Dodge 2nd Gen questions

BigClay

BigClay

Knower of useless ZJ things
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Location
Winston-Salem
I have a 96 2500 Dodge. The steering on the D60 is getting pretty tired and loose, what upgrades would you recommend? Also, the D60 is a vacuum disconnect, any reason to be worried about that? Are the unit bearings a problem and should they be swapped for hubs?

The truck is getting up there in miles, so wanting to address weak links before I am stranded somewhere.
 
The TRE on the track bar wears out quickly on them. This along with expected wear and tear causes a lot of slop.

If you want to swap to serviceable wheel bearings and lockouts, IMO I would buy a ball joint 92-96 Ford HP60 and swap from the knuckles out.
 
Jody Treadway said:
The TRE on the track bar wears out quickly on them. This along with expected wear and tear causes a lot of slop.

If you want to swap to serviceable wheel bearings and lockouts, IMO I would buy a ball joint 92-96 Ford HP60 and swap from the knuckles out.
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Thanks Jody.

Should I just go back with a OE TRE or is there a good upgrade?
 
I swapped my 94 D60 out to Ford outers to get rid of the unit bearings and for lockouts, but that was on my wheeling rig. It was a pretty easy swap, I kept the dodge brake calipers and brackets, used ford rotors/spindles/hubs/lockouts. On a daily driver or even regularly driven rig I would use the entire ford outer so you have the correct calipers and pads because the ford rotors are close enough diameter, but about 3/16" narrower so if you let the pads wear down all the way the piston can come out of the caliper... It does widen the front end by a couple inches. I have a good spare unit bearing and stub or two if you need a spare.
 
shooting in the dark here with this one.
had a friend put one on his jeep with worn out drag link TRE and it tightened up the steering again. maybe with new TRE and this the steering would stay tight for a longer time.
The Cure!
 
@BigClay on my '97 2nd gen 2500 I had some worn out parts so I started looking at options. The best/cheapest upgrade is to go to the parts house (your preference) and order a whole new assembly for the '99 HD model. It is completely factory and bolt in but is WAY beefier and is damn near the same cost involved as buying the weaker factory option they used on the other years. Also install the frame rail to rail steering brace. This netted me smooth no wander steering with no headache involved. Btw the other crappy part in the equation is the shaft from the firewall to the box. They are known to shit the bed. There is also a bushing in the lower steering column (just outside the firewall by the brake booster) that can go out cause slop.

Steering writeup: Bomb-proof bolt on 2nd gen steering! Cheap! - Diesel Bombers

Steering brace: PSC SB400K Steering Stabilizer

Steering bushing: 'Rock Solid' Ram Truck Steering !
 
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The vacuum disconnect will fail. 4x4 Posi-Lok - 4WD Engagement Systems I've been running this for years with no problems. The unit hubs hold up ok if you stay around stock size tires and wheels. I'm also running Moog greasable ball joints and tie rods and they seem.to be holding up fine as well. Also if you're looking to level the truck, just swap out the rear blocks for shorter ones, this will be easier on your steering than a coil spacer leveling kit.
 
skyhighZJ said:
@BigClay on my '97 2nd gen 2500 I had some worn out parts so I started looking at options. The best/cheapest upgrade is to go to the parts house (your preference) and order a whole new assembly for the '99 HD model. It is completely factory and bolt in but is WAY beefier and is damn near the same cost involved as buying the weaker factory option they used on the other years. Also install the frame rail to rail steering brace. This netted me smooth no wander steering with no headache involved. Btw the other crappy part in the equation is the shaft from the firewall to the box. They are known to shit the bed. There is also a bushing in the lower steering column (just outside the firewall by the brake booster) that can go out cause slop.

Steering writeup: Bomb-proof bolt on 2nd gen steering! Cheap! - Diesel Bombers

Steering brace: PSC SB400K Steering Stabilizer

Steering bushing: 'Rock Solid' Ram Truck Steering !
Click to expand...

I found this site that has all of the '99HD model part numbers and a little writeup on how to do it!
 
Any recommendation on a steering shaft? Just go with a OE replacement?
 
@BigClay the borgeson units are top notch quality and come with a top notch price. I guess it depends on your budget but the Dorman model is supposedly "upgraded" to solve the issue with the factory design. I was a cheap ass and used dorman but I know people who swear by borgeson....
 
skyhighZJ said:
That's a darn good right up and exactly the route I took. My truck was lifted with 35's and I didn't even run a stabilizer and it was straight as an arrow down the highway.
Click to expand...

Wanted to follow up on this thread. I ended uo going this route and the steering is amazing!! Sterring is tight and no wandering. All i need now is to get it on an alignment rack and all of a sudden I have a new truck!
 
@BigClay I’m glad it came together. I had kinda resigned myself to having so so steering until I “upgraded”. It was awesome. Now I have new issues with my other cummins so about to dig into it. Hope yours goes strong!!
 
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