My steering wheel has some play, slack or slop (whatever you want to call it) in it when you're going straight down the road. You can move the steering wheel left and right a bit without affecting steering, like it's just not tight.

The rack and tie rods are new as well as the power steering pump. I have read that there was an issue with the u-joint on the shaft down to the rack, that they would wear and could break.

Could that be the cause of the slop/slack in my steering wheel? The steering can also be a bit tight or binding at times. How common is that U-joint wear on these Dakota's? Mine has about 105K on it.



Thanks.

 

You've got all the signs of a bad u-joint in the steering column. It's pretty common and can easily explain the slop and also the binding.

 

What year is your truck? Pre 2000 has a gearbox which there is a adjustment screw on the top that you can use to adjust the free play of the steering.

 

Truck is an '04, it has a rack.

Is there any possibility of the U-joint or joints breaking, as in a safety concern or is this more of a nuisance that I can get to eventually. If there is a chance, like a good chance, of a U-joint breaking I'll swap it out soon, if not I'll wait until Spring so as not freeze my *** off while doing it.

 

It probably won't break but it can definitely bind. You may have trouble coming out of a turn for example.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/01-04-DAKOTA-DURANGO-4X4-LOWER-INTERMEDIATE-STEERING-SHAFT-ASSEMBLY-MOPAR-OEM-/390614702107?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5af273581b

Lube it up with something that will stay on it.

 

Thanks, I will lube it up with some white lithium spray for the time being.

I have noticed that when I make a turn the steering doesn't completely turn back by itself, I have to help it the last 1/4 turn or so. At first I figured it was my new ball joints (Moog's) wearing in, but it's been a few thousand miles since they were put in so. Also turing into a parking space you can feel some binding when you have to turn the wheel a lot while barely moving.

Luckily that intermediate shaft isn't too expensive and doesn't look too hard to swap out.


Thanks.

 

What year did Dakotas get rack and pinion ?

 

2wd '97-'04
4wd '00-'04

I'm only referring to Gen 2 Dakota's. '97-'99 4wd used a recirculating ball gearbox.

 

00DakDan - your list is right from 1987 to 2004 on the rack and pinion, and from 1987 to 1999 on the recirc ball gear box.

Just thought I'd pass that on.

RwP