so my truck has a noticeable thump in the steering wheel when i go over bumps and stuff. I also have a slight knocking noise when i pick up to higher speeds on the highway. The shop didnt find any problems. Any ideas?

 

check the swaybar bushings

 

Could also be the steering column bushing. http://www.rocksolidramtrucksteering.com/

 

I installed it last weekend and it did as described...
Tighten up the steering wheel real nice. The bearing that is in there was so thin and flimsy I can't see it was any good to begin with when new..

 

jmhai, were u experiencing a noticable thumping feel into the wheel or anything? zman thanks for the link that looks promising. any way to determine if these bearing are bad, the sway bar bushing or steering colum bushing? Besides obviously looking at it and seeing the bushing is shot. thanks

 

Grab the steering column where it comes out of the firewall under the brake booster. If it wobbles up and down and or sideways, the bushing will fix it.

 

So how bad is this upgrade to do.. What does it intell do you have to pull the column or what?? how do you replace theese pieces..

 

You don't have to pull the column, but, doing so makes it easier. I think they have the instructions posted on their website somewhere??

 

Not thumping really. mostly felt it getting in the truck pulling on the steering it would move alittle or with no steering turning pressure left or right I could grab the wheel at 12 and 6 and move up and down alittle more like tilt(pivot) cause the bearing near the wheel is fine. Also when driving at different times feel it tilt/pivot..

I also did the test zman17 suggested and it was not too bad, but I did feel a wiggle..

I did not remove the column, did it in the truck with a dremel tool to cut the spring and retainer clip and the old bearing just really wiggled off by hand a little grease new bearing/clip and all done. now that I did it, could do again in about 15/20 minutes.

 

I hope it gets rid of the little bit of "sawing" I do ....I hate that......

JMHAI....you said its a piece of cake? Any tips?