Since I bought my 2007 RAM 4,7 Liter Flex Fuel, I have some play in the steering wheel. As a "Ram Noob" I went to the Dodge Dealer (they are not that often here in Germany) and they mentioned that the Tie Rod Ends on the left has some play so I let them replace it.
But still it has some play and when I checked the steering column I recognized that the play is somewhere around the steering wheel.
Because if I grab the shaft near the pedals and hold it really tight, I can move the steering wheel about 1-2 inch without feeling a movement in the shaft.

So last weekend I checked again in detail and realized that there must be some play in the shaft where you can lower/adjust the steering wheel. There must be some U-Joint or something right?

So what will be my options? I have bought a used steering column from the net but I assume that this is for a different model but maybe I can use the joint from it, but is it anyway possible to replace that part?
Or do I need a new steering shaft?

It doesn't make the car wooble or so but I have this feeling of a road movie from the 60's where the driver is moving the wheel from left to right the whole time.

Any tip is highly appreciated!

 

I would say 1-2 inches is a bit extreme. I would check to see if there are some bushings are anything worn where the steering wheel is...Not 100% sure on the steering setup though..

 

I have an update on my steering play and I am again seeking for your comment on it.
After getting myself a suitable puller for the steering wheel, I was able to get a closer look on where I estimate the play.
Everyone told be before that there might be an issue with my Tie Rods or a bushing but I found something else.

After pulling of the steering wheel the play at the hub was minor but it was there.
I bought myself a cheap steering column for a 2005 so before working on the real one I want to check how the column is build. Especially because nearly all explosion views shows the column as one piece.
The part of the column which will move if you use the tilt shift should have some kind of a joint and after putting alot of efforts in the screws of the used column I finally found it.



But now I am stuck, as first I do not know if this joint (In case I would be able to get it out) will fit the column of my 2007 plus I do not know how to get it out.



Is this joint some kind of spare part? Never saw in any manual something like this, so maybe you have an idea what I could do!

 

Hi,

I'm bit annoyed by that steering play too. Not only that I don't have right feeling on highway (it's ok but not perfect ) but also I feel "clunk" on my foot pedals and I also hear it. So we have same problems

Where did you bought old steering column (I'm from Slovenia, Europe)? I also don't wanna try and repair my active one, because I use truck pretty much every day...

Did anyone replaced any other U-joints on steering column like ever or it's this just thing we have to be used to...?

 

So let's get this solved together. I did not change any joint on the steering column as I knew from the beginning that it must come somehow from the upper shaft.
If you grab the joint near the pedals (right before it leaves the cabin) and hold the upper part pretty tight and gently move the steering wheel, you feel these 1-3 cm play in each direction without having a movement in the shaft you are holding.
That basically told me that there must be another joint and as you can see from my pictures, there is.

I get the column on eBay and so I am able to "work" on it without messing around with the "real" one.
Unfortunatly I can not see if the joint from the picture will fit in my column so I will ask to Dodge directly if there is a replacement part. (I think they will sell me a complete column only) but there must be a solution for our problem. (Klonk in the pedals I have too)
Let's keep in touch and hope from some assistance from the guys in the US!

 

I will take time in next month and take apart steering column, then I will probably fabricate my own bushing. If it helps, I will send them to you... We probably won't get spare parts from Dodge :/ But if you do get them, please tell

 

I'm watching this video. It might help...

 

QDIII, Wo im DL bist du?

 

Nähe Hamburg!

@Sweller:
I talked already to the guys from this steering fix and I put alot of hope in them but unfortunatly this bushing they build is not for 3rd Gen Trucks.
If it is not the joint from my pictures itself but the bushing it is in, then we should considering making our own but if you refer you will see that this bushing is for the lower part of the Intermediate shaft (If I am not mistaken).

But I made some additional research and I found in explosion views of other cars that this joint is a certain part of the column:

Thats from a 96 Buick Mercury:


And thats from a Ram Charger:



I found a few websites and send them a mail about our problem and for example from a service called: http://www.steeringcolumnservices.com/ I get following reply:
Thats actually not what I was looking for to receive!

 

So here I am again with some minor progress on the issue.
I sent a couple of eMails incl. Chrysler Support Service and some Dodge Dealer.
One replied that as per his Data this joint is not available; only in combination with the complete steering column.
1530 USD incl. Tax.
That can not be the solution!