Just go out and grab the steering column right where it comes out the firewall, under the brake booster and see if there is any play. I find it hard to believe the gear box is going to cause a clunk.
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hey, i replaced the gear box and the clunky feeling, noise has decreaed to about 60% so it definatly helped. before when i grabbed the steering shaft it was loose down where it goes into the gear. im also thinking about getting the ramfix steering shaft thing. but as for the gear..yes i can see a difference..it also made the sloppy feeling dissapear.
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black 2001 ram 1500 sport. thrush glasspack,painted black sidesteps, black windows,black headlights. cb installed,whips. black truck club member #084
The new box will make the sloppy feel go away for sure(left to right steering). As far as the clunk goes, If it's loose where the column comes out of the firewall, it's going to still clunk or pop.
Mine has the same clunking and sloppy feel. The shaft that connects the steering box to the pitman arms has play in it, not sure if it is a bushing or bearing that is supposed to be there but I can see it move side to side at least a 1/4" when turning. Haven't figured out the clunking but every 2gen ram I have driven seems to have it. I saw some aftermarket steering box braces and steering shafts advertised in a magazine wonder if they fix this issue.
Vehicle: 96 ram ext cab 4x4 that followed me home and drained my bank account
Location: North Tonawanda NY,
Posts: 570
There's a huge thread on another dodge forum about this....and there's a guy who sells a bushing to go into the steering sharft at the bottom above the spring where the factory setup has a weakness and wears. looked like a bitch to install though.. the clunk is common to our rams steering setup...
It's a bitch to install with the column still in the truck, I took mine out to do it (1/2 hour to remove). If you get the replacement bushing from Rock Solid it comes with directions for doing it both ways.
