OK guys the other day as I was under the truck replacing my fuel pump I noticed a large amount of transmission fluid from my old leaky trans line that I replaced with the check valve delete. Yesterday I decided to get under the truck and clean all that fluid up and while I was under there I noticed something that I can't ID and its loose at that. It doesn't appear attached to anything. its on the drag arm of the steering assembly.
To say the least I am alarmed and really need to know what it is and what it SHOULD be attached to. I looked through the service manual and checked a few threads here to see if i could find it on a normal truck. Kinda disconcerting to see something just hanging there on such important components! the part is a clamp with a flat bar, about a 1/4 inch wide that is bent as it comes off the clamp.

 

3 of your pics don't show up?

is the piece pictured off the pitman arm?

 

Steering dampener mabey?

 

Nope its not off the pitman arm, its on the drag arm on the other side of the adjustment sleeve for that arm of the steering. It will slide freely from the adjustment sleeve, bout mid way or little bit more toward driver side, all the way over to the passenger side end of the drag arm. Light finger pressure will cause it to spin around the drag arm and slide along from side to side. At first I thought it was part of the drag arm's adjustment sleeve somehow but I couldn't find it in the service manual.

 

Its the new fangled "rattler". Every time you go over a bump, it is sure to rattle, and let you know the drag link is still there.

From the pic, it doesn't look like it does a thing. Just take it off.

 

Actually planned on doing just that if I couldn't find out what it was, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't supposed to be attached to anything. At first thought it was part of the adjustment sleeve but after looking at the thing and the service manual it doesn't look to be part of that.

 

It was at one time part of the adjustment sleeve. But some work was done on your truck. My 98 1500 had one, it's nothing to worry about any way.

 

Then it'll be coming off, no need for unneeded items under there! Thanks.

 

That bar is supposed to stick into the adjuster where the clamps are. It only keeps the adjuster from rotating. Slide it back between the clamps and tighten it down.

 

But then it won't rattle!