1994-1998 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Steering Parts

Steering on the 1994-1998 RAM 5.9L Cummins

Second-gen Rams use a Saginaw recirculating-ball steering box bolted to the frame rail. From there a pitman arm, drag link and tie rods run to the solid front axle on 4x4 trucks, or to the independent front suspension on 2WD trucks. The 4x4s also use a track bar to locate the axle side to side. Dodge built three box ratios: the HN variable 16-13:1 at about 3 to 3.75 turns lock to lock, the BN fixed 17.5:1 that was common on long-wheelbase diesels, and a slower 20:1 at 4.25 to 4.5 turns on some extended-cab long-beds. With the 12-valve Cummins sitting over the front axle, the box's sector shaft and its lower bushing carry a lot of that weight.

What fails and why

• Loose steering box. The sector shaft rides on an upper bearing and a lower bushing. Tie-rod loads wear them at high mileage, and you get play, wander and eventually a fluid weep at the lower sector seal.
• Steering wander. Dodge TSB 19-10-97 covers trucks that need more steering input than normal to go straight. The repair is an over-center and worm thrust bearing preload adjustment, or a remanufactured box.
• Tie rods and drag link. Worn joints add slop, cup tires and feed death wobble, the violent front-end shimmy worn solid-axle trucks are known for.
• Track bar. It wears quickly on second-gen 4x4s, and it is one of the parts that cures death wobble along with ball joints, steering parts and an alignment.
• Steering shaft. A worn or binding intermediate shaft or coupler adds play at the wheel that you cannot trace to the box.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

A loose but serviceable factory box can sometimes be tightened with the TSB preload adjustment. A worn-out box gets replaced, either with a new stock-style box or with an upgrade such as a Delphi integral box conversion with a larger piston and quicker ratio. A steering box stabilizer brace ties into the frame crossmember and supports the bottom of the sector shaft to stop box flex; just know it can expose a sector seal that was already worn. On the damper side, a stock-style steering damper suits a tight stock truck, while dual stabilizer kits are what many owners run on lifted second-gens. On a 4x4 with death wobble, check the track bar and its bushings along with the ball joints and steering parts.

What we carry

• Steering box: the XDP XD754 Stock+ power steering gearbox, sold new.
• Box braces: BD Diesel steering box stabilizers in separate 2WD and 4WD versions.
• Track bar: the BD Diesel adjustable track bar for 4WD trucks and a BD replacement bushing kit.
• Steering stabilizers: BDS Suspension dual steering stabilizer kits with FOX 2.0 Performance shocks or NX2 shocks, plus the BDS dual stabilizer mounting kit.
• Pumps and fluid: XDP power steering pumps with reservoirs (XD741 and XD732) and Lucas Oil power steering fluid.

Fitment notes

2WD and 4x4 trucks use different steering linkage, so box braces, stabilizer kits and track bar parts are drivetrain-specific. The BD box stabilizers come in 2WD and 4WD part numbers, while the track bar, bushing kit and BDS stabilizer kits are 4WD only. The BDS kit with FOX 2.0 shocks is listed for the 2500. Power steering pumps split by year: XDP lists the XD741 for 1990-1996 trucks and the XD732 for 1997-2002 trucks. Box ratio also varies by cab and bed, so if you are replacing a box, confirm 2WD vs. 4x4 and the ratio you want. When in doubt, verify by VIN.

Frequently asked questions

What causes death wobble on a second-gen Ram?

Worn front-end parts on the solid axle. A worn track bar, ball joints, tie-rod ends and drag-link joints all contribute, and the cure is replacing the worn parts and then aligning the truck. A new damper alone usually will not stop it.

My truck wanders on the highway. Do I need a new steering box?

Not always. Dodge TSB 19-10-97 describes an over-center and worm bearing preload adjustment that can tighten a loose but serviceable box. If the sector shaft bushing is worn or the box is weeping at the lower seal, replace the box. Check the tie rods, drag link and steering shaft too, since slop there also shows up as play at the wheel.

What is the difference between a steering stabilizer and a steering box stabilizer?

They are different parts with similar names. A steering stabilizer is a shock-style damper across the front axle, like the BDS dual kits. A steering box stabilizer is a brace, like the BD Diesel units, that supports the bottom of the sector shaft so the box stops flexing.

Which power steering pump fits my truck?

It depends on the year. XDP lists the XD741 for 1990-1996 trucks and the XD732 for 1997-2002 trucks, and both come new with a reservoir. Match the pump to your model year and fill the system with fresh power steering fluid after the install.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.