i seem to be getting a clunck from either the steering box, or the u joint in the steering shaft that joins to the steering box. i had a friend move the steering wheel back and forth, hard like, to make the noise, and i can hear it, no visual movement in the steering parts, just replace track arm bushing on the drivers side, and yes every thing is tight.i can put my finger on the pitman arm, and feel the clunk, but can't quit figure it out. it sounds like it is coming from the steering box, maybe even inside it.
are these steering boxes no good, or known for problems like i am explaining?
i have about 257,000kms on this truck.not sure if this is the same problem or not, but some times when braking hard, or pulling into a drive way, i get a clunk in the steering wheel, fells like the steering colunm moving inside the truck.
anybody know what this might be, are they the same problem, bad steering box, or bad steering shaft????
are these steering boxes, big, bucks???is there an aftermarket box thats better to get?????
any input would be great, as i drive this truck every day, and this noise just started 2 days ago, and it seems to be getting worse every day.

 

well it looks like the box is shot, and getting worse by the day, was wondering if anyone on here had this problem beofre, and how long do i have before it totally goes out, and i lose my steering?????
i would like to get an aftermarket steering box, one that is built better and stronger for the weight of the front end, anyone know of one out there, or a part number????thanks

 

I have had this same clunk on my truck for over 30k miles. I have narrowed it down to the power sterring box area as well. I thought that maybe it was a ball joint which I plan on replacing with a over under stearing utilizing Hiem joints, so I have not replaced the steering box as of yet. I was kind of waiting to see if the steering linkage would help the problem.

I know of no after market steering boxes that are direct bolt up. Please let us know after you do replace the box.

 

i am replacing the box, asap, as i don't want to be driving down the road and lose the steering at60mph, not a good thing, i might just order up the factory box, but it gets worse every day, and it just started 3 days ago.

 

so i ordered the factory steering box today, should be here Monday.
talked to the techs down at AGV steering, and basically they told me that this was a dangerous situation that i am in. i guess these boxes are problems, and by the noises it is making he told me that some thign inside the box, sector shaft, or what ever, could be broken. he said it's a mtter of time before it lets go, and either jams up, or no steering at at.depends on what is really wrong inside the box. they don't make a box as of yet , but looking into it. i guess i am not the first person to call them.
Dodge went from the good old saganaw boxes to some type of Ford box, which has been problems more so from the older ones.i was hoping for a better box, something heavy duty like the rest of the truck, but looks like i will have to get another throw away box until some thing better comes along.

 

I see you are running 315 tires. Bigger tires DO cause quicker wear on front end parts, brake rotors, ball joints.... Hopefully you can get this resolved before it becomes an issue.

 

Mother Mopar dropped the ball and went super cheap on the third gen steering boxes. They specs ATF4 (great fluid) for a very basic design recurc. steering box that also has to supply brake boost. The best thing you can do is change the fluid pronto to get the wear metal out. All the third gen steering boxes leak or should I say weep fluid. It is really a cheap pump for a 40K truck. Guys running bigger skins should flush the system soon and hope for the best before out of coverage.

 

bigger tires will kill it yes, but my chevys all had 6" lifts, and 35"tires or bigger, and no problems with the steering boxes.
i know for sure since my track bar bushing went, with pretty much no warning, it took out the steering box with the added side load on the sector shaft.funny thing is mine never leaked at all, and still don't just makes lots of noise now on every turn.