2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Can you feel a loose track bar in the steering wheel?

[Tomscreek]

I started to feel little pops and clunks while taking off from a stop. Not every time. Had the wife crank the wheel back and forth while I looked underneath and the track bar end with the grease fitting moves up and down quite a bit. Is that what I'm feeling? 45,000 easy miles on the truck. DT or Lukes link?

 

[WOT]

When I noticed my trackbar joint moving up and down (about 2mm) I put a lukes link on it. I never heard any popping from it though so maybe you have another problem or perhaps it is just worse than mine was. The only problem with the lukes link is that I had to grind down one side of it so prevent it from hitting my diff cover. I thought I read somewhere that it has been redesigned since, but not sure. Either way I would do it again - it's still tight with 40K on it.

 

[illflem]

I installed a Luke's for a fellow from Helena just a few weeks ago. Called me when he got home ecstatic, said it was the first time in a couple years he didn't have to fight his '98 going down the road. Great product.

If you can see any play at all with the naked eye, the joint is shot

 

[Tomscreek]

Well, after searching the forum under, clunk, steering, track bar, etc. I'm convinced that what I'm feeling is probably coming from the cheesy POS steering shaft. Although I think the track bar needs replacing too. I'm just about fed up with this truck considering how I baby it. These problems are total bullsh*t!! I could maybe understand it if I actually used it like a truck but my god you can't believe how I take care of this thing, cleaning, servicing, synthetic fluids, etc. I love the Cummins motor and I doubt that I would opt for any other diesel out there. I may start looking for a Chev. 8. 1 gasser. I've had much better luck with Chevys in the past. Here's some of the things I've dealt with so far. I now have a whopping 45, 000 miles on it. I think it's for sale.

· Shorted wire under dash – back-up lights on with reg. Lights – warranty

· Emergency brake assembly broke, rattling – replaced warranty

· Camshaft position sensor – replaced warranty

· Clutch fan stuck – replaced warranty

· Tie rod end bad – replaced warranty

· Power steering pump and vacuum pump leaking – replaced out of warranty for $200. (over $1500. )

· Oil pressure sensor bad – replaced out of warranty for ½ price ($120. )

 

[Challenger-II]

Welcome to the club!!



My '99 also has the clunk, knock or pop in the steering wheel. I had the intermediate steering shaft replaced under warranty and now that one is shot! It is definitely worse in the hotter weather. I agree..... I'm getting pretty fed up waiting for the next catastrophe... ... ... 53 block, killer dowel pin, torque converter, crappy brakes, etc... ... .

 

[Tomscreek]

Funny you should mention the hot weather as being a factor, it was 92 degrees yesterday when I felt it for the first time. Think I'll just drive it like that till the damn thing falls apart.

 

[Gregg Mig]

My 02 with 10,000 miles does the same thing,the clunking is more pronounced when the temperature rises. I had a 97 that did the same,that one I replaced with a Framing River steering shaft and it still clunked.

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by Tomscreek
I started to feel little pops and clunks while taking off from a stop. Not every time. Had the wife crank the wheel back and forth while I looked underneath and the track bar end with the grease fitting moves up and down quite a bit. Is that what I'm feeling? 45,000 easy miles on the truck. DT or Lukes link?

If it's a failing track bar ball & socket joint, you might feel it in the wheel, but you are more likely to feel it via your feet through the floor, as the clunking will travel right through the frame.

When my previous track bar went bad, I could definitely hear the clunking and feel it through the floor. I don't recall feeling it in the steering wheel.

Fest3er

 

[Makensmoke]

clunking

Back around 75000 miles or so my trac bar took a hit. Brought it in for a clunk and it turned out to be loose shocks! (front) My trac bar ended up being bad and extended warranty fixed it, but the clunk was actually my shocks.

 

[Gregg Mig]

How does the rise temperature effect the clunking?

 

[John]

Tomscreek, Challenger II, I hear you!

I too purchased a Cummins powered TD ('98. 5 24v) because of the legendary (perceived) quality of this powerplant. However, after five years of ownership, it seems like issues such as the 53 block (which thankfully I don't have), the KDP (just received my TST KDP kit), the lift pump issues (replaced the entire fuel supply system), the warranty attitude of Dodge/Chrysler in general... you know, "guilty" 'til proven innocent ( / ), and the bend-over pricing structure of all my local Dodge dealers (to which I have vast experience with ). Oh and...



I forgot to add brake issues (to which I never really experienced myself, other than the lousy rear drum performance... or lack thereof). However, I am addressing this shortcoming with a COMPLETE EGR Severe Service brake upgrade system. That would leave the weak (understatement of the year) torque converter (replaced with DTT's finest! ) and the POS OE track bar (recently replaced).



Did I miss anything?

 

[Dr.Kayak]

Yes, I could feel mine when it went bad. Dealer replaced it at 12k miles. Now at 30k miles the pop/loose steering came back. This time they replaced the intermediate steering shaft. Now in drives like new again.



I feel it is totally LAME the front end needs rebuilt every 12k miles.

 

[stg2500]

I too recently had the loose steering problem. I took it to the dealer for service and they replaced all the ball joints and shafts on the front of the truck with the exception of the track bar. It certainly tightened the loose steering up. I thought that it was a little premature to have the front end rebuilt since the truck only had 55,000 miles on it when it went in. This was all covered by the extended warranty.

 

[John]

Man, that bites!

Originally posted by Gregg Mig

... clunking...

I had a 97 that did the same...



that one I replaced with a Framing River steering shaft and it still clunked.

And to think I was going to order a Flaming River steering shaft as opposed to the Borgeson unit.



Let's see, the Borgeson steering shaft will rust if installed as is. But...



if I paint it they will void the warranty (or so I read).



Hmmm...



Ok, I buy the Flaming River unit and it still makes noise?



What's wrong with this picture?

 

[Gregg Mig]

John don't waste your time with the Borgeson had one prior to the flaming river,had to sent that one back because of the clunking. I liked the flaming river shaft do to the fact it had a grease fitting. I think its a better shaft just my opinion.