Chris Bryson

I don't have a double damper setup, just one on the passenger side. On my way to work this morning it acted up again and scared me a bit because it was a lot worse than before. I was making a hard left turn and halfway through the turn it felt like I completely lost the power assist so I heaved on the wheel to make it through the intersection. As I was coming out of the turn and bringing it to center I felt a very soft 'pop' and the wheels went past where the steering wheel was and I had to "counter?" that effect for a while in both directions; constant over correction for whatever was going on up front. I felt that soft pop everytime the uncommanded pull changed directions. It started acting normal again after the next red light I hit, even through sharp turns. I suspect a balljoint or something else mechanical but haven't had time to check it yet. I believe my axle gearing is 3.73 (I turn 2000rpm at 60 in sixth gear). It's a quad cab with the 8' box and I love the Gear Vendors unit. I don't often use it when towing for the express purpose of splitting gears because I rarely pull anything heavy enough to warrant it but it works very well when I do. My total drive ratio in 6th with the overdrive engaged is about 0.51:1 which puts 80mph at 2000rpm. The free-wheeling hub setup was installed when I bought it but logically it reduces a lot of rotating mass. I can tell when I'm driving whether or not they are engaged so I'd say they make a pretty big difference. I'm not sure what a full-floating spindle set-up looks like. -Chris

Okay, got the truck on a lift today and looked everything over both on the ground and in the air. Only slack I found during 'tug tests' was a very slight top to bottom play on both wheels. Everything else was solid, no play. What I thought was a little off was how much "spring" there was in the wheel while dead steering. If I turned the wheel 180o in one direction and let go it would spring back almost 90o. I know that it normally springs back some but this seemed like a bit much. It is worth noting that on my drive to the shop I only noticed the 'jump' in steering across center twice and none at all on the way home. Now to address your points in order: Looked at the service manual excerpt you sent and checked everything it suggested. Front tires were a bit over-inflated (70psi) brought those down to 60. Found back right tire at 25psi; corrected. As for service history etc. I have owned this truck now for about 2 years. I am the second owner and bought it with 112k miles, now at 140k. The previous owner had immaculate service records kept and there was no work performed on the steering system. This truck wasn't on the recall list for the steering stabilizer mount issue either. I only recently noticed my steering problem and cannot attribute it to an impact, pothole or anything like that. I have stock wheels and stock size tires. Tires are the Michelin Silent Armor Pro Grade and E rated. I didn't notice and wear or play in the steering knuckle joints and I'm pretty sure the axle shafts aren't the issue. I drive with the hubs unlocked constantly (only way I can manage 25mpg highway). I am still wondering about the safety or viability of removing the stabilizer to see if it helps unmask the problem. I've added the rest of my truck's info in the signature. -Chris

To bring this back to the 3rd Gen Cummins steering: I have an '06 2500 with WARN unlockable front hubs; everything else is stock. The problem I have experienced is an intermittent resistance at the steering wheel accompanied by what seems like a delay in steering response. This usually happens when I go from one side of centerline to another. It doesn't happen all the time but it's fairly significant when it does. I could theorize that it is a pressure buildup in one side of the stabilizer shock causing a lag in steering response that suddenly releases allowing the wheels to catch up to the steering shaft input but I feel like that's a bit too convenient. I'm going to jack it up tomorrow afternoon and look for any obvious slack/play in the system and think about removing the stabilizer and driving at slow speeds to compare. Besides that, ideas? -Chris