Hey guys, i've posted a few help threads about my 1997 1500 SS/T, and if you read them, i hit a guard rail. we got a whole new bumper, just gotta put it on, but i pulled it around the house to the garage, and noticed something. there was a lot of give in the steering wheel. i could turn it a quarter turn without the tires doing anything. What do you guys think this could be, my dad seems to think it only needs a front end alignment. but, i'm not so sure, help would be awesome, thanks again guys, last help thread from me, i promise.

 

Don't make promises you can't keep!


Did the front end suffer any damage in the accident? If not then you just have to do a steering box adjustment. Do a search, there is a DIY thread on how to do that. If yes to the damage, then get a shop to tell you what's wrong wit it.

 

you need to do the steering box adjustment.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-steering.html

 

was your steering loose before the guardrail mishap, or did it just start?
if its always been there, try adjusting the play out of the box. you'll feel it snug up. don't overdo it or it wont auto-center.

if the play is new, jack up the front and with a helper, turn the wheel and see what doesn't move.

 

+1 You have to verify the accident didn't cause the slop or adjusting the box will only overcompensate for the problem.

and make as many help topics as you desire, that's why this forum exists.

 

ok guys, well i took off my bumper, mounted the lower valance piece on it, all the clips went in, but they sure didn't like it, then we flipped it over to look how we did, and there's a huge bulge in it, no clue why. i'm thinking its a faulty part, but i dont want to get hasty and throw it out, cost $200 and i'm not loaded so some input from you guys would be awesome.

 

Picture please...?

 

I don't think your valance is faulty. I think your bumper is tweaked.

 

well the bumper is factory, and the valance is aftermarket. its not a very big bulge. we still need to put everything else on so hopefully after we tighten everything it will just go away. but i just thought of this, when we put it on the old bumper and attached everything back on the truck, the top part of the valance was exposed, where it wraps around and should be tucked under the top trim. sorry guys, i know this sucks without pictures of my truck but here's a link to my kind of bumper, 13 is the part that has the bulge and 11 is the top trim, it doesnt cover up the top most part of the valance.

 

No, no, no, the valance goes over the gray trim, not the other way around. The last part to be bolted on should be the valance. Don't expect the top of the valance to be hidden inside the gray trim.