I just recently bought an 86 3/4 dodge power ram 4x4 automatic transmission. There is a problem in the steering. At the bottom of the steering column where it connects to the steering box there is a square joint. If you grab the steering column and move it there is a lot of play at this joint. What is the joint called, any ideas as to where I can get one, or is there another way fix this problem.

Thank you.

 

I had that same problem with my '90 ram charger. The loose joint is a vibration dampaner that falls apart after a few years. all the old full sizes had them. I happened to come across a offroad mag with a solution. either get a rebuild kit from a dealer (will still fall apart later on) or goto http://www.borgeson.com/ and get a hand madesteering shaft with a u-joint to replace the dampener. It'll cost a bit, but i've never had another problem with it.

 

How does the old one come off??? Is there any reason why I couldn't just a new universal joint the shaft instead of what is there originally?

 

the old shaft should just unbolt from the upper rag joint by the firewall. there is a spline shaft coming front the steering box at the lower end, loosen the setscrew on the steering shaft at this end to remove the bottom part of the steering shaft from the spline. mine accually had to be cut off becuase it was so old. i'm not shure what your saying in that last part, the borgeson shaft is an entire replacement from the rag joint to the splines on the steering box, it works great and will still be there when the rest of the truck rusts apart.