New dakota
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New dakota
So i picked up a 87 dakota 4x4 v6 last night. It runs good however the steering wheel has ALOT of play. I looked at it today and it is in the steering shaft where the slip joint is. Now ive looked online and am unable to find a replacement shaft. What is the fix for this? Thanks.
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From: AZ and Utah
it is a slip joint for a reason, it needs to slip.
remove it and weld onto it, then grind the welded parts to original dimensions. Or take the parts to a fab shop, they will make it good as new.
remove it and weld onto it, then grind the welded parts to original dimensions. Or take the parts to a fab shop, they will make it good as new.
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Why does it need to slip tho? It doesn't move with suspension.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: AZ and Utah
yes, it does....
the shaft is attached to the rack and pinion which is attached to the frame crossmember, and the steering shaft is fixed in place under the dash, a body part.
There is movement between between the frame and body, not a lot, but definitely some, and you can see it by getting up close to it while someone else applies a lot of weight to the body and bounces it up and down.
There is also some issues with universal joints in steering shafts if there isn't some slip allowed. Frame and body cushions/bushings also allow some movement.
If you take out the slip, you are inviting a locked up steering mechanism, a scary thing when you go to turn and it jams on you.
You would also feel a lot of road vibration at the steering wheel without the slip joint.
Cars without Rack/Pinion steering will have a "rag joint" that allows slip and mutes vibrations from the road. A rag joint looks like a chunk cut out of a tire, part rubber, part cloth....
the shaft is attached to the rack and pinion which is attached to the frame crossmember, and the steering shaft is fixed in place under the dash, a body part.
There is movement between between the frame and body, not a lot, but definitely some, and you can see it by getting up close to it while someone else applies a lot of weight to the body and bounces it up and down.
There is also some issues with universal joints in steering shafts if there isn't some slip allowed. Frame and body cushions/bushings also allow some movement.
If you take out the slip, you are inviting a locked up steering mechanism, a scary thing when you go to turn and it jams on you.
You would also feel a lot of road vibration at the steering wheel without the slip joint.
Cars without Rack/Pinion steering will have a "rag joint" that allows slip and mutes vibrations from the road. A rag joint looks like a chunk cut out of a tire, part rubber, part cloth....
Last edited by bill55az; Oct 28, 2013 at 10:10 AM.
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
yes, it does....
the shaft is attached to the rack and pinion which is attached to the frame crossmember, and the steering shaft is fixed in place under the dash, a body part.
There is movement between between the frame and body, not a lot, but definitely some, and you can see it by getting up close to it while someone else applies a lot of weight to the body and bounces it up and down.
There is also some issues with universal joints in steering shafts if there isn't some slip allowed. Frame and body cushions/bushings also allow some movement.
If you take out the slip, you are inviting a locked up steering mechanism, a scary thing when you go to turn and it jams on you.
You would also feel a lot of road vibration at the steering wheel without the slip joint.
Cars without Rack/Pinion steering will have a "rag joint" that allows slip and mutes vibrations from the road. A rag joint looks like a chunk cut out of a tire, part rubber, part cloth....
the shaft is attached to the rack and pinion which is attached to the frame crossmember, and the steering shaft is fixed in place under the dash, a body part.
There is movement between between the frame and body, not a lot, but definitely some, and you can see it by getting up close to it while someone else applies a lot of weight to the body and bounces it up and down.
There is also some issues with universal joints in steering shafts if there isn't some slip allowed. Frame and body cushions/bushings also allow some movement.
If you take out the slip, you are inviting a locked up steering mechanism, a scary thing when you go to turn and it jams on you.
You would also feel a lot of road vibration at the steering wheel without the slip joint.
Cars without Rack/Pinion steering will have a "rag joint" that allows slip and mutes vibrations from the road. A rag joint looks like a chunk cut out of a tire, part rubber, part cloth....