I have a 1989 Dodge B150, power steering, but not tilt wheel. All front suspension has been checked out & kept up over the years (whole new upper control arms/ball joints/bushings replaced). Front end check (ball joints, tie rods, etc.) by mechanics checked out fine. It steers fine, alignment good. But when I go over bad railroad tracks slowly, theres a rattle/clunk in the steering column. The steering wheel itself does not rattle, it feels like it's the steeing shaft inside the column. They make a rebuid kit for the "shoes" outboard, but it feels like it's some internal bearing or bushing in the column. Any ideas?

The steering box is mounted solid - no rust out. Thanks.

 

Bushing at the bottom of the column? I know they have replacements for the trucks, no idea on the vans.

 

***UPDATE***

I bought the steering column rebuild kit, but before starting the job, I noticed a spring protruding from the column shaft area above the pot coupling. There's also a retainer that is partially gone, but holding. The exploded view shows a bearing on top of the spring, but doesn't show if the spring pushes out like mine when reassembled. Anyone have a similar steering column? Pics would be appreciated. THX in advance.

 

I've been absent awhile. While surfing the forum I checked my profile & pics & discovered I never left a final response to this issue. The steering column shaft coupler rebuild kit ($10) completely resolved the rattling inside the column. After getting it apart, I found that the spring which holds the shoes into their tracks was rusted out & broken. Notice the large gap in the seal in "before" pics which let water in. The rebuild kit comes with new shoes, spring, shaft, dowel pins, & top seal.

I found out the purpose of the coupler is to compensate for flex of the van body relative to the front stub frame (where the steering box is mounted).
Just wanted to share my success!