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07:42:12 - 11/17/2024
V6 Dakotas
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Dave T
Dodge Dakota
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9/07/2002
11:06:59
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 Subject: Clunking In Steering
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Message:
Hi Folks, any advice is appreciated, I have a '98 Dak 4x4, club cab, 5spd v6. with 49,000km
Ive got a severe clunk that I feel through the steering wheel under initial acceleration and under braking. I feel it to some degree driving over bumps as well.
I had the steering shaft replaced a few yrs ago (i had the other Clunk when Turning over bunmps, the "well known problem" that was under a TSB/recall).this recent problem feels similar but occurs under different circumstances.
IVe had 2 different mechanics at different shops look at the front end to check, ball joints, tie rods, control arms, shocks etc. Both said that everything was OK and nothing needed to be replaced. Could it be the Steering Box ?
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92whitedak
Dodge Dakota
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9/09/2002
00:11:40
| RE: Clunking In Steering
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Message:
Recently, after putting an enormous amount of front end strain on my, well, front end, I noticed a similiar problem. When braking, the front end seemed to "pop" and my alignment would get thrown drastically to the left. Upon acceleration, I would hear another pop and my alignment would be set straight. After analysis on my part (two garages said it was nothing), I came to a rather based and logical deduction. The front spindle that the tie rod end bolts to, along with linkage, is drastically outward away from the front of the tire. When you brake, all of the momentum from the bind-up of the wheel, calibre, and pads forces the entire front assembly downward with a tremendoes amount of force on that particular tie rod end. This all happened after an alignment which I found was rather peculiar.
After checking into it further, the two bolts that secure the Upper Control Arm to the chassis were able to be untightened with my hand. Literally mm's from becoming detached. Ever see a control arm try to distatch itself from a moving vehicle? Check the torque on your upper control arm. The Haynes Manual for 87-96 specifies the same amount of ft/lbs of torque for the upper control arm: 155. If you've got a torque wrench, check the torque. Be weary not to undertorque as your arm will slowly vibrate lose, but be careful, as well, not to overtorque as the added pressure along the pivot joint will eventually ruin the bushings.
This is a long and arduous story. Again, this was just my particular situation. You may have a broken tooth in your stearing gear although you would notice the pop at the same point in steering as the gear ratio and palcement is continuous. Check out the steering box, make sure your bolts are tight. Also, check for certain that your tie rod ends are tight.
Any information you can find after this, please, I'd be interested to know. I feel that dodge had put together a rather shoddy front end and has as of yet been unwilling to admit it. Maybe we can debackle them ;) Have a nice day and good luck.
-Fox Deacon
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Dave T
Dodge Dakota
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9/11/2002
17:47:12
|  RE: Clunking In Steering- DANGER - FIXED
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Well, i found one problem, and have since rectified, its about 80% better (still feeling it a bit).
here's the scoop, I suggest all Dak owners keep an eye out for this, its real dangerous (i recall a previous posting with a similar flavour).
The Problem was connection of the steering column to the Steering Box. The bottom end of the column has a split metal connecting clamp that slides over the spline that comes out of the steering box. the bolt that tightens that clamp to the spline had workd loose about 1/2 a turn, allowing the clamp & steering column to slop around on the spline, id say I was about a 1/4 turn away from losing my steering entirely and having a nasty accident (Thanks DC)
since tightening it back up, 80% of the Clunk is gone and my steering doesnt have all the freeplay i was feeling. still searching for the other 20%.
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Chris
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2004
19:49:53
| RE: Clunking In Steering
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Message:
Dave T, The other 20% may be the wear in the steering joint. Not sure, just a thought! I'm having the same problem. The noise is much more apparent in warmer weather and while braking or around turns. Sounds like something is going to full apart...speaking of falling apart, I had a warrantied MOOG outer tie rod pop apart going around a turn...luckily I only hit a snow bank on the turn.
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Snake
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2004
13:31:17
| RE: Clunking In Steering
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Message:
I recently experinced this popping on accelerating/braking and after taking it to the dealer with no resoultion I decided to find it myself. The intermediate steering shaft is a collapsible shaft to account for body/frame flexing. I slid a needle greaser under the rubber and literally filled the area with grease. THen I took the u-joint off the bottom where it connects to the steering rack and occilated (sp) the steering shaft in and out to assure the grease was spread around. Put it all back together and I'm 100% clunk free now.
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ela
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2006
11:17:09
|  RE: power steering pump
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Message:
I have a 2004 dakota in the shop.replaced wipper motor..now replacing power steering pump, seal rack &pinion,gear assembly and also steering shaft i believe they said any one else have a problem like this
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Hightest
Dodge Dakota
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3/03/2006
16:39:27
| RE: Clunking In Steering
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Message:
Have same problem with my 02 Dak.,No doubt in my mind the problem is in the steering shaft and is most noticable as the the temp. rises(summer) which makes me think it must be a bushing expanding and contracting.
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