Steering Stabilizer For Dodge Pickups
"Anyone with a late model Dodge pickup will love it," say Marvin Windecker and Darin Tessier, Solid Steel Industries, Weyburn, Sask., about their patent pending "steering stabilizer" kit designed for Dodge 1500, 2500, and 3500 2 and 4-WD model pickups made from 1994 to 2002.
The kit is designed to provide additional support of the steering sector shaft and eliminate sector shaft play in the steering box. It also helps keep the pickup frame from flexing at the steering box mounting point.
The stabilizer uses existing mounting holes. It adds an outboard support bearing to the sector shaft. This additional bearing is attached to the lower end of the sector shaft by way of a replacement nut which has an integral shaft extension. The bearing supplied is a regreasable high quality unit available at most ag outlets. Nearly all the sector shaft load is carried by this outboard bearing, thus relieving the steering box of much wear and tear.
Installation takes about a half hour and requires no drilling or welding.
"It solves the problem of too much play in the steering sector shaft," says Windecker. "The driver often has to move the steering wheel two or three inches before he'll get any response. The wander problem often becomes apparent after replacing OEM tires. Also, trailer towing, campers, heavy loads, snowplows, larger tires, and a heavy diesel engine all seem to be factors. Many customers report warranty battles over this problem. Some customers tell us they've had to replace three steering boxes within 20,000 miles, and they still have the same problem. A new steering box sells for $300 to $400 so it gets expensive to keep replacing them.
"We originally developed the kit as a way to get more life out of an old, worn steering box. However, we soon found that most of our customers owned fairly new pickups with relatively few miles on them. They're looking for that little extra to help their newer pickup steer the way they expect it to. Most of our customers report a much improved road feel and virtual elimination of wander. Others install the unit as a way to protect a new steering box."
The kit can be used on pickups equipped with snow plows, front receiver hitches, or tow hooks (engine pre-lubers or bypass filters mounted on the pickup's front cross member may have to be relocated).
According to Tessier, Dodge pickups made since 1994 use crossover steering and a track bar to locate the axle. "Models made before 1994 have a completely different steering box and a different steering system so steering wander wasn't a problem."
The company plans to soon offer kits for 2003 and 2004 Dodge 2500 and 3500 models.
The steering stabilizer sells for $149 (U.S.) plus S&H. It comes with a money-back guarantee.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Marvin Windecker, Box 173, Weyburn, Sask., Canada S4H 2J9 (ph 306 842-3790; fax 306 842-3796; email: marv@solidsteel.ca) or Darin Tessier, Box 301, Weyburn, Sask., Canada S4H 2K1ph 306 842-4346; email: darin@solidsteel.ca; website:www. solidsteel.ca).
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Steering Stabilizer For Dodge Pickups PICKUPS Miscellaneous 28-2-11 "Anyone with a late model Dodge pickup will love it," say Marvin Windecker and Darin Tessier, Solid Steel Industries, Weyburn, Sask., about their patent pending "steering stabilizer" kit designed for Dodge 1500, 2500, and 3500 2 and 4-WD model pickups made from 1994 to 2002.
The kit is designed to provide additional support of the steering sector shaft and eliminate sector shaft play in the steering box. It also helps keep the pickup frame from flexing at the steering box mounting point.
The stabilizer uses existing mounting holes. It adds an outboard support bearing to the sector shaft. This additional bearing is attached to the lower end of the sector shaft by way of a replacement nut which has an integral shaft extension. The bearing supplied is a regreasable high quality unit available at most ag outlets. Nearly all the sector shaft load is carried by this outboard bearing, thus relieving the steering box of much wear and tear.
Installation takes about a half hour and requires no drilling or welding.
"It solves the problem of too much play in the steering sector shaft," says Windecker. "The driver often has to move the steering wheel two or three inches before he'll get any response. The wander problem often becomes apparent after replacing OEM tires. Also, trailer towing, campers, heavy loads, snowplows, larger tires, and a heavy diesel engine all seem to be factors. Many customers report warranty battles over this problem. Some customers tell us they've had to replace three steering boxes within 20,000 miles, and they still have the same problem. A new steering box sells for $300 to $400 so it gets expensive to keep replacing them.
"We originally developed the kit as a way to get more life out of an old, worn steering box. However, we soon found that most of our customers owned fairly new pickups with relatively few miles on them. They're looking for that little extra to help their newer pickup steer the way they expect it to. Most of our customers report a much improved road feel and virtual elimination of wander. Others install the unit as a way to protect a new steering box."
The kit can be used on pickups equipped with snow plows, front receiver hitches, or tow hooks (engine pre-lubers or bypass filters mounted on the pickup's front cross member may have to be relocated).
According to Tessier, Dodge pickups made since 1994 use crossover steering and a track bar to locate the axle. "Models made before 1994 have a completely different steering box and a different steering system so steering wander wasn't a problem."
The company plans to soon offer kits for 2003 and 2004 Dodge 2500 and 3500 models.
The steering stabilizer sells for $149 (U.S.) plus S&H. It comes with a money-back guarantee.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Marvin Windecker, Box 173, Weyburn, Sask., Canada S4H 2J9 (ph 306 842-3790; fax 306 842-3796; email: marv@solidsteel.ca) or Darin Tessier, Box 301, Weyburn, Sask., Canada S4H 2K1ph 306 842-4346; email: darin@solidsteel.ca; website:www. solidsteel.ca).
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