Sleigher

Hi All,
when I turn my steering wheel I get all kinds of clunking and popping sounds from behind the air bag.
There is a difference depending on how warm it is outside. Definitely more when it is hotter.
Sounds like plastic binding and relieving but I can't pinpoint where it is coming from or what is causing it.
Anybody have this happen and what did you do to fix it. Been going on for quite a while.

Thanks in Advance!

P

hamilton71801

Did you lose your cruise, horn or airbag light come on? Could be your clock spring...there is a recall. Also check your intermediate shaft for play.


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leeboy

I have had a "popping/clunking" noise as well. Goes away in the winter and comes on strong in the summer. Replaced alot of stuff, but it turned out to be the actual steering box. Turning the wheel side to side with the truck off and the steering unlocked, we could see the big splined shaft that the pitman arm attaches to, has some slop in it inside the steering box. We could even here it clunking as we turned the wheel back and fourth. Funny how the noise and feeling worked its way into the steering wheel.

infidel

'94&'95 had a problem with junk getting trapped between the cover and steering wheel that might be the problem.
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/642.htm

Sleigher

Thanks for the replies.
I don't think it is from the steer box. The steering is tight. The noise all comes from in the cab and is a plastic popping type of sound.
I took all of the plastic shrouding, that surrounds the ignition and turn indicator, off but the noise was still there.
Seems like it is coming from inside the turn cancelling box (or whatever it is called). I couldn't take that off because it has the tamper proof torx screws holding it together.
I need to get the right bit and go at it again.

Thanks again.
P

Diesel Dave2

I put one of these in my truck...got rid of my clunks...Plus the steering doesn't give "kick back" when going over a speed bump..

http://www.rocksolidramtrucksteering.com/

leeboy

mine feels like a loose steering wheel when im driving...But its a little slop in the steering box. I know its weird that i feel it in the steering wheel.

Sleigher

I replaced the clock spring. Wasted $230. there wasn't anything wrong with the original in the truck but at least now I know how to do the job.
I bought the "Rock Solid Ram Steering Kit".
Showed up after about a week and I installed it last night.
Took less than an hour and I would definitely recommend doing the job with the column in the truck.
It appears to have taken care of the problem. No knocking or clunking.
The steering is a little stiff. I pushed the busing all the way into the housing which they said is okay but I may have had less stiffness if I had not gone so far.
Hopefully it will loosen a little when it wears some.
One tip that I would offer is to get a piece of aluminum or steel pipe to tap the bushing in place. The pvc that they provide doesn't work real well. I had some aluminum pipe handy and it seated the bushing much quicker that the pvc would have.
So, done deal.
Thanks for the help.

SIXSLUG

Mine was a loose axle bushing in my trac bar.