my steering is NOT tight, i have play and when I apply the brakes, ill even sometimes get squeaking noises from the steering column?

 

Does it also make something like a clunk feeling/noise?

http://www.rocksolidramtrucksteering.com/

 

is that an overall easy install or does the whole front end need to be dropped?

 

You have play somewhere in the steering. Nobody can tell you what is wrong, except you.

 

here ya go get a buddy or a patient girlfriend...place them in the drivers seat. Then unlock steering wheel but dont start the truck have them turn the wheel back and forth...jiggle it not full lock to lock turn. and while they are doing that climb under the truck and look at all the steering like pitman arm , tie rods idler arm. and if you see it moving and the track bar/centerlink not moving then there is your lose part...therefore the culprit of your loose steering. ( i am stating this from a 2wd the 4x4 should have pretty simmalr parts i dont think they have a idler arm but could be wrong.) but either way the method will show you your loose parts

 

Look at all the steering components starting where the column comes out of the firewall. Not just underneath.

 

also in the faq section there is a way to adjust the steering box...but please fix your other parts if bad...would hate to see a tie rod break on you and you wreck your rig

 

I'm about to record mine, so I can ask an opinion of the noises I'm getting.

I just got it going have put about 300 miles on it, with half of those being on roads so bad that people here usually do replace balljoints often.

I have squeaks, rattles, whoosing, and a sound that has to be a bad rotor.

Also my hood isn't seating well so that squeaks, and then during inspection an upper balljoint boot is dry-rotted, so I have yet more work to do to this thing.

I wanted to start focusing on the interior, but more important to fix the noises. and the real problems first.

I replaces a tire rod, but my alignment is still a little off, and my steering wheel has a lot of play.

Need to diagnose that today.

 

a few questions:

1. Since I have an 01 Sport OFF-ROAD, are all the suspension parts stock? Including the pitman arm or do I need a different pitman arm with a lower drop?

2. Are most of these parts, ball joints, tie rods, track bar... all the same for 94-01 1500 and maybe 2500 or is it all different?

Im going to replace the following:

Idler arm, track bar, pitman arm, center link, tie rids, ball joints, (u-joints are new) for the front suspension and get that $50 DODGE RAM HAD STEERING BUSHING or whatever its called, anything else im missing? Also, does the shaft itself maybe need to be replaced? The steering shaft, since arent there (2) u-joints on that shaft itself?

 

Check the joints in the shaft for slop, if you find any, replace it.

Don't forget to check your steering BOX as well. They suck. Basically.