Hell Bent Steel Dodge Ram Steering Stabilizer (PN:170-994-001)

About a month ago after checking both the Amazon and HBS website to determine if this product would fit my 1997 Dodge 4x4 2500 and both said it does I placed my order. After I had the product nearly installed I determined it did not fit properly due to the hex portion of the replacement nut they provided for the bottom of the steering sector extending through the bracket. This problem prevented the bearing block from making contact with the bracket that bolted to the frame. If I had of bolted the bearing block to the kit frame that did not fit even though they say it does, I would have created a deadly situation. The steering sector would have been in a bind. I then tried for four days to contact HBS about the problem but received only voicemail and they would not return my call. I also sent email but they would not respond to that either. On the fifth day I was finally able to speak with someone about the problem. They recommended that I use washers for shims to move the bearing block down or leave the lock washer off of the nut securing the arm to the entire steering mechanism. I rejected the washer shims due to potential side movement of the bearing block and there was absolutely no way I was going to leave the lock washer off of the bolt holding the entire steering mechanism in place. I would have thrown the kit in the trash before I would compromise the safety of my truck. Then I recommended they use another plate like the one attached to the cross member to make a shim I could use between the bearing block and mounting plate and they agreed it was a good idea and would send me a plate to use as a shim. When it arrived I immediately realized it was not made from the plate thickness they agreed to use. When I informed them about the thickness they basically called me a liar and said it was 1/4 inch thick like the kit plate. Then they asked me to loosen the nuts on the steering gear box and see if I could slide it up. Again, I rejected the solution because the steering sector is not a slotted mount and trying to remove the large bolts going through the frame would be a huge job and I was not about to tamper with the steering mechanism. At that point I took pictures of the first plate I had installed with a tape measure on the plate reflecting the thickness and they apologized and said they had used the wrong material and would send another plate made out of the proper material. All this time my truck was sitting in the garage waiting for the proper parts from HBS. When the second shim arrived I removed the bearing and washers and reinstalled the kit. It is a good thing I had two plates because that amount of thickness was needed for proper clearance between the replacement nut and bearing. So now instead of a clean installation of a part everyone, including HBS, said would fit my truck I have a shimmed up mess under my truck. Needless to say I am not happy about what happened and certainly not happy with HBS Customer Service. The dangerous circumventions they wanted me to use were poorly thought out and the shim plate was my idea as a way to alter their product to make it fit my truck. If I had of used their circumventions any one of them could have resulted in a truck very dangerous to drive. Bottom line is I would never buy this product again because the manufacture is making a kit that does not fit properly and is creating potential deadly situations. In my opinion, the cross bracket is made from material not strong enough and I would prefer a bearing made in the US and not China.

Beautiful product. This steering stabilizer is made out of what seemed to be 1/4 inch steel all the way around. Every joint was a full weld, minus where the bearing plate attached to the square tubing, which had three one inch welds, with is adequate. The bearing is heavy duty with two securing grub screws. The new gearbox pitman arm screw/bolt/whatever it is called is very heavy duty and has a pretty significant weight to it. Everything went together very easily and bolted up perfectly. As a nice touch, they include an awesome Hell Bent Steel Sticker. This product definitely helped tighten up the front end of my truck, removing slop and play in the steering wheel.Pros:Thick and durable constructionHeavy duty bearingNew hardware (Grade 8 bearing bolts, Grade 5 mounting bolts)Perfect fitmentAwesome looking stickerOver all, if I had to buy another one, I would absolutely purchase this one, and highly recommend this to anyone looking for a reliable steering gearbox stabilizer.If you found this review helpful, feel free to click the "yes" button below. This helps me out a lot. Thank you!

Cant really tell that much of a difference. Ended up stripping out my sway bar mounting holes trying to sandwich this thing in there. Had to drill and tap bigger bolts. Other than that the truck feels a little smoother but still tends to wander. 1998 dodge ram 2500 with a cummins diesel. Yes, all my ball joints and sway links and bushings have been replaced, along with the steering gearbox. And yes, im running load range E tires at the proper pressure. I think these trucks just wander.

Helped play in the steering wheel slightly. Adjusting the gears on the gear box worked much better to reduce play. Also bad wheel bearings can cause excessive play in the steering wheel.I broke off a bolt inside the frame where the sway bar attached and had to weld a rivet nut to the frame. Just be aware when installing.

Kit works great. Huge difference in the way my truck steers. A lot of reviews on here said the kit doesn't come with the mounting bolts. My kit came with all the bolts and a tube of Loc-Tite. Highly recommend this kit.

Wow what a difference. I went from sloppy to NO play at all. Can't say enough good things about it. This product is awesome!!! I'd give it a million stars if I could!

Yes it has come in and already installed! Thank you for a quality built product and very good instructions for ease of assembly! Fit perfectly and helped tighten the steering up.

I'm sure glad I bought American. Flawless workmanship, & I looked with an actual microscope . HBS in Utah ... you guys rule!