Had 2001, 4.7 4WD Dakota in for front end alignment. A few days later steering was off-center, and often a loud clunk comes from front end, and steering wheel position changes. Mechanic says the camber nuts/bolts are too rusted to unthread without blow torch treatment, and further said that driver side bolts holding the upper control arm is slipping back and forth. I am not entirely convinced. The other day I sprayed white lithium grease over the bracket, and took it for a drive. Afterwards, I could see no signs of slippage in the bracket holding those bolts.

 

 

If it was a 99/older, I would say pitman arm. But 2001 is a rack and pinion, so all I can think is that the splines have somehow stripped out on the rack input shaft, or the intermediate shaft bushing is completely gone.

The tech's hypothesis does have merit though. My uppers move about 1/4 inch or so on each side and I'm about ready to weld the SOB's to the frame.

 

Should have seen the slippage around the bolt area before spraying, I would think. Go get new bolts or from the junkyard and replace the parts he mentioned. See if he was right.

 

The issue, on mine at least, is that the retention grooves on the frame and A-arm are both pretty much gone. I have torqued both bolts to 120 ft-lb before, and made it a handful of miles before they slipped.