Clicking/clunking felt through steering wheel

[brillmtb1]

Trying to narrow down what the steering clicking is that I hear in the cab and mostly feel going down the road, turning at times and oddly seems to be worse when hot.

Trackbar and steering linkage replaced, mechanic initially thought my aftermarket dual steering stabilizer mount loose or cracked. It was loose but not cracked, I went back to single stock as I put the front end back down to stock height (for my heavy camper). He thought the ball joints and what he looked at ok but then I started reading about the steering shafts and how they might wear out.

I had my son move the wheel back and forth and there was internal movement at the joint I just dont know if that is where the issue is or a little play is normal. The other thought is can a bad steering box give you this kind of feel.

 

[AEdelheit]

I havent seen this as much on the 2014+ trucks but on 3rd gens and early 4th gens the collapsible section of the steering shaft between the fire wall and box can wear a little and you will develop a faint click / clunk in the steering wheel and sometimes the pedals that no one else will notice. On my 3rd gen you can pull the shaft out, separate the upper and lower shafts, clean and use a fairly thick grease then reassemble / install. Not sure how easy that is to do on the 2014 trucks though.

Ball joints would cause more of an overall clunk not just in the steering wheel, so my checklist would be track bar, tie rid ends, steering shaft and box.

 

[brillmtb1]

Update. Dealer couldnt find whistling with exhaust brake on, obviously leak somewhere and it appears they didnt try to even tighten things up. Hope the leak doesnt cause more issues. On the steering issue since drag link, tack bar and steering link all replaced, and they tell me ball joints fine seems like it must be the steering box. I had son home from college so he helped me. I had him move the wheel back and forth and only when I grab the drag link (if I have that correct. bar from pitman arm across) I feel the greatest amount of clucking. I assume then that its the box or the joint on the other end but this bar is the upgrade and not that old. Manager assured me when I went by to tell him that the mechanic needs to fell what I feel that when my new rear defroster/window comes in he will. ??????? I am no mechanic but it would seem very simple to me with the number of replaced/upgraded items and all the years of mechanic training that they should of nailed this already.

 

[brillmtb1]

Might be time for find a 4500 or 5500 and put my camper on it permanently kind of and get my wife a new care and take hers for a daily drive. At my age now it might be a good move. Love the camper and a 4500 would probably be enough to lock out all issues associated with a heavy camper and add side box storage.....its only money right? Crap these things are too expensive now

 

[NIsaacs]

Might be time for find a 4500 or 5500 and put my camper on it permanently kind of and get my wife a new care and take hers for a daily drive. At my age now it might be a good move. Love the camper and a 4500 would probably be enough to lock out all issues associated with a heavy camper and add side box storage.....its only money right? Crap these things are too expensive now

I agree on the prices off the charts. I was at my local dealer yesterday getting some recalls done so I did some browsing of window stickers. $90-$105K.

I would think twice about a 4500-5500. Detuned, rough ride and campers are tall mounted on them. You mentioned age, stairs suck as you get older.

I would think a well equipped, 3500, HO dually pickup would work fine.

 

[Cummins2014]

Trying to narrow down what the steering clicking is that I hear in the cab and mostly feel going down the road, turning at times and oddly seems to be worse when hot.

Trackbar and steering linkage replaced, mechanic initially thought my aftermarket dual steering stabilizer mount loose or cracked. It was loose but not cracked, I went back to single stock as I put the front end back down to stock height (for my heavy camper). He thought the ball joints and what he looked at ok but then I started reading about the steering shafts and how they might wear out.

I had my son move the wheel back and forth and there was internal movement at the joint I just dont know if that is where the issue is or a little play is normal. The other thought is can a bad steering box give you this kind of feel.

I feel the same in my truck , the pedals , and steering wheeling . But I’m not hearing anything, and yes I don’t notice it when cold , but when warmed up . Just had an alignment after having the drag link replaced , asked them to check things , how well they did not sure , but they said everything looked good , ball joints etc . Trucks got 72k miles on it . It’s almost like I want to hear a clicking sound the way it feels . Hopefully we will find out .

 

[kthaxton]

Update. Dealer couldnt find whistling with exhaust brake on, obviously leak somewhere and it appears they didnt try to even tighten things up. Hope the leak doesnt cause more issues.

I also had a whistle with e-brake, more prominent when engine wasn't good and hot. It was an exhaust manifold leak at #6 and one other that I don't recall. I let it go for about a year with no issue. I fixed it over Christmas last year. You could see the soot trail on the head.

I've heard a couple other people here having the same issue.

 

[brillmtb1]

Going to take it in to look at exhaust manifold gasket. Also I have a feeling the clucking felt through the wheel is the steering box with other parts already replaced or upgraded such as steering linkage, drag link, etc and they say ball joints fine and I tightened shocks. We will see but if I grap the bar connected to the steering box and rock the wheel back and forth I feel the clunking mostly grabbing that one.

 

[Ozymandias]

Please sell the truck, it is haunted.

 

[brillmtb1]

funny but I will get to the bottom of this even if I need and exorcism.

 

[Cummins2014]

funny but I will get to the bottom of this even if I need and exorcism.

Hopefully . As said I seem to have the same thing ,although I can't hear anything just the feel . It doesn't seem to do anything until its warmed up , or the weather is hot. Now that its cooled down the truck needs to warm up before I feel it .