Time for a new Steering Gear Box?

[SS4Matt]

My truck has progressively became worse and worse over the years, and more specifically the past week or so. When I drive down the road the truck really wants to wander.
The steering is sloppy (i've adjusted the box once, and I'm not sure I should do it again) . I know the big tires do not help the situation, but it wasn't like this maybe a year or so ago. Also, the truck now has ~105K miles.

Is the steering gear box the culprit of this?
Will a "red head" box fix this, and does anyone know the price on one?

Thanks!
-Matt

[blue72]

You need to have someone turn the steering wheel while you check the linkage for movement. It could be your box, but you want to be real sure there is nothing moving or loose first.

[SS4Matt]

Yeah I was going to buy a red head box, but for the $300 something dollars and a core charge, and the insane shipping back and forth for the core, I ended up getting a remand steering box and pump from the local auto parts store that I have a commercial account with through work, got a new pump and box for ~$200. I figured I can go through a few of these before I come close to the price of a red head. and I wanted instant satisfaction.

I put the new power steering pump and Gear box in my truck. probably took me a couple hours on a saturday. My steering is much tighter and turning the wheel is much less work. I still have a small amount of "dead spot" or slop in the middle. I might replace the steering rag joint with a flaming river U joint next.

I did find that the reason my truck would occasionally death steer is from a slightly stiff U joint on my drivers side axle. I PB blasted the heck out of it, and greased it up real good, also locked up my hubs and drove it a couple 10 miles. seems to have worked the sticky u joint free and I haven't had an issue since. I'm still going to replace the u joint but it's not a must right now. (already replaced every joint in the truck 2 years ago)