Funny feeling in steering wheel

[WSutt]

just recently I started feeling a strange thing when merging onto a road both left/right. Best way to describe it is what you would when truck is still in 4 wheel drive as if the front driven wheels were tugging at the steering wheel. The truck is 05 3500 4x4 srw automatic just over 60K,any ideas?

 

[kblranch]

Mine was sort of acting like that going around corners it would kind of surge. It needed a new steering box.

 

[WSutt]

I'm jacking it up today to see if it may be stuck in 4 wheel drive,is that even possible?

 

[WSutt]

OK,its not in 4 wheel drive,I did notice some up and down movement at ball joint area maybe 1\16 inch or so. Is there a way to test or troubleshoot the steering box to see if that is what I am feeling at the steering wheel?

 

[steved]

The universal joints in the front axle (knuckle joints) are going bad/seizing... has nothing to do with your steering components.

 

[seafish]

The universal joints in the front axle (knuckle joints) are going bad/seizing... has nothing to do with your steering components.

X2... try removing the front driveshaft and see if your problem goes away, youll have to pull it anyway to fix the joints and you can still keep driving your truck in 2wd.

 

[DFairhurst]

steering box will not want to return to center also could make a popping sound if you turn the wheel left an right when not moving, an over steer, but front ujoint will also over steer and make it feel like its in 4wd also shimmy or vibrate at hwy speeds. ball joints will make it have sloppy steering an wander all over uneven tire wear

 

[steved]

Seizing knuckle joints will feel like its locked in 4wd. Pulling the driveshaft will prove nothing as the knuckle joints still turn without it.

 

[MMcCowan]

I'm dealing with the same symptoms. Please let us know what the outcome is. Thanks.

 

[WSutt]

there is no shimmy,vibration,or wander but is exactly how steved described. If you have ever had your truck in 4 low on dry pavement,feels like that when making a sharp left or right turn. Who can suggest a good replacement part brand/number?thanks for everyones input,I hear these originals can be a real ***** to knock out.

 

[Uncle Dim]

Me too.

I have the same sensation through the steering wheel. It started suddenly over the weekend. When I inspected the front end I did find some play in the passenger side upper ball joint.

 

[WSutt]

My issue went away,the only thing I did was grease the front drive shaft,not sure if that was what I was feeling though

 

[Uncle Dim]

Update

Got the front up in the air to inspect some more. Initially the wheel did not want to turn off of center. Once they came free there were no visible issues. Took it out for a drive and it feels the same. I wondered if the differential might be low. It is. Will fill it later and see if that is my issue. Would low fluid cause the limited slip to stop slipping?

 

[Uncle Dim]

Solution?

Added diff. fluid and it went away.

 

[rjones]

Added diff. fluid and it went away.

sorry I was too slow that is exactly what I had to do... ... same symptoms add fluid it went away..... good diagnoses

 

[rscurtis]

Did you add oil to the front or rear differential? AFAIK, the front is N/A with limited slip, so that wouldn't have been the problem. IMO, you're going to be doing axle U-joints soon.

 

[RonD]

Mine did the same thing at 64,000 miles, I found the axle u-joints bad, ball joints bad, track bar bussings bad, steering box bad, and one tie rod end bad, I ended up installing the upgraded steering parts, new everything else, plus a Defiant Steering Stabilizer, it now steers better than it did new, thousands of $ later, I am not a big fan of Dodge 4x4 front ends.

 

[Southbound]

Yeah I am with RonD... ... not a fan of the Dodge front-end!!! I had the same issues and had to replace the whole freakin front-end. In addition I am on my third gear box with a little over 110k miles on the truck!!! Love the truck and would get another one but having to deal with front-end issues... . on every truck! Note: I have ran with stock tires on every truck!! The last upgrade was with a 2010 front-end which is twice the size as what was on my 06 originally. Heres hoping this one will last!!!

My . 02
Southbound

 

[WSutt]

Update

while doing an oil change yesterday,checking things over it is apparent that both axle joints are spent. Truck just turned 70,000 miles,I'm researching the work ahead of me.

 

[Uncle Dim]

Update

Found the same thing. Drivers side U Joint was toast. The passenger wasn't too bad. I ended up doing both U Joints along with the upper and lower ball joints since the upper had a little play in them. The job was no too bad. I used the power steering trick to remove the hub from the knuckle. I only lost two extensions doing this. The other item I wished I had was a U Joint press. The ball joint press didn't seem to have the right sizes of adapter to get the U joints apart and back together.