My 98 2wd Quad Cab 3500 dually has 256k miles of pulling trailers and has been a great truck once I got all my mods in place. Last week I took it to a friends shop because I thought it needed new shocks and the ones on the truck were under warranty. His front end guy calls me back and says the problem is not shocks. He says the sector shaft is loose in the steering box and the truck needs upper and lower ball joints, left outer tie rod end, pitman arm and an idler arm. This truck does not have any suspension mods but it does have 256k miles. The kicker is, the total bill is going to be over $1,700 plus I will need to buy a new steering box because they don't have a supplier for that. Well, I call my friend that owns the place and he says I can have a 20% discount on parts and the new total is $1,400. I haven't seen the estimate but I'm led to believe the break down is about 500 labor and 900 parts. Now none of this includes the steering box because they don't sell them. Let me say right off the top, I'm a big supporter of small business. I understand a repair shop can't run on labor alone. I just don't know what to do because I went to an online parts warehouse that I had used before for some body replacement parts. I ordered moog parts to replace everything needed except the steering box. The total came to $610 (free shipping), that is $300 cheaper than 20% discounted parts my friend quoted. Then I found another online warehouse that sold Spicer parts, which is a name I have heard, I believe they are owned by Dana Corp. The same parts in Spicer came to $480 (also free shipping). Later while surfing through eBay I find a couple sellers that claim to be jobbers with no name parts that they claim are as good as OEM and one guy has everything I need for $136 plus shipping. Now I'm totally confused, has anyone had experience with these no name parts being sold so cheap on the Internet?? If I go with a brand name is Spicer as good as Moog?? I found two sites on line, both in CA, that sell reman'd steering boxes for $190 w/$100 core. Anyone have experience with them? Bully Dog makes a brace to stabilize the sector shaft on the steering box, about $200, but I've been told I shouldn't need that with no suspension mods and stock wheels & tires. I appreciate your opinions. thanks
First I would stay away from Ebay. You really don't have any guarantees with them. Next, I would feel confortable ordering from either Moog or Dana. Remember that you often get what you pay for. If you buy cheep you get cheep. Another thought that comes to mind is that you can have any two of three. Good, fast or cheep. If you want it good and fast it is not going to be cheep. If you want fast and cheep it is not good. I hope this helps. LT.
Either your buddy doesn't get good pricing from his supplier or he is marking up a bit too much. Moog and Spicer are both great names. Like posted, stay away from the Ebay sellers. Many are good, reputable dealers, but many are not. Ebay is kinda misleading too, because it takes about 10 minutes to set up an account that looks like you are some big warehouse when really its a 20 year old kid buying parts off a Chinese freight ship. His parts prices do seem a bit high to me. . . .
I can tell you that your pitman arm is fine. you have a 2nd gen dodge. your going to go through steering stuff. moog parts are very good. They sell them at Autozone with lifetime warranties. As far as the steering boxes go. Dont go with a rebuilt junk one (larin). You'll be changing it again soon. I made the mistake going that route instead of spending $150 on a PSC box and having a beefy box that wont fail.
