I replaced ALL tie rods (Moog), steering linkage (Moog), steering stablizer (Monroe) and track arm (Dodge) on my 2001 2500 about 3-4 months ago and I'm now getting a lot of clunking and popping while making turns.

I also have a 2.5" lifted springs on the front.....Do I need to consider a new Pitman Arm? I have been looking and most of them are for 4" lifts and greater.

Hmmmmmmmmm

 

Things kinda have a way of working loose sometimes. Check tightness on everything, especially bottom shock bolts (check for play between the pinch flange and the shock dougnut sleeve - tighten the bejiminies out oif it until their tight), track bar to housing bolt is always a good place to check.

Are your front hub bearings OK? What about ball joints? When the (Dodge) track craps out get yourself a Moog "lifetime" replaceable one, unless you are going with an adjustable unit from one of the after market outfits. Good Luck and have fun. . .

 

Yeah.....forgot, new ball joints 5 months ago and yes, my bearings appear to be just fine. I have had them checked by 2 separate shops.

Being I have a 2"-3" lift on the front (springs instead of spacers), has anyone tried putting the connection of the push rod on the Pitman arm on the bottom rather than the top to relieve some of the angle?

 

tighten the track bar castle nut and the bolt at the front axle again. mine made a pop sound if you turned the wheel from left to right after I changed the track bar. I re-torqued it after a few miles and it took another 1/2 turn to get tight again. I think the threaded shaft has a tapper so if there is a little sand in there it causes trouble?

 

I guess that might help? I know there's an aftermarket 2-3" drop pitman arm for lifted trucks that will do the relief. Try 4X4 Warehouse or the like.

 

Hey JV -
Completely off the subject ... Noticed your from Scott Valley.
Is that the same Scott Valley that's south-west of Yreka on hwy 3 ?

If so, than howdy neighbor, I'm just over the 'hill' in Shasta.

If not, then forget I posted this

 

Mark,

Sorry...I'm from the Scotts Valley near Santa Cruz on the Monterey Bay. Still in California....Hey Neighbor!

 

Also check the sector shaft in the steering box.

And take at look at the steering shaft.


www.borgeson.com/TruckProductDodge.htm.

................Jim

 

Experiment in progress - I removed the drag link from the pitman arm and modified the hole on the under side of the pitman arm where the drag link mounts. I drilled with a counter sink cutter and mounted the drag link on the under side of the pitman arm.

This put more of a direct push/pull angle on the drag link and appears to have a much smoother and direct steering angle. AND....no more clunking.

Now (the experiment part), I need to monitor very closely to make sure the drag link tie rod stays tight. I'll keep you posted.

So far it really helped out the smothness of the steering and eliminated the clunking (binding tie rod ball joints). Note: I did find a few loose bolts/nuts on the control arms and shocks.

Thanks for everyone's input...........

 

Sounds like your gonna put more leverage on the sector shaft with that modification. Could be binding it now and not allowing it to clunk, but instead it might be accelerating the wear.

Be careful, like you said........experiment in progress

................Jim