Hi all, its been a while since ive posted anything on the forum, i guess because i gave up on my truck for a while thinking that it was about to die. That was 10,000 miles ago, she just turned 215,000 and still runs fine but the truck around the engine is falling apart. I have a few questions about the front suspension.
1. I have to hold the steering wheel 1/4 turn to the left to drive straight and if i let go of the wheel the truck pulls right

2. There is a lot of play in the steering, it is worse than my 1974 vw bus.

3. When I come to a stop the truck pulls to the right pretty hard and i feel a vibration in the steering wheel and/or the brake pedal.

4. When i am backing out of my driveway and turn the steering wheel to the right the truck almost always makes a clunk sound, it sounds like a ball joint popping.

5. The steering linkage under the hood has a rubber boot on it that covers the joint where the shaft is jointed. That joint is lose and can be moved about 1/2 inch either way.

I have been told so many different things can be wrong. I would like to get the steering back to a safe and maybe even comfortable level. Im looking for rebuilt steering boxes, i was told my rotors are probably gone, the tire shop said the alignment is ok, i dont know what else to check. Ball joints? How do i check them, and tie rod ends...... Any clues would be a great help, i havent done much suspension work in the past so i would like to learn about it now, im not paying anyone

 

I have the same problem with my truck but mine is a 1500. To check the ball joints jack the truck up and grab the tire at the top and bottom and see if it has movement. I would like to see what someone else has to say about our problem too.

 

Haha, i went outside to jack the truck up after I posted and came back to find some advice. I grabbed the wheel and pulled and couldnt get any movement. I did notice that the tie rods ( i think those are tie rods, short arms with joints on both ends that connect to the steering knuckle...) can be moved by hand up and down pretty easily. When i move the one on the passenger side there is a popping sound similar to the one i hear when backing up. It makes since because that joint moves when the wheels are turned. I looked at steering gears too, pretty pricey. Im going back out to see what else moves and makes noises, lol

 

Have you downloaded the service manual available free in the facts section, if not download it. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...tmas-guys.html
2800+ pages of info pn our trucks.
Remember that most info pertains to the later model 2nd gens.
Steering is section 19.

Dave

 

Mine do the same thing, maybe that is what my problem is. I only get a popping noise when i go around a corner or hit small short bumps.