Steering Column Clunking Found!!

[BCFAST]

What an incredible group you people are!!! Why would anyone NOT want to spend the $35??? Anyway, I removed my steering shaft ( from the firewall to the box) and it was frozen up pretty good. I pulled back the rubber boot that covers the telescoping joint, and sprayed some penetrating grease down the cracks. Got it loose, cleaned it out pretty good with brake cleaner (lots of nasty-looking crap came out) then regreased with the spray, then fingered globs of grease into the joint working the two parts together. After re-installing, I drove the truck about 100ft, and although it was quite a bit better, there was still that awful 'clunk' comming thru the steering wheel. With the drivers door open, I stood next to the truck and put my head on the drivers floor to look up at the shaft under the dash... . I grabbed and shook it, and what do I see??? Daylight comming in around the column!! There is a hard-plastic 'carrier bearing' where the shaft goes thru the firewall, just above the end of the carpet, with factory grease oozing out from around it, and that's where it's loose: there's slop between the plastic ring and the shaft. Any of you brilliant engineers know a good way to take up this slack? You guys are great!

 

[OILBRNR]

Did you look at the TSBs?

Isn't this it?



http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/tsb/1997/19_13_97.htm



Maybe I should have provided this link in the first place on your prior post but it is a known issue on any 12/31/96 or prior build Ram.

 

[JYoung]

Steering Column Clunkology

Hey BCFAST, I have the exact clunking noise in my 97. EMDDIESEL is I think who brought it to my attention. Saving that for a long knuckel busting Sunday. Good luck.



Thanks OILBRNR for the TSB to fix it myself.