Here
B

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,543
chicagoland,usa
Yeah I had a few ramchargers, and never thought the ratio was too bad. If you ever drove a 2 wheel drive manual steer eighties S-10 pickup, you would find the 6 turns lock to lock a bit much. May be nec. but a lot.

Last edited by buildanother; 02/16/13 12:06 PM.
Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: scratchnfotraction] #1387840
02/16/13 11:39 AM
02/16/13 11:39 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,357
central Florida
VL21 Offline
pro stock
VL21  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,357
central Florida
Saw on another forum ...can't remember where, a Jeep Cherokee lower shaft was modified to work.
I DO know that the Cherokee/Comanche lower shaft has a u joint, collapsible lower shaft, and am told the same spline/shaft measurement.
It will require modification on the column end, tho.
Faith in welding capabilities plays into this mod.
But the ujoint,spline etc makes this something I will look into when I need to.

Also it is reported that same year GM truck box will interchange with a faster ratio? So far haven't found anything specific.
I am guessing it would be 2/4 wd specific?

Last edited by VL21; 02/16/13 11:42 AM.

It takes gasoline to interest me.
Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: cheapstreetdustr] #1387841
02/16/13 07:49 PM
02/16/13 07:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 192
San Jose, Ca.
dhkennedy Offline
member
dhkennedy  Offline
member

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 192
San Jose, Ca.
Check the frame for cracks around the mounting bolts, I have broken one off the frame with 35. Thought of everything else but that, took over a year to find a new frame for it.

Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: dhkennedy] #1387842
02/26/13 05:04 PM
02/26/13 05:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
cheapstreetdustr Offline OP
master
cheapstreetdustr  Offline OP
master

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,257
acworth / N. georgia - south e...
ill look at the frame.. the rag joint on the steering shaft is relatively new..but there is alot of play in the box...It has one new tierod end .
the pitman arm/joint may also be compounding the issue.. I have a 05 diesel i drive everyday i must be used to that steering...
i havent driven the 88 4x4 much at all .Im getting it serviceable so my teenage son can drive it..
Its definately gonna need a new box..i was just hoping there was an alternative with a better ratio avail from some other source/application ?
Does anyone have a suggestion to who to purchase a new steering box from?


365" Iron J heads,,3480lbs best 1.39 60ft on SS springs.10.54,124 mph ...6.67 1/8th et.average 60fts 1.46 w/ small cam &.063 no2 pill tagged & insured
[image][/image]
Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: cheapstreetdustr] #1387843
02/26/13 11:20 PM
02/26/13 11:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,149
Cruising!
Q
QuickDodge Offline
super stock
QuickDodge  Offline
super stock
Q

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,149
Cruising!
I've never looked in to increasing the steering ratio on a 4x4. I do know that the Dana 44 and Dana 60 front axles Dodge used were used by many other truck manufacturers. It may be possible to swap some parts off a Ford, Chevy, Jeep, International, etc. and make the steering ratio faster.

Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: QuickDodge] #1387844
02/27/13 10:25 AM
02/27/13 10:25 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
S
scratchnfotraction Offline
I Live Here
scratchnfotraction  Offline
I Live Here
S

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
you cans swap somethings around on them. I just replaced the box with an over the counter box from napa.

then I used an adjustable draglink/dogbone from a chebby on my 79 RC then swaped to 8 lug/lockout hubs from axle u-joint out, bolted the chebby knuckles/rotors/brakes right to the dodge d-44. I did have to use the chebby tierod as it was longer.

chebby/dodge/ferd all use the same size axle shaft u-joint.

a borgason shaft is $$ well spent on any of the dodge trucks.IMHO you might look into the frame steering box support bracket if the box bolt right to the frame like a 2x truck.

you would be supprized how much the frame flexes at the box area. they are known for cracking the frame at the mounting bolts.

that box/brace should stiffen the steering up some and feel like a faster responce with no flexing of the frame.

Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: scratchnfotraction] #1387845
02/27/13 11:22 AM
02/27/13 11:22 AM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,920
Joplin, MO USA
Robbins Offline
master
Robbins  Offline
master

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,920
Joplin, MO USA
Quote:

you might look into the frame steering box support bracket if the box bolt right to the frame like a 2x truck.

you would be supprized how much the frame flexes at the box area. they are known for cracking the frame at the mounting bolts.

that box/brace should stiffen the steering up some and feel like a faster responce with no flexing of the frame.




I've gotten one from a members company here(Dodge Connection). Money well spent.


Moparlee
Re: steering box 88 model ram 4x4 [Re: Robbins] #1387846
02/28/13 08:40 PM
02/28/13 08:40 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,857
Oregon
hooziewhatsit Offline
master
hooziewhatsit  Offline
master

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,857
Oregon
If you have a box with a vertical pitman shaft, I believe it will swap with most any chevy box that matches.

I think the chevy boxes are 12:1, while ours are 16:1.

2wd and 4wd have their rotations reversed, so make sure to check that.

In my case, I just needed to adjust the box a little tighter (after making sure everything else was good), and it made a world of difference.

Looking at the Dodge Connection bolt in braces, it would be a very good thing to do.


If you ever find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1