Crunching sound when turning left

[mediccummin]

I just starting hearing this crunching sound when I turn left. The sound is coming from the steering column, is this my clock spring going bad. Dealer said my truck was not on recall list for this. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks... ... .

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by mediccummin

is this my clock spring going bad.

Sure sounds like it. There are 2 kinds of clocksprings- them what have broke & them what will.

 

[Morphious]

I noticed you have a 4x4, have you checked out the trackbar? It is the rod that connects the frame to the front end, and can start making a clunking noise when the balljoint is worn out. Somehow I have gone through 6 of them in 2 1/2 years and 140,000 miles.



Morph.

 

[Red Rocket]

junk u-joints can make the crunching noise you describe. Just want to give you your options.

 

[ftb87]

Does your truck have limited slip diff? If so, have the dodge dealership add one bottle of friction modifyer and the poping sound will go away.



Mine did the exact same think. I think your truck was built the same day as mine.



Frank

 

[kswieringa]

Clockspring

My 2001 crunched the clockspring while turning right. Damn near drove up over the center divider... ... ... ... ... .

Had to yank the wheel hard. After that , no cruise and an ABS fault light. As a mech @ work says. . let it develop. LOL

 

[LRamey]

Ok, I've got to ask. Whats a clockspring? I thought the only clock I had was the one on my radio.

 

[Phil Stuart]

Yep! sounds like the clockspring all right.

mediccummin,



Mine made the tell tale crunching sound before it went out and when it did, the air bag light came on and the cruise control quit working alltogether. Dealer replaced it, no problems at all. It was under warranty.



The clockspring is what supplies the contact for the air bag in the steering wheel and the cruise control . It's like the old slip ring in older autos that did the same thing but was replaced by a clockspring type contact that looks like a spring inside a clock that winds and unwinds as you turn the steering wheel. This type of contact is now used due to safety concerns with air bags.

It's located just under the air bag in the center of the steering wheel.

Hope this helps.



Phil S

 

[LRamey]

Thanks, Phil.

Learn something new every day!



Lonnie