88 Dakota Steering problem
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
88 Dakota Steering problem
Hello, I still have the dodge Dakota I bought in 1988.... Still Running great... except... the other day I noticed more front end noise that usual. I jacked it up and there is great amount of play (left right up down) inside the rack and pinion boot. I guess there is an inner tie rod inside the boot connecting the tire rod to the rack. That's where the noise is coming from. Can the inner tie rod be repaired or do I need a whole steering rack and pinion gear? Problem is this is a manual steering gear and all the junk yards only have power units.
Would like to keep the manual original aspect as a reminder of how little money I could spend on a truck in 1988. Any ideas about repair or where to get a replacement? And is it dangerous to drive with this play in the inner tie rod (think I know the answer to that last one)?
Thanks
Dan
Would like to keep the manual original aspect as a reminder of how little money I could spend on a truck in 1988. Any ideas about repair or where to get a replacement? And is it dangerous to drive with this play in the inner tie rod (think I know the answer to that last one)?
Thanks
Dan
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,923
Likes: 19
From: NM
If all it is just tie rod ends you can buy replacements from most autoparts stores. I would suggest replacing ball joints and tie rod ends. www.rockauto.com is a good place for good prices.
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Dakota manual steering problem
Ok, I'm the guy with the original 88 Dakota, with the steering clunk.
Junk yards around here do not have a replacement manual rack and pinion, so plan 2:
Today I took the boot off and the inter tie rod looks pretty good. The knock is coming from the shaft on the out end of the rack which seems to have had a bushing to guide it through the rack and pinon housing. All that's left is some crumbling red plastic pieces. I'm assuming that the end of the rack and pinion housing had a bushing for the shaft and acted as a grease seal. made of nylon or hard plastic. I believe this rack was filled with grease, rather than oil, so the seal on the out put shaft is a little forgiving, doesn't have to be high pressure...
I'm a professional machinist and can turn a piece of nylon or derlin to make a bushing, as it seems there is not a aftermarket replacement part. It looks like it was a press fit into the housing, and I could do a light press fit as it only seems to be about 1/2in thick.
At first thought, I don't see how this would hurt anything. My bushing will be better than the original, will keep the grease in the rack, and prevent the side to side movement.
Any thoughts on making my own bushing regarding safety? I can't seem to see how making my own replacement part is a bad thing....Leaving it alone and I think the rack output shaft hitting the housing is gonna be bad...
Dan
Junk yards around here do not have a replacement manual rack and pinion, so plan 2:
Today I took the boot off and the inter tie rod looks pretty good. The knock is coming from the shaft on the out end of the rack which seems to have had a bushing to guide it through the rack and pinon housing. All that's left is some crumbling red plastic pieces. I'm assuming that the end of the rack and pinion housing had a bushing for the shaft and acted as a grease seal. made of nylon or hard plastic. I believe this rack was filled with grease, rather than oil, so the seal on the out put shaft is a little forgiving, doesn't have to be high pressure...
I'm a professional machinist and can turn a piece of nylon or derlin to make a bushing, as it seems there is not a aftermarket replacement part. It looks like it was a press fit into the housing, and I could do a light press fit as it only seems to be about 1/2in thick.
At first thought, I don't see how this would hurt anything. My bushing will be better than the original, will keep the grease in the rack, and prevent the side to side movement.
Any thoughts on making my own bushing regarding safety? I can't seem to see how making my own replacement part is a bad thing....Leaving it alone and I think the rack output shaft hitting the housing is gonna be bad...
Dan