Solid Steel Industries FAQs
To check current pricing on Solid Steel products, please visit our online store, where we regularly feature product specials, reduced- and free-shipping deals, and an easy-to-navigate interface to help you quickly find the products you need.
| Solid Steel Steering Stabilizers / Control Arms | Solid Steel Track Bars |
Scroll down for additional information, or visit these information links:
-
The Solid Steel Industries Track Bar - The new Adjustable Track Bar and the new Track Bar Conversion Kit eliminate the troublesome ball joint on the OEM track bar on 1994 to 2002 Dodge 4x4's.
-
The Dodge Track Bar Replacement Bracket, which allows the use of the KORE Race Series Track Bar so you can get the benefit of the latest third-generation KORE Race Series Track Bar innovations with your second-generation truck.
-
The DSS Steering Stabilizer, which will greatly reduce steering "wander" on your late model Dodge pickup. This unit will serve to eliminate sector shaft play in the steering box which is a large contributor to wandering and poor road feel.
-
The Solid Steel Industries Control arms. Adjusting the caster on the front axle of your Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 4x4 can be somewhat difficult and inaccurate with the stock OEM control arms. They are also weak and sometimes bend.
Why does my truck wander ?
If your truck is not steering the way you would like it to, first check all your steering components. A loose tie-rod end or trackbar obviously must be replaced. Poor wheel alignment must also be corrected. A steering box that has a loose sector shaft is often an overlooked cause of poor steering.
How can I check the sector shaft for play?
Have someone else rock the steering wheel gently from side to side (engine NOT running) while you watch the sector shaft for movement from side to side. The place to watch is between the bottom edge of the steering box and the pitman arm where it's attached to the sector shaft. Often, it's easier to feel than see. The movement isn't much, maybe 20 to 40 thousands of an inch (a matchbook is 15 thousands) but is amplified by the steering box quite a bit.
You can throw as many new steering parts and wheel alignments at these trucks as you can afford, but they still won't steer properly until this play in the sector shaft is eliminated.
What does the stabilizer do?
This stabilizer is designed to provide additional support for the sector shaft. Most (if not all) of the trucks we've checked do have some detectable play in the sector shaft which will be eliminated by this stabilizer. These trucks usually have 2 to 4 inches of play in the steering wheel (as well as poor road feel) that is caused entirely by sector shaft movement.
How does it work?
We supply a replacement pitman arm nut for the steering box which is manufactured with an integral extension shaft. This new nut/shaft is then supported by an outboard bearing and housing. The bracket/crossmember assembly is provided as a rigid mounting point for this bearing. The majority of the forces in moving the tie rod are now borne by the truck's frame rails, instead of the sector shaft bushing(s). The bushing wear in these boxes is accelerated by the "dropped" pitman arm which magnifies the side loads applied to the steering box. The outboard bearing eliminates this cantilevered load on the sector shaft - the "wandering" effects of a loose sector shaft bushing are eliminated. Essentially no load is borne by the original lower bushings.
Will it work with my lift kit?
In most cases, yes. There are certain exceptions, however. If your lift kit has drop brackets for the anti-sway bar AND there is a tube between these brackets, then there will be interference. Cepek lifts are the only ones we know of that have this extra tube. Please contact us for more info if you have one of these lifts.
How about my snowplow or tow hooks?
So far, there haven't been any problems with front receiver hitches or tow hooks. Engine pre-lubers or bypass filters mounted on the front crossmember may need relocating. Some snowplow brackets may require modification of the plow brackets and/or stabilizer.
Is it difficult to install?
Not really. There is no drilling or welding required. You will need a 1 5/16 regular socket and a 1 1/4 deep socket to install the replacement sector shaft nut. A helper is nice to have to help position the sway-bar and stabilizer back up against the truck's frame. We can put one on in under 10 minutes. Most people report that it takes well under an hour.
Why doesn't the bearing appear square?
We supply a self aligning bearing and housing. This bearing has a spherical outer race to match the housing .After your stabilizer bracket is bolted to the frame, simply slide the bearing and housing onto the new nut/extension shaft. Now snug up the two mounting bolts and the bearing will align itself and allow the housing to lie flat against the stabilizer bracket.
Will it help with the wobble problem?
Some trucks may experience sudden, violent shaking in the front end and steering wheel. This is often triggered when a pothole or bump is hit, and usually only occurs at highway speeds. The biggest culprit is insufficient caster. Another symptom of insufficient caster is the steering wheel not returning to center after cornering. Try having your caster adjusted to +4 degrees. (A truck that is within factory alignment specs may still experience this problem, so don't be afraid to tell the alignment shop you want +4 to +5 degrees.) Loose steering parts such as tie-rod ends, steering box, and ball joints will also contribute to this problem. Other things to check are wheel bearings, steering damper, and toe-in setting.
In short, the DSS has been reported to help in many cases, but check that caster first!
NOTE: KLM Performance cannot guarantee fitment of the Solid Steel Products on vehicles equipped with Snow Plows
