I am new to this forum and seems like there is a lot of knowledge here. I just bought a 98 Ram 1500 4x4 with 113k miles. I love the truck and drives great on the street and highway. The only problem that I have noticed was the steering. The steering is really loose from 11 to 1 o'clock turning it. When I am turning the wheel parked or in motion you can hear the fluid through the steering wheel and every bump that I hit you can feel and hear coming up through the steering wheel. The wheel is very firm when I tug on it. Also when I turn the wheel, every once and awhile there is a knock that sounds something like a balljoint. I don't know if all these are different problems or all linked to one thing. Hope it makes sense. It is always hard to explain in words. Thanks for the Help.

 

yeah my truck acts the same way, I have a '95 1500 4x4. The steering is so loose but I hear it's a flaw on these trucks, weak track bar or something? Anyone have an idea?
Thanks

 

It can be anything from the track bar to the rag joint.
Do a search on the forum, there are numerous threads on the subject and find the one that closely matches your symptoms.

 

I had the samee problem, just fixed it this morning by adjusting the power steering box. Beware though it is only a temporary fix until you get a new box.

 

If you know how to check all the front end parts, check them all. With over 100K miles Time to check tie rod ends, track bar, ball joints and steering box. Probably like mine it is a combination of several. Mine has had wander as most of these did from day one. It just gets worse as parts wear. Have replaced both tie rod ends and just before the extended warranty ran out the dealer adjusted, and then later replaced my steering box. It was leaking.

 

The first things I would check would be your steering box's level of fluid and the rubber boots over your ball joints for tears. Sometimes if the boots get torn, the lubricant can seep out, causing a popping sound due to the wear on the ball joints. This is cancer for your front axle. As for your feeling the bumps through your steering wheel, I would check to make sure that all of the screws and bolts in the steering column are securely tightened.

 

www.lukeslink.com can be a cheap easy solution. I've heard some good things from them