2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission High miles '96 turbodiesel

[Lightfoot]

I just bought a very high miles truck, healthy engine and trans, extremely clean, but am getting some persistant clicks and clunks transmitting through the steering column into the steering wheel. When I pull up to a stop sign the steering column clunks as though it has a loose bearing or u-joint but it is solid in the dash area. The steering column u-jount offsets feel ok, the steering box is bolted tight. Has anyone heard of the cab mount rubber dampers ever getting soft, letting the cab move a little during braking extremes, possibly causing this?

 

[HoleshotHolset]

RTopalian: Welcome to the TDR!



What kind of miles are on this truck? 2x4 or 4x4 (not that it makes a huge difference... )



My '98 does the same thing and only has 160k miles on the clock.

My '94 probably does it, but I can't hear it over the engine/exhaust (it just turned 210k miles).



I never really worried about it. The steering is so loosey-goosey on the trucks to begin with...



Matt

 

[EBottema]

Prob a worn out steering shaft. Check out a Boregeson steering shaft/..... How many miles on the truck?

 

[MHalloran]

Hey RT, on my 96 when I had about 170,000 miles on her, I also had a front end clunk when I came to a stop sign. Hard to tell exactly where it was coming from. After a few frustrating weeks of this and "enuf is enuf", I jacked it up & checked the whole front end. Turned out being a bad lower driver-side ball jont. Use a pry bar to check for side-to-side play in the joint. If its good there will be none. Mine had about 3/4" play . Had it replaced and-- no clunk . While you're underneath, check your axle U-joints for wear. They don't clunk when worn, they kinda go click click at slow speeds. Mine were shot at about 150,000 miles. Good luck!!

 

[MHalloran]

Oh yeah , is she a 4X4? No U-joints if its a 2-wheeler.

 

[Lightfoot]

Thanks you guys for the help. The truck is a 4x4 with a sloppy differential, 218. 000 mi but if I drive it easy it feels like a new truck. I will check the ball joints, u-joints and steering column for the source of the click, clunk. Its' going in for a true trac. or a positraction rear diff. in a few days so some of the noise will go away. Then maybe I can find out whats going on up front.



1996 25004x4,354gears,rebuiltautotrans,pac. brake

 

[JWaters]

miles

218,000 is not alot of miles, I thought you said "high mileage" you just got broken in.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

RTopalian, my truck has a clunk in the steering but the bearing is going south on the steering column in the cab. Mine had 351,000 when I picked it up last summer. When you said "really high miles" I was thinking something like 500,000 to 1,000,000 (one member on here has over a million on his truck).



Vaughn