Junkyard successfully pulled the steering shaft out of their junker this morning, got it boxed up and will ship today.

Crossroads Towing and Salvage. (208) 467-7278. They have that 1993 Dakota (looks like a 4-cyl) that hasn't been picked clean if anyone needs parts. Bumpers and some panels in bad shape. Ask for Devin or Tony. Exceptionally nice guys who do what they say.

 

Ha! Got a call back from a junkyard I called last week. It appears they also have the steering shaft I'm looking for, or so they say. I checked the VIN and it has all the requirements so they said they'll ship it next week. Don't need it cuz I have another one on its way but I am subscribing to, "Nothing is until it is". If it turns out I don't need it, I'll put it on EBay and upcharge it for all the time I spent hunting down the dang thing. Anyone looking for this part will be happy to pay it once he finds out how hard it is to find.

I asked them about the OBD1 because it is also a 5.2L like mine and I'd be interested in acquiring a backup. She's gonna check but she said those computers are always the first thing to go on those Dodges. Ask me if I'm surprised.

 

I have a 1992 Dakota, 3.9 RWD and have been re rereading this thread with intensity. My steering is very sloppy and I am trying to comprehend how to remove the steering shaft. Mine is identical to the unit depicted in this thread.
Looking at the steering shaft, I removed the bolt midway on the shaft which has the clamp around the bolt. With the bolt removed, should the shaft slide down, towards the lower splined ujoint assembly? Thank you.

 

There are a few exceptions depending on years but the splined connector should slide up away from the steering rack to disconnect it. It's been many yers since I've done the rack on a Dakota so my memory is fuzzy, like my face.

 

There is no part# for the steering shaft. The steering shaft is made of two parts. The upper coupler and the lower coupler. They are joined together at that midway bolt. Each end of the shaft is secured with a roll pin. One to the pinion gear on the rack, the other to the steering column near the firewall. I was not there to witness it being taken off but my mechanic detached the lower coupler from the upper coupler. I could not tell you exactly how he did it. I also cannot tell you how easy (or hard) it was to take apart. With all that corrosion I have to believe it wasn't simple. What 'ol grouch said is exactly right in theory. You disconnect that lower coupler from the pinion gear and then slide the shaft up (after loosening that mid bolt). But in reality, I see no way to pop that roll pin out of that lower coupler while on the truck due to tight quarters. There's probably a better chance at getting after the roll pin on the upper coupler. Then you pull the entire rack with the entire steering shaft still attached. Ask a seasoned mechanic how he would get those roll pins out. Hammering on them is not a good option. Maybe they can be pressed out? Soak them in PB Blaster? I don't know. Whoever designed that using roll pins should be put in front of a tribunal and punished accordingly.

 

For the record.

Somewhere in this thread I'm sure I mentioned I was getting some nasty front end chatter in the front end on sharp, rolling turns. It would rear it's ugly head the most when pulling in and out of parking spaces and the garage. It started at the same time I had my rack n pinion replaced. So naturally I suspected the rack itself (a brand new Lares rack) or maybe the tie rods or maybe a bad alignment job. He double checked the alignment and it was OK. But as it turns out, it was the tires. They were chattering. Heard it and felt it. I put four new tires on my truck today and the chatter is GONE! My old tires have been on those rims for 18-1/2 years and the treads were down to 1/8". I was on borrowed time. How they even held air is beyond me. Turns out at least two of them were leaking air out the sides. Dry rot! Well, when they get old and dry they apparently like to skip on slow sharp turns cuz these new tires cause zero chatter.

Killed two birds with one stone.

 

Not that is interesting to know....... Not so long ago, I put another set of used tires on my truck. At that point, when I stepped on the brakes, the whole front end would shake..... It didn't do that prior to the tire change, and the tires were the ONLY thing that changed. The tires were a little bit cupped.... but, not so bad you could actually SEE it... but, you could feel it running your hand over the tire. The two on the front of my truck were on the rear of their previous vehicle.... so, bad shocks? Maybe?? It's gotten better with time..... or maybe I have adjusted my driving style..... or both...... Think I may have 'em rotated, and see what happens.... Your experience here suggests to me that the tires are indeed the problem.

 

It wouldn't surprise me in the least. Not after all I learned about tires recently...cupping being one of the larger causes of the shakes. Oddly, I learned about my type of chatter (on sharp slow turns) from a guy with a newer Corvette where it is a common problem even on new tires. I'm thinking the new rack I put on exposed the problem. Either my worn out rack wasn't turning as sharp or the new rack was just giving me sharper turns for one reason or another. Either way, it was imparting a pushing action instead of a turning action because there simple wasn't enough tire tread gripping the pavement.

 

An update on these new tires.

There is a noticeable difference in the handling of these new tires vs the old. The front end is splashy. Takes more steering adjustment to keep it between the lines. There are occasions when it seems the front end has a mind of its own. I don't want to make it sound like it's out of control. It's not. It's just splashier than my old 18-1/2 year old tires that had 1/8" of tread left. Maybe these new tires need to wear in a little or my old tires were like driving on slicks. But, still no front end chatter.

 

Do the tires tend to follow the grooves in the road? Are they the same size as the previous set?? What pressure ya runnin' 'em at?