Hello to all, my first posting to the forum ...

I recently picked up a 2001 1500 4x4 all stock with 175K and noted the front end was in rather poor shape - still all stock components. In particular, the front axle u-joints were completely shot. Most of the caps had NO needle bearings in them and were flopping around. Yikes! So I rebuilt the entire front end... tie rods, track bar, ball joints and u-joints - and got a professional alignment.

A several-year-dose of Indiana rust by a PO added a little drama to the job of removing some of the components (namely lower ball joints). Anyhoo, I got 'er done and after installing the axles noted that with the steering full over in either direction, the u-joints were binding slightly. While driving, I can here a distinct "clicking" sound with the steer full over either way. No issue except when you lean the steering heard over. On further inspection, I noted that there were no bolts in the steering stops. (see pick below)

So my question is .... should there be stop bolts on a stock 2001 1500 4x4 (with a Dana 44 axle)? And if not, why are the u-joints binding?

OK, I put in cheap GMB u-joints from Rockauto but size-wise they seemed close to identical to the old stock ones. I'm inclined to think there should be stop bolts on the knuckle but the parts diagram I have does not show them. I did see them on an earlier 2nd gen 1500's (eg 1994).

Sure it's easy enough to add one - but thought I'd post the question for comment. Thx.





No steering stop bolt

 

I don't think there are any....

 

Ya ok, let me wave this one off... There is no issue here. False start on this one! Sorry about that. Let me explain...

I jacked up the rig up on stands and had another look. It turns out that the "clicking" sound turned out to be the wheel rubbing on the wheel-well liner (interestingly it sounded like a click in the cab) on the drivers side. I also noted that with the steering hard over, the mount holes for the steering stops were no where near the axle - so adding bolts would have done nothing.And no binding of the u-joints! WTF???

Then it occurred to me that when I was able to bind the u-joints, I did not have the tie rods attached to the knuckle. In this case without the steering attached, you can turn the knuckle over MUCH further than you can with the proper steering attached and aligned. As it is now, I can put the wheel over full either side and no binding on the u-joints... only the rub on the liner (that I need to fix).

Well, I learned something today.... Again, sorry for the false start.

 

No worries.