Upgraded steering box first drive

[Tommyd]

So I’m taking my 2020 in Monday morning to get its upgraded steel steering box installed. I have a Clayton 2.5 lift. They told me they will need to align it as well.
my question is I have the alignment dialed right now. I have adjustable upper lca’s and my toe in is just right. When they say “align” do they just mean the steering wheel? Or a full alignment?
should I just let them do they’re thing and check it when I get home?

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[Gren71]

A dealership alignment is usually just toe and steering wheel recenter.
You can always specify what toe you want them to set it to, if they have to…but I can’t imagine a new steering box install will effect your current toe at all.

thats being said im wondering if the better steering with the steel box will make your current setting feel too tight ?‍

 

[XraytecH]

All they are going to do is drop the track bar at the frame side, drop the drag link off the sector shaft, and remove steering box. Shouldn't have to realign anything, at the least re-center the steering wheel. That's what I would do to change a steering box.

 

[Tommyd]

A dealership alignment is usually just toe and steering wheel recenter.
You can always specify what toe you want them to set it to, if they have to…but I can’t imagine a new steering box install will effect your current toe at all.

thats being said im wondering if the better steering with the steel box will make your current setting feel too tight ?‍

Why would my setup feel to tight?

 

[Gren71]

Why would my setup feel to tight?

If youve made adjustments based off the aluminum box and how it wiggles and moves than perhaps those adjustments will feel different after the new sturdy box is installed.

its just a supposition. The new box may have absolutely no bearing on how the jt feels while driving.

 

[Lunentucker]

Another member recently posted about getting a gearbox replaced, and there were some issues with the steering wheel not showing the correct position in off road pages but was visibly level and correct.
Something you may want to check before leaving the dealership.

 

[JTBurns]

Are they charging you for the alignment? Is it just an effort to make an extra buck? I had mine changed out over two years ago and do not remember them having to do an alignment after. The steering wlt tighter right away, and I lost the wander/constant correction I previously had to do while steering

 

[Tommyd]

If youve made adjustments based off the aluminum box and how it wiggles and moves than perhaps those adjustments will feel different after the new sturdy box is installed.

its just a supposition. The new box may have absolutely no bearing on how the jt feels while driving.

Cool. No I did nothing. There’s a little play and wander but I really am just upgrading for the free better box

 

[MOJAVEC22]

Cool. No I did nothing. There’s a little play and wander but I really am just upgrading for the free better box

Let us know how it feels after, I’m in the same boat as you. 30k miles, just a tiny wander since day one but id like the stronger box for peace of mind before 37s.

 

[Tommyd]

Another member recently posted about getting a gearbox replaced, and there were some issues with the steering wheel not showing the correct position in off road pages but was visibly level and correct.
Something you may want to check before leaving the dealership.

I don’t have off-road pages

 

[Tommyd]

Are they charging you for the alignment? Is it just an effort to make an extra buck? I had mine changed out over two years ago and do not remember them having to do an alignment after. The steering wlt tighter right away, and I lost the wander/constant correction I previously had to do while steering

I’ll ask! Thanks. I don’t think they are but I will double check.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So I’m taking my 2020 in Monday morning to get its upgraded steel steering box installed. I have a Clayton 2.5 lift. They told me they will need to align it as well.
my question is I have the alignment dialed right now. I have adjustable upper lca’s and my toe in is just right. When they say “align” do they just mean the steering wheel? Or a full alignment?
should I just let them do they’re thing and check it when I get home?

Like all of the others have said - all that it would impact is alignment of the steering wheel and you don't touch the tie rods to center the steering wheel unless toe is off.
Nothing changes with the gear swap - even the steering wheel isn't supposed to but may.
They are supposed to align it according to the TSB but there's little they'd likely do.

 

[Tommyd]

Like all of the others have said - all that it would impact is alignment of the steering wheel and you don't touch the tie rods to center the steering wheel unless toe is off.
Nothing changes with the gear swap - even the steering wheel isn't supposed to but may.
They are supposed to align it according to the TSB but there's little they'd likely do.

Thank you sir!!

 

[Tommyd]

Thanks everyone I will repost when I get it back tomorrow. Good news they warrantied it with a lift and 37s. Hopefully it’s an improvement!

 

[Tommyd]

Well I got the truck back this morning. I wasn’t having any major trouble with the steering with the original box. Once I switched to 37 mts I did feel a little more swaying back and forth when driving. Even up to 80 mph not a hint of death wobble. As soon as I got going today I could feel a definite improvement. The truck stayed dead straight and there is no more play at all in the wheel. That’s about it. Just feels good now.

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