2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Popping in steering column

[AGROM]

Has anyone experienced any popping/rattle coming from the steering column? I've searched under the dash with out luck. Have read some of the messages concerning noise under the dash, but haven't found where the noise is originating from.

 

[duaneparks]

Could be a couple of things:



Clock Spring, for which there is a recall



and/or



Intermediate steering shaft



Every single Ram I've had needed the Intermediate Steering Shaft replaced at least once. My current Ram had the clock spring break in it 2 days after I bought it.



Hope this helps.



Duane

 

[duaneparks]

Could be a couple of things:



Clock Spring, for which there is a recall



and/or



Intermediate steering shaft



Every single Ram I've had needed the Intermediate Steering Shaft replaced at least once. My current Ram had the clock spring break in it 2 days after I bought it.



Hope this helps.



Duane



On edit, I didn't realize I posted this twice, sorry!

 

[damon]

my truck just started making this popping noise in the steering column within the last month or so. Is this recall for my '02 or older models ?

 

[duaneparks]

Damon, check out this link:



http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2001/08-010-01.htm



Hope this helps.



Duane

 

[willyslover]

tell tail is check engine and air bag lights... also you loose cruise control use if the clock spring is gone

 

[mberry]

Mine started doing this a couple of weeks ago. I read the TSB referenced above but don't understand what the maintenance procedure or fix is for it. My steering column feels loose and I can move it with just my fingers on the steering wheel.

 

[duaneparks]

Originally posted by mberry

Mine started doing this a couple of weeks ago. I read the TSB referenced above but don't understand what the maintenance procedure or fix is for it. My steering column feels loose and I can move it with just my fingers on the steering wheel.

MBerry, yours doesn't sound like a clockspring problem. When mine broke, I couldn't tell any difference in steering effort.



The fix is to replace the clockspring, at least according to the dealer that fixed mine. I re-read the TSB on that link and it is vague.



Your issue may be further down in the steering system... wish I could help more, the only problems I've had any experience with were clockspring and the thunking noise which is intermediate shaft related. No steering effort change though in either of these scenarios.



In re-reading your post, have you checked the nut that holds the steering wheel onto the hub? I've had those loosen up before... usually due to beating on the steering wheel out of frustration with other drivers, or to good music!



HTH, Duane

 

[mberry]

Thanks Duane. There is no steering effort change. Just feels like the column is loose and I haven't had time to troubleshoot it yet. Thanks again for the info!

 

[SMorneau]

i found my noise

This drove me nuts for years. Finally I, after many aftermarket steering shaft parts, yanked the column out and found the culprit. It was in the base of the column assembly where the shaft exits the assembly. The problem was the bearing that supports the shaft is a cheesy POS plastic deal that was broken. It is a tapered setup that is supposed to stay preloaded by the spring that you can see in the engine bay at the end of the column. I threw the POS assembly away and replaced it with a homemade bearing block fashioned from a piece of brown delrin.



I drilled a hole to fit the shaft, rough sized the outside with a belt sander and drove in into the metal housing with a hammer and locked it with a sheetmetal screw. It has been clunk free ever since.



As a side note, I had two borgeson shafts in the truck and I thought they were bad. They were not bad. they did make the clunking worse because the sliding joint was so tight it would easily aggravate the busted bearing retainer.





Let me know if this fixes anyones problem. The plastic thing is so lame I can't believe it only broke for me.

 

[DBazley]

Now we're getting somewhere with a fix - thanks HEMI for locating this post - I'd seen it quoted but now in it's original thread.



I'll try to snap key pics & do a step by step when I perform the fix... thanks to you & SMorneau, we can lick this nasty issue... .



David B