Front-End Clunking!! HELP!!!

[BCFAST]

OK, here's the deal... I installed a new NAPA track bar thinking it would solve my clunking issue. I didnt. . now, it's getting worse... much easier to make it clunk. It now makes the noise going straight, over the slightest imperfection in the road, while turning and at any speed (4mph included!) . I'm getting scared to drive it, not knowing what the culpret is. My next guess is the steering box, as I can feel the knock comming up thru the steering column. Underneath, nothing is obviously loose... . I put a wrench on everything I could, including the Ranchos. Best guesses, guys?? I have a TDR meet in one week, and I wont drive this thing til it's fixed! HELP!!

 

[OILBRNR]

Grab ahold of the intermediate shaft and tug it up and down. Mine was bad at 3k and gave a real clunk feeling in the wheel.

 

[BCFAST]

Pardon my ignorance... . I always thought an intermediate shaft was INSIDE an engine... can you explain it more simply for me? Do you mean the drive shaft to the front? Thanks for your reply!

 

[OILBRNR]

Sorry, I was referring to the steering intermediate shaft, between the firewall and the steering box. Has a universal joint in it. Thats what was bad on mine.

 

[Turbo Thom]

BCFast:

When you find the problem let me know, I have the same thing. It almost sounds like it's comming from the dash. Real bad in the steering column, though. I changed the track bar and dampner shock but it's still there. Checked the shock tower, shocks, and everthing I can get to but I ain't grabbed the right thing yet.



Preston

 

[OILBRNR]

You know, now that I looked at the year of your truck, I think there was a TSB regarding this issue that centered around the actual steering column on the interior. Esp. prevalent when turning. You might want to look into that...

 

[RJ2]

clunking

Clunking is the perfect word for it . Got mine replaced by dodge for $00. about three weeks ago, and just now getting over that creepy feeling when turning the wheel. When this one goes bad I think I might try the Borgenson shaft. Even this new one you can grab and clunk it. If you pump grease up where the collapsableshaft goes it will help. Evidently dodge does not have a decent shaft. The service department is very familar with this and the vibrating passenger mirror problem.

 

[RottnDogue]

Clunking

Mine does it too, but only does it when I turn the wheel almost all the way and hit a bump... . I brought it to 4 different garages before someone found it. The Passenger side, U-joint needs replacing



Darren

 

[ChillyDog]

Had the same problem at about 70,000 miles. Both u-joints on the front axle were toast!

 

[Turbo Thom]

Chilly Dog:

Can you tell me how I check for bad front U-joints at home. I'm going to be working on the truck and waxing my fiver all day, so I would like to check it while I'm sweaty, stinky, and greasey. Temp at 90 and humidity at 91 makes a good day for work.

Preston

 

[BCFAST]

Thanks tons, gentlemen! The front U-joints on my truck were replaced by the previous owner with NAPA units... very nice with zerk fittings! ... so I know the clunk isnt comming from them as I just greased them (and everything else up under there). If my steering shaft is dead, will it move if I yank on it? Also, I understand the Borgeson is pretty pricey. I find it interresting that we ALL have 1997 model trucks... .

 

[Turbo Thom]

BC:

I have replaced the steering shaft with the Borgenson unit. That was 2 year ago. when I push are pull the steering shaft there is a slight popping or clicking sound. When I finish waxing the fiver I'm going to take the shaft off and check it for lubrication. I feel there is some loose at the fire wall. How do you know if the U-joints are bad?

Preston

 

[Dennis Garrett]

When my 97 was about a year old, I had a noise like that from the front end someplace, & I checked everything I could think of. Finally I found out it was coming from the right side shock absorber. It was never tightened enough when built, and the bushing in the bottom rubber mount was pounding on the bolt. These things have to be tightened enough for the control arm channel to grip the sides of the rubber bushings. The bolts they used have threads going through the shock bushing. If it's loose, the bushing pounds the threads flat, and it just gets worse. I took the bolts out, and replaced them with bolts thave have threads only on the ends, and not all the way up to the head like the factory ones had. Then I tightened them as tight as I could to pull the sides of the control arm channel up tight against the bushing. The noise was amplified & modified coming all the way up into the cab, and was hard to pin down. Keep this in mind when replacing your shocks next time too.

 

[BCFAST]

Well, the rain stopped long enough for me to go test your ideas. Long story short, the steering shaft clunks where it goes thru the firewall!!! The knuckles seem tight. I will be going to my local Dodge dealer tomorrow after work to ask about getting this replaced under warranty. I have 94,xxx miles on the truck and am not the first owner... . should I expect resistance? You guys are the greatest! Many thanks.

 

[1tuffram]

BCFAST,



check the archives, there recently was a topic on this issue and someone traced it to where the shaft and fierwall meet. They came up with a fix (belive they made some sort of modified bearing which was wore out due to poor design).

 

[E-9]

Steering

There was a TSB for a popping inside the column. The whole unit inside the truck was replaced early on under warrenty. It would pop and grind, but didnot wound like s heavy component from under the hood.

 

[BCFAST]

Dealers are all the Same!

Well, I stopped by Dodge of Pompano on my home from the office... no warranty, no TSB, no recall... . Im on my own! My odo is showing 94,000 miles, and the guy literally laughed at me. What is the magic word? How did you fellas get DC to fix your 1996 or 1997 truck?

 

[RJ2]

I was on my 30 day used truck warranty.