1st Gen Durango 1998 - 2003 Durango's

Question Steering Wheel Play - Located U-Joint on Steering Column - Possible Fix?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #11  
Old 10-17-2011, 09:16 PM
monster406s10's Avatar
monster406s10
monster406s10 is offline
Rookie
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by samnbensdad
When you say the "Dealer", did you try more than one? They will vary. I gave a link to a very competitively priced dealer. As a matter of fact, I first found them on eBay.
I stand corrected, that's who I bought mine through haha.
 
  #12  
Old 12-03-2011, 02:31 AM
fcastro's Avatar
fcastro
fcastro is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NJ
Posts: 209
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Hi everyone, just figured I would update. I installed the part. What I thought was going to be a simple job turned out to be an annoying job. The bottom screw snapped. It was that badly rusted. I had to use a rotozip with a tiny cutting wheel and cut into the Y part of the shaft. I did this all from the bottom. Real Fing pain in the rear.

Now here is the kicker, this fixed most of the slop. But I still feel and hear like something is lose from the steering wheel all the way to the firewall. Its not as sloppy as before. Its as if something was not tight. Does anyone have any idea what the heck it could be?

Hydrashocker sent me a link to a tsb http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2000/19-04-00.htm but my 2000 Durango has Tilt Steering unlike the TSB
 
  #13  
Old 12-03-2011, 08:57 PM
fcastro's Avatar
fcastro
fcastro is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NJ
Posts: 209
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Ok well crawled under the Durango today and double checked the steering. The top bolt I installed was a bit loose. So I tightened it back down and the play/slight clicking is gone.
 
  #14  
Old 12-03-2011, 09:59 PM
shrpshtr325's Avatar
shrpshtr325
shrpshtr325 is offline
THE ULTI-MOD
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Union NJ
Posts: 19,794
Received 34 Likes on 32 Posts
Default

sweet deal man, thanks for the update.
 
  #15  
Old 12-04-2011, 02:49 PM
Radar696's Avatar
Radar696
Radar696 is offline
Rookie
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Angry

Glad you got it fixed.

I just had mine replaced in my 99 a week ago.
The repair shop charged me $297 for the shaft, I think you can read that more than one way!

The labor charge really wasn't that bad.
The total was $423.58.
So the total for labor was only $126.58

It does drive much better now but I still need to replace the shocks and it looks like my upper ball joints are going bad again.

Lots of fun.

Oh so anyway does anyone know of any tricks to help keep the u-joints in the steering shaft from going bad?
 
  #16  
Old 12-04-2011, 04:49 PM
shrpshtr325's Avatar
shrpshtr325
shrpshtr325 is offline
THE ULTI-MOD
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Union NJ
Posts: 19,794
Received 34 Likes on 32 Posts
Default

dont turn the wheel if you want them to last forever, if they had grease fittings on them it would be a matter of greasing them, but im 90% sure they are sealed units
 
  #17  
Old 12-04-2011, 05:50 PM
hydrashocker's Avatar
hydrashocker
hydrashocker is offline
Hall Of Fame
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Riverton, UT
Posts: 14,228
Received 17 Likes on 16 Posts
Default

They are sealed bearings, there is no greasing them.
 
  #18  
Old 12-04-2011, 09:20 PM
shrpshtr325's Avatar
shrpshtr325
shrpshtr325 is offline
THE ULTI-MOD
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Union NJ
Posts: 19,794
Received 34 Likes on 32 Posts
Default

thanks for confirming
 
  #19  
Old 12-05-2011, 09:48 AM
BenitaLynn's Avatar
BenitaLynn
BenitaLynn is offline
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I just had my lower sector shaft replace a little while ago, but now the play is back in the steering wheel of mine as well Should I have replaced both pieces (upper & lower)? I also just had the left front hub bearing replaced ($250 later), but that didn't make any difference at all! And now I was told I need new shocks all the way around....I'm beginning to think I bought a lemon
 
  #20  
Old 12-05-2011, 10:36 AM
shrpshtr325's Avatar
shrpshtr325
shrpshtr325 is offline
THE ULTI-MOD
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Union NJ
Posts: 19,794
Received 34 Likes on 32 Posts
Default

shocks are a wear item that need to be replaced regularly(also they are not that expensive), also you bought a used car with an unknown history, you have to explect a few problems,

also the hub doesnt have an effect on the steering play, the tie rods or tie rod ends can, but not the hub itself, if it where me i would go under the hood and check all the bolts on the steering shaft to make sure they are all nice and tight.
 



Quick Reply: Question Steering Wheel Play - Located U-Joint on Steering Column - Possible Fix?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:57 PM.