Clicking Noise in Steering Column While Driving

[HankC]

For a long time I have dealt with this annoying clicking sound in the steering column of my 07 while I'm driving. It is most certainly inside the cab, behind the steering wheel. What I've done so far is replace the clock spring,(on a recommendation from someone), a big waste of money but that's not the problem. I also removed the multi-function switch, that is not the problem. I've also WD-40'd the various components that can be, to no avail.

When I had the multi-function switch removed and was turning the steering wheel (while engine running) and the clicking noise was still happening. I shut the engine off and steering locks up, no more clicking noise while jiggling the steering wheel. To me the noise seemed to be coming from the major component holding everything together. I attached this picture I found online to help explain what I'm talking about, I don't know the correct name for it.

Has anyone had this problem, and know what is making this clicking noise? Is it possible a component in this major assembly could be the cause of the clicking noise?

Any help is very much appreciated.

 

[HankC]

Couldn't get picture to attach before. This is the component I'm talking about. This is not my truck, nor do I have "loose play in the shaft."

 

[AEdelheit]

I have seen this many times and it has always been the intermediate shaft between the steering column and box. The factory shaft can be taken apart , greased and reinstalled pretty easy.

 

[brods]

Hope you get it fixed. I'm still waiting for a definitive cause before chasing my tail over it. Quotes below are from this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/239065-Clicking-in-my-steering-column

I've gone through new intermediate shaft, and a new steering box, along with the 08.5 mopar steering upgrade and still the F^*^*^ing clicking in the steering column. Keep us updated as to what you find!! I certainly will keep searching till I fond the problem!

Thought I'd update everyone on how I'm going about fixing this absolutely the most annoying frigging irritating. dad gum $%#@% noise I've had in my steering column for over 5 years now. Last Wednesday I went to Jim Browne Citrus Dodge in Dade City Fl.and ordered a brand new column to the tune of $1500.00! I called today and it came in so I made an appointment for this Thursday 7/21/16 to have it installed.!

Update, I had the dealer install the new column and BAMM, noise is gone. I did ask to keep my old column to figure out the source of the noise. So I put the old column on my bench and when you spin the shaft the clicking is there! I believe its in the top steering column bearing. I made a short video with my I phone to show the noise but I have to have help on how to post it. I hope to dissect the column to find the exact source. I'll post the results when I know. But oh how sweet it is to be done with the clicking and popping!.

 

[HankC]

Thanks for the help!

The intermediate shaft was certainly a possibility, and I did do what I could to service it, but for this instance I had to rule it out only because the click noise was so noticeably up higher in the steering column.

I appreciate the attached quotes from past threads, looks like I'm not the only one experiencing this annoyance. I was trying to do some hard research for part numbers and exploded diagrams of this steering column. Thinking that there has to be some serviceable parts buried in there I could change out. I had no luck but found out that YES there is a bearing in there, but I only came up with a part number for the entire steering column costing about $1600. Not satisfied, I drove to the local dealership yesterday to found out about this bearing. The parts guy was actually honest, but he came up with exactly what I found and told me that "unfortunately welcome to Chrysler the bearing is not a serviceable part." For $1600 I can just live with it for now, I wasn't about to do that and he agreed. He did give me the number and location to two junkyard dealers in my area that might be able to help.

Looks like SGBARRACUDA was on the same track but made the plunge and actually bought the new steering column and "BAMM" fixed that annoying click.

Giving myself some self control and not experimenting tearing apart my steering column lol, and leaving me with an inoperable truck, I'd like to try and pick up a junk steering column and rip it apart to find out what size/type bearing is in there and if I rip out the bearing can I even install a new bearing. In the past, at work, I've run into nightmares where parts go in but once you rip them out things are never the same. Or option "B" is that I find a steering column from a junked Ram that is in good shape and go from there.

 

[Krew]

Hi,

Did you ever figure this out? I'm having the same/similar symptoms.

Thanks

 

[avvblanc01]

I had a very similar problem. Tried the little plastic spacer trick on the supper steering column and that helped but didn't resolve it. Then I went ham and replaced the steering box with a Mopar big box, and the steering with synergy steering. At the same time, I also did a carli pinto 2.5 kit with a torsion sway bar and new track bar. After all that, my popping noise and feeling are gone.

Moral of the story: the source of the play may not be from the column after all. Check everything else on the front end too!