joelayan

Hey,

Couldn't find much on this subject so I thought I would try and see if I'm on the right track. My truck's steering wheel only centers in certain conditions. I bought a Rocksolidramsteering bushing, installed it. I replaced my track bar, I replaced tie rod ends with the 98/99HD inverted-T style, had it aligned and steering wheel centered. It drives nicer, but I still have a steering wheel that likes to tilt right, with play and wander. There's still a clunk that the bushing would normally fix on other people's trucks... but not mine.

If I grab the steering shaft near the firewall, my column flops around. This isn't the intermediate shaft, it's on the firewall side. On the auto trucks there is part of the column that has the shaft inside of it, then there is the toe plate. Mine doesn't flop around at the shaft itself, but its the column part that moves with the shifter. It flops around in the toe plate.

I checked this on my fathers 97 4x2 1500 and it does the same flopping thing. His truck wanders too, although I don't recall if the steering wheel tilts like mine.

Any ideas? I've seen this: http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1997/19-13-97.htm

And I even tried to order the toe plate part to fix this, but the part is discontinued and not stocked anywhere that I can find. I hate to go buy another column and then have to buy another rocksolidrambushing.... I do want my steering to stop wandering, I've had some pretty scary winds hit me and cause the truck to veer around and then I have to correct by overcorrecting since there is so much play.

Thanks!

Joel

joelayan

I know this one is a stumper, but anyone with an Automatic with great steering wanna go give that steering column/shaft thing a shake at least and tell me if I'm going off on the wrong road?

Thanks!

Joel

D2 Cat

I've seen a thread on a part(bushing, probably) that's suppose to fix that. Might have to keep re-wording your search. Search through Google to, you might find it on another site.

I had a similar problem several years ago on a CJ-5 Jeep. Dealer wanted about $90 for the part, didn't have it, and would take a few days to get it. I went home and got into a bucket of PVC pipe fittings. I found something close, put it in my lathe and turned it down to what i needed. It works for several years, and was still in it when I sold it. I've done the same thing in a 730 Case tractor.

joelayan

Yeah, the bushing you are referring to is the rocksolidramsteering bushing in which I already have installed.

I have exhausted this search on google, but I have run out of anything new that I've not already hit a dead end on.

Thanks though,

Joel

D2 Cat

Joel, I just saw what I think you're needing at a salvage yard in Ark. I didn't copy it here 'cause I don't think we're suppose to compete with sponsors.

But type in "redlinear" and look for an '01 steering shaft/housing. I've bought things from him several times and he's quick and fair.