Need help with squeek!

[Millfly]

Need some help with this one guys. 4 Months after I bought the 2001 3500 dually it developed a squeek in the instrument panel. After four months of trying everything, I made them change the steering column and that got rid of the squeek. It would take about 30 minutes of driving for the squeek to begin and then it would squeek constantly. Well, the new steering column stayed quiet for about 9 months and now the same squeek is back. I asked if there were any "Service Bulletins" on the steering column noise and they said no. I hate to have them ripping out the steering again as I have so much aftermarket wiring there that they refused to work on it last time. I finally had to take tape, number all the connections, and give them a set of instructions. Also, I don't want to pay for a new steering column every 9 months after the warranty runs out. Sure wish a squirt of grease somewhere would fix it. We tried it before and greased everything but the squeek remained. Help!

 

[Sky]

I get it too it seems to come and go.

 

[rod77zilla]

some body out there help! I have this problem too, but i finally took mine off road enough that it seems to have gone away... . for now atleast... I read somewhere about a cracked cowl being the problem and it just sounds like its under the dash... I've even seen pictures of the fix... i think it was in. . ahh here it is: the register. . p 41 of aug/sept/oct 2001... but it is a first generation ram fix... . anybody heard of a similar problem with 2nd gens? If the steering column fixed yours the first time, then it must be there... . all I can say is ride as many dirt roads as you can and follow some jeep trails... that's what I did and I haven't heard my squeak in months

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I had a similar squeek... ... ... AAAAAAAAAAAArrrrggggggggggggghhhhh!!!! Needless to say it drove me crazy. I went to the dealer and they said they couldnt hear it. With further investigation I (me not the dealer) found a bushing that holds the shift mechanism to the chassis. This is a pivot point for the lincage. It is on the drivers side of the trans. It seems to be bad engineering, I have replaced it once and it has returned again. It sounds like it is under the dash and it is loud. I need to go back to DC and see if they will just give me about 50 of these bushings I can replace it in about 20 minutes... ... ... I am looking for a hiem joint that I can replace the part with. When I find one I wll post it. Hope this will help... ... ... ... ... ... .

 

[Alan Reagan]

Another common cause of the squeak in the dash is the u-joints at the top of the steering shaft just outside the firewall. I had it on my 98 and cured it by accident one day when changing the fuel filter. I spilled fuel all over the joint and the squeak disappeared. After that, I lubed the joints with WD 40 at ever service interval and the sqeak never came back. I would go down the road pushing on the dash, steering wheel and shifter and the squeak sounded just like it was coming out of the instrument panel or AC duct.

 

[Sky]

Alan is right, I elminated "another" squeek this way because he mentioned this to me along time ago.

 

[Mick2500]

Alan,

Did yours squeak more in right hand turns? Mine seems to squeak any time I am turning slightly. It has been getting progressively worse (6,200 miles now) since about 1,000 miles. I do have a slight bit of play in the suspect u-joint but refuse to take it back to the dealer for something this minor.



Guess I'll get the WD-40 out of the cabinet

Thanks for the tip.



Mick

 

[Alan Reagan]

As a matter of fact Mick, it did. But only on long curves. Not when turning into a driveway but on the road. WD 40 took care of mine. I was ready to tear out the dash because of the aggrevating sound.

 

[Millfly]

Once my squeek begins, which is about 20 minuntes after starting, it is continuous no matter which way you are going.

 

[Mick2500]

Thanks Alan,

That sounds EXACTLY like mine. If it's a gradual turn WITH bumps, it's really noticable. There must be some way to put a 'constant lube' modification on this u-joint. I may even go as far as finding a precision u-joint to replace the factory u-joint.



Mick

 

[Sky]

Mick, Yup thats the squeek when your turning. Like when your on an exit ramp turning and hitting bumps. I also oiled the sterring shaft under the hood at the joint, the squeek has been gone for about 3 months now.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Mick, You could by one of the Borgeson shafts for about $400. I'd wait till I ran out of WD40 and the shaft was wore out first. I'd like to have the Borgeson unit but it's a little pricey.

 

[Rd.Runnr]

Squeak

My truck developed a horrible squeak early on. Took it to dealer-they said it was little red light installed in dash to let 'em know that alarm is on!

Noise went away for a while--came back big time! I read about the mis-matched panel behind dash. Took truck back to dealer. They removed dash completely & found no problem -but noise did not go away. After 3 days they found my noise. Seema as tho my hood switch button for the alarm had rubbed the paint off where it came into contact with the underside of hood & body flex would let switch move around on the bare metal.

 

[Happy Camper]

Mine SQUEEEKS also. Left hand turns are louder than right hand. Silicone spray takes care of it at both ends of the intermediate steering shaft.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Replacing shaft is only temp. fix

I had the "squeak" too. Dealer replaced the shaft. I think it might have been gone for 5K or so, just to return. I hosed the joint good with some silicon lube. So far it is quite. Maybe I will get one last shaft before the 3/36 is up. It seems DC would redsign these instead of just throwing the same old shafts on.



Shelby

 

[FDziurda]

Squeak

I have had the "Squeak" for 6 months, but only when turning while on a rough surface.



Gave the steering u-joint, under the hood near the firewall, a big shot of CRC 5-56 earlier today and no more squeak. CRC 5-56 is not paraffin based, like WD-40, so will see how long it lasts.



May everyone's squeaks be found!



Frank