Yukon Gear 97-02 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 4x4 Power Steering Gear Box

If your 1997-2002 Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500 4x4 wanders on the highway, needs constant correction, or the steering wheel moves before the front tires do, the steering gear box is one of the first places to look. This is a new, not rebuilt, USA Standard Gear power steering box, part number ZSG7585, built for the second-generation three-quarter and one-ton four-wheel-drive Ram. It is a complete replacement gear, so there is no core to send back and no rebuilt unit with unknown internal wear.

What the steering box does on a second-gen Ram 4x4

On these trucks the steering box bolts to the frame rail and turns the motion of the steering column into the swing of the pitman arm, which drives the linkage that steers the solid front axle. Inside, a worm and recirculating ball assembly moves a rack that turns the sector shaft, and power steering pressure from the pump pushes on that rack to do most of the work. When the worm bearings, the ball track or the sector gear wear, you get free play between the wheel and the pitman arm. When the seals wear, fluid weeps from the input or sector shaft. The ZSG7585 is specified at 4.1 turns lock-to-lock.

Symptoms of a worn steering box

• Vague, floaty steering and constant small corrections on a straight road
• The truck drifts or pulls to one side even after an alignment
• Steering wheel play: the wheel turns before the pitman arm moves
• Grinding, binding or a notchy spot as you turn the wheel
• Power steering fluid wet on the box, the frame rail or the sector shaft seal
• Heavy steering or no assist even with a good pump and full reservoir

How to confirm the box is the problem

Heavy Rams wear many front-end parts at once, so prove the box before you replace it. With the truck on the ground and the engine running, have a helper rock the steering wheel a few inches each way while you watch the input shaft and the pitman arm. If the input shaft turns and the pitman arm does not, the slack is inside the box. If the box responds instantly but the wheels lag, check the tie rod ends, drag link, track bar bushings and ball joints first. A worn track bar or loose linkage feels a lot like a bad box. Check fluid level and condition too; dark or burnt fluid points to heat and a pump that has been working hard.

Fitment

Listed for 1997-2002 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 with four-wheel drive and power steering. Some catalogs describe the application as the standard cab pickup, so compare the mounting bolt pattern, the line fittings and the sector shaft on your old box with the photo before you order. If you are not sure, send us your year and VIN and we will check it against the catalog. Two-wheel-drive trucks and the 2003-and-later Ram use different boxes. You can browse more drivetrain and chassis parts in our engine and performance parts section.

Install notes

• Clean the area, then loosen the pressure and return lines with a flare nut line wrench set so the fittings do not round off. Cap the lines to keep dirt out.
• Mark the pitman arm against the sector shaft before you pull it, and plan on transferring your pitman arm to the new box.
• Center the new box before installing it: count the turns lock to lock and back off half of that, so the steering wheel and the pitman arm end up centered together.
• Torque the frame bolts and pitman arm nut to the factory specification with a 3/4-inch drive torque wrench; these are high-torque fasteners on a heavy truck.
• Fill with the power steering fluid your owner's manual calls for, then bleed: with the front wheels off the ground and the engine off, turn lock to lock several times, top off, start the engine and repeat until the foam is gone.
• Check toe after the job and inspect the rest of the linkage while you are there. A ball joint and U-joint press kit handles the front axle joints if they are worn too.

If your Ram also needs transmission work, our 46RE, 47RE and 48RE guide covers the automatics used in these trucks.

Will the ZSG7585 fit my 1997-2002 Ram 2500 2WD?

This box is listed for the 4x4 Ram 2500 and 3500. Two-wheel-drive trucks use a different steering arrangement, so match your old box against the photo or send us your year and VIN before ordering.

Is this a rebuilt steering box?

No. It is a new USA Standard Gear unit, so there is no core charge or core return.

Does it come with a pitman arm?

Plan on transferring the pitman arm from your old box. Mark its position on the sector shaft before removal so it goes back on in the same orientation.

How do I know it is the box and not the track bar or tie rods?

Have a helper rock the steering wheel with the engine running while you watch the box. If the input shaft moves and the pitman arm does not, the play is inside the box. If the box responds right away, the slack is in the linkage, track bar or ball joints.

How many turns lock-to-lock is it?

The ZSG7585 is specified at 4.1 turns lock-to-lock. Use that to center the box before you bolt it in.

How do I bleed the power steering after installing it?

Fill the reservoir with the fluid your owner's manual specifies, raise the front wheels, turn lock to lock several times with the engine off, top off, then start the engine and repeat until the fluid stops foaming.

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