Hello. New to this forum. Well here goes. 98 Dakota 4WD 3.9 standard cab. 188,000 miles. Runs like a top. Recently did all 4 ball joints, all four tie rod ends, idler arm and alignment. Everything is TIGHT as was confirmed by alignment guy. Although much better to me it is just not right Although basically straight it tends to wander a little. My biggest thing is that it just kind of feels like there is 100 lbs of air in tires. Kind of a hard ride. The big bumps are great. All those parts did wonders. It is the everyday road irregularities. I can kind of feel them in the wheel and in the brake and gas pedals. No one would feel this but me. Anyway I suspect steering box. I do have play in the input shaft. It does leak anyway. I can grab steering shaft and pull up and down and get it to move. Only a tiny bit but I can make it "audible" and when I do this fluid comes out. Doesn't shoot out but visibly comes out. I know this indicates a problem in itself but does this sound like my "road feel" and loose problem?

 

when you say you feel them in the pedals, do you literally feel street harmonics (like through the brakeline), or just the chassis vibrations?

 

Although I am (was) an auto/truck tinkerer I am not totally sure of that description. I guess it would be street harmonics... but it could also be vibrations. It is just a "harder" ride. When I hit a little bump it kind of comes through to the wheel and/or one of the pedals but not every time. It is not pronounced in any way as anyone else who would drive my truck probably won't notice. I just happen to have 188,000 miles of experience with it. Maybe I am being to critical. It just doesn't have the "feel" I want. As I said I know the box leaks anyway so this may be an indication. I am able to do 99% of work by myself so I don't have much labor cost. I found this forum and figured someone out there has a Dakota and would know from experience
P.S. upper and lower control arm bushings were checked. No problems seen
double checked brake calibers for tightness (I did have the right side threads for brake pins strip but repaired with helicoil - better than new)anyway problem existed before that
double checked tires and pressure - tires not new but not ready for replacement yet

 

When you hit a small bump does the whole truck like have a jump feeling to it or is it just the front or rear. What are the shocks like New,old,leaking?

 

shocks aren't new but not original either. I forget when I replaced them last. As a matter of fact when we did the ball joints we unbolted bottom shock bolt and me and my friend both noticed there was still "some life left in them". Pretty sure it is not shocks. (It may get them soon anyway) I can't say it jumps it is just that I can "feel" the "road noise". I can't describe it well. Just seems like the road nooks and crannies are being transmitted through to steering wheel and/or pedals??

 

I don't think it's your entire problem but if your sway bar links are worn it will rattle and jump side to side a little when you hit bumps around corners and such. They're cheap and easy to replace and could be some of the problem, but most likely not all of it. If your rear shocks are shot that could be part of the problem as well.