1992 Independent on Dodge B350 w/sloppy steering

[RoadLessGraveled]

Just bought this old girl, with 112K miles on it. Engine and transmission are strong, everything works...except the steering.
Terrible oversteer, with slack in the steering wheel between 10 and 2. Most of the usual suspects have been replaced, like idler arms, center link, ball joints, tie rod ends and drag link were replaced 12K miles ago.
When turning the steering wheel through the range of it's "slack", the steering shaft turns within the steering box but there is no rotating of the pitman arm, and when the arm does move, there is some side to side movement within the bore of the steering box.
I intend to replace the steering box and coupler, and possibly add a steering stabilizer if needed.

I have heard that the alignment for the Roadtrek on this Dodge is different than for the B350 without the RV package. Mostly differences in camber. Has anyone heard of this?

I'm really looking forward to traveling in this. My hope is that I can make the steering solid enough so my wife can drive. She used to drive a 14 passenger bus, but the oversteer is scary. It wanders to the right, and when you correct for that it oversteers to the left, and then you correct for that...and it looks like I'm driving drunk! And that's not a good look!

Glad to be here,
Dan in Wisconsin

 

[Underboss]

A really good sway bar will help.

 

[RoadLessGraveled]

A really good sway bar will help.

Yeah...that's a good idea. Now, if I can find one that will fit on the rear around that big gas tank. That seems to be the hard part.

 

[Underboss]

Yeah...that's a good idea. Now, if I can find one that will fit on the rear around that big gas tank. That seems to be the hard part.

I was focusing on the front but I am sure there must be one available. Those had factory sway bars, is the rear missing? Have you replaced the sway bar bushings? Links?

 

[RoadTrekkie]

Not a mechanic, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to drive it until whatever is going on in the steering wheel-steering box and they get looked at closely, adjusted, or replaced. A 1992 is now 32 years old, and although low mileage, who know what is going on inside. Don't bandaid a steering gear problem with swaybars.
FWIW, I have found that tire pressure & shocks can alter a van's handling significantly as well, but I'd make sure someone smarter than me looked at that steering box (worn gear? shaft?) before trusting it with anyone's life. Problems with steering are unforgiving in many situations.

 

[RoadLessGraveled]

I was focusing on the front but I am sure there must be one available. Those had factory sway bars, is the rear missing? Have you replaced the sway bar bushings? Links?

My factory service manual doesn't show a rear sway bar, but it's not a Roadtrek manual...did Roadtrek install one on these? That would make sense to do that with the weight in the back as it is.

 

[RoadLessGraveled]

Not a mechanic, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to drive it until whatever is going on in the steering wheel-steering box and they get looked at closely, adjusted, or replaced. A 1992 is now 32 years old, and although low mileage, who know what is going on inside. Don't bandaid a steering gear problem with swaybars.
FWIW, I have found that tire pressure & shocks can alter a van's handling significantly as well, but I'd make sure someone smarter than me looked at that steering box (worn gear? shaft?) before trusting it with anyone's life. Problems with steering are unforgiving in many situations.

Yeah...I won't drive it until it's tight. There is too much slack in the steering box, and while I could adjust it...the pitman arm moves laterally in the bore of the steering box as it begins to rotate...not much, but it shouldn't move that way at all, IMO. Rebuilt boxes aren't too spendy, but the quality is a gamble, so I'm going with a "Redhead" steering box, and a new coupler.

Even with a good steering box and coupler, a rear sway bar would help with the body roll that will naturally happen with that much weight over the rear.
Shocks are new, tires at 60psi front/80psi rear.

 

[Underboss]

My factory service manual doesn't show a rear sway bar, but it's not a Roadtrek manual...did Roadtrek install one on these? That would make sense to do that with the weight in the back as it is.

Anyone stating that a sway bar does not help oversteer has never driven with one and without one. Stating that a sway bar will help is not saying to ignore the steering box issue. But oversteer is present on these vans without a sway bar even with a perfect steering box. I installed many on older classics in my hot rod shop.
Its not a Roadtrek item, it would be a Dodge item. In another life I was the head of production for a sway bar manufacturer. I do not recall if they made them for that model but they made some monsters for class a motorhomes.
So far I have only found a rear one for a small gas tank model. But you can call Heliwig and ask them (not who I worked for) if they make one for that year with the large gas tank

 

[RoadLessGraveled]

I was focusing on the front but I am sure there must be one available. Those had factory sway bars, is the rear missing? Have you replaced the sway bar bushings? Links?

I haven't replaced the bushings or links, they seem tight, though.

 

[Underboss]

I haven't replaced the bushings or links, they seem tight, though.

I would replace every part on that front end. Pull the steering box and get it rebuilt or buy a rebuilt one. If its beyond your capabilities find a good shop to do it. Bushings, etc, make a huge difference. Every component on that front end needs to be up to par