vehicle- 97 Dakota 5.2 automatic 4x4 178k miles


For about a year now I noticed my Dakotas turning radius has been off. I noticed that my Dakota doesn't turn as sharp as my friends 97 Dakota and I can't figure out why. Lately the steering has been getting worse like making noises and when I backup while turning the wheel it gets real hard and the engine makes a sound like it wants to stall. I also noticed my tires rub against the frame and my friends truck doesn't do it and he has the same 31 by 10 tires size like most Dakota Sport models.

I replaced my hubs, 4 ball joints, idler arm, and all tie rods in hopes that would fix it. No luck. Then I checked the pitman arm and it's pretty tight.


What could cause the turning radius to be off and hissing screech sound which makes the engine almost stall.


Thanks

 

pitman arm? I thought our daks have racks? Or did the early years miss out?

The squeel/screaching is the PS pump indicating that the rack is at full lock.

 

Doesn't Dodge put racks on the 2wd models and 4wd models have the parallel steering setup?

 

my 2001 FSM says everybody has racks...unless the pre-00's are different

 

pre 00 didnt have it

 

Good to know, and not very surprised.

The squeal is the pump not being able to push fluid like it should be able to, because the steering is on the internal stop.

 

Would the pump cause turning ratio problems like wider turns? A guy I know once told me that it's possible that some dakotas have longer pitman arms to allow sharper turning. Is it true that dodge offers longer pitman arms?

 

Is your friends truck the same as yours(year,model,cab,4x4,engine) All of these factors can make a difference. My 31's used to rub on my frame a little I think that just depends on your tread/tire type.

 

Same truck as mine just his was made in Aug 97 and mine was made in March 1997. His tire tread is just like mine but his truck turns better and I'm stumped why it turns sharper.

I got the BFG T/A tires

 

Hmm weird you sure it turns tighter or maybe it just feels like it. My 31's that rubbed my frame were bfg a/t's also