New to the forum, not new to a Dakota that has presented a lot of issues so far for me in the short time I've owned it.

1997 Dakota Sport
174,000 Miles
5.2L
5 Speed
4x2

I had been experiencing the 'clunk' and locking up of the steering wheel while driving, and it was getting to the point it would lock up at least two to three times while driving just a few miles. I ordered an new intermediate shaft and replaced it after reading multiple posts of similar symptoms. The old one was severely rusted.

Now, I'm still for some reason getting the 'clunk' and lock up, but not as bad? And now my steering wheel is not at 3 and 9, but at 5 and 11. Seems a little drastic to be fixed by an alignment. But I may be wrong. Any ideas?

I've got about 10 other issues to fix on this thing and I'm about ready to lose it.

 

I am having the same problem with my 95 Dakota. the wheel has moved so far that i believe it unhooked the connector for the Airbag. I had to park it until I get it fixed? Not sure what is wrong with it? Did you get yours fixed yet?

 

I read some place if you didn’t lock your steering wheel in place with straps bungee cords something when replacing the shaft that is what caused the steering wheel being off like yours don’t know how to fix it though sorry.

Or maybe you moved the wheels not the steering wheel that may do the same thing knock out the steering wheel position.

Your clunk could be Ball joints arm bushings or tie rods did you check those?

 

I recently replaced my intermediate shaft with wonderful results. What I noticed when doing it was positioning the steering wheel when reinstalling the shaft to ensure the proper alignment. There has been a lot of mention about not damaging your clockspring which can affect your air bags and various other things. Does the clunk seem to be up more toward the steering wheel or under the hood?

 

Ts610 thanks I could not remember the name of that thing his steering wheel is off because he damaged that spring or whatever it’s called he probably didn’t lock his steering wheel in place as he replaced the shaft its some kind of ratcheting system for the steering wheel not sure how to fix it or reset the ratcheting system call a dealership and ask them they probably know the answer it may be a simple fix or a $300 part if you can only get it from the dealership bummer.

 

As far as the replacement goes, I left the truck planted on the ground, so the wheels didn't move, and I removed the keys from the truck and locked the steering wheel. When I put the new part in, it did not line up with the shaft on the column. So I replaced the old part and re-locked the steering wheel in the position it needed to be in to line up with the new part.

 

By locked you mean by turning the wheel till it locked if so that’s the problem that’s not how it’s done from what I read you lock it only by ropes tape something like that not the steering wheel lock.

Call the local dealership and ask parts how to fix it or the service department hopefully the service dept. will tell you.

I need to say this on and off the reason I use larger print font is Im half blind the larger font I can read

The regular font is too small for my weak eyes.

 

No, sorry.

To clarify, when I pulled the truck in the garage, I parked it with the steering wheel, and wheels themselves straight. I removed the keys from the ignition, and jiggled the wheel until it locked the column ( the safety mechanism ).

I'm holding off on the dealership for now. There are more than a few things wrong with the truck, and I don't want to go through the 'suggested repair list' gauntlet.