My 1990 has served me well and it doesn't owe me anything, but I also just got a 1997 2500 4x4 auto.

The steering feels a lot different than what Im used to on my 1st gen, and I don't really have a good sense of what it "should" feel like since I just got it.

There is no play, it feels tight, no knocks or rattles, and the steering is smooth through any turns.
Its hard to describe, but it feels almost as though there is a "notch" in the straight ahead position that I have to overcome to start a turn.
When I first start turning the wheel, I feel it at about 11 o'clock or 1 o'clock position as I just move out of the 12 o'clock position.
When trying to keep the truck straight on the highway, my hand sort of goes back and forth within this notch.
I noticed that these have a u-joint shaft between the steering wheel and steering gear box, makes me think it is binding a bit.

Is this a common problem? what else should I be looking at?

 

Mine is silky smooth, as a matter of fact, between about 11:30 and 12:30 mine doesn't move the box at all ( has some slop, not enough to change yet ), I would have someone turn the wheel while you watch the Ujoint/Shaft.

I have seen the same thing on Jeeps, and those acted exactly as you describe, replacing the joint fixed the problem.

 

Ok I jacked it up and found some play when I grab the steering shaft u joint at the gearbox....I cant tell if its the u-joint or play in the box itself.
I found out there is a TSB on these steering gears where the bearing needs to be adjusted. I'll try that first.

Is there any fix for the u-joint on the steering intermediate shaft?

 

Borgeson is the only one I am aware of, the Jeeps go out enough there are companies producing them same as OEM.

On edit, looks like it might be more of a problem than I thought, Dorman makes a replacement shaft, and they don't unless there is a goodly demand.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/dorman-oe-r...50370y1997g2j1

 

Well I figured it out...it was actually the driver's side wheel bearing.
What I was feeling was the tire pivoting whenever I changed direction of the steering wheel.
...and found out the hard way that 2nd gens use an EXPENSIVE hub/bearing unit instead of the replaceable bearing & race in the 1st gens. OUCH.

 

The unit bearings are expensive and a pita to change unfortunatley. I got Timkens last time and they've held up over 130k so far, snow plowing every season. You can definetly get them for cheap (relativley) if you don't have 4 wheel ABS but don't cheap out on them, a friend of mine thought the cheapest stuff he could find would last over 3 months...

 

Yes there were some cheap no-name china ones available for about $100...I went with MOOG brand for $175, hoping the extra $75 will keep me from having to it again for a long time.