Does Your Ram Have The Infamous Steering Wheel 'clunk / Rattle' ? Fix Found....

Hey RamVanMan,

Got a question for you. I've had my kit for over a year now & just recently got around to installing it because it was in the body shop for a fenderbender and the driver's fender was removed. That made it so easy to install. However, I tried to be gentle and hit it no harder than I had to but since i installed it I now have to pull up on the shifter to get my key out. Have you got any easy tricks to remedy this? Thanks.

I would like to make my own bushing myself .I have my own lathe and have some extra nylon laying around .Were can I get the measurements to make the bushing ?

Not gonna that easy...Read the whole thread.

I'd just buy one.

Are these still for sale?

Originally Posted by DieselDork

I would like to make my own bushing myself .I have my own lathe and have some extra nylon laying around .Were can I get the measurements to make the bushing ?

Nylon is too hard and urethane is too soft. Delryn comes in many compounds and the Durameter is the key. For what you would spend in time trying to see what works and what fits, send the man a check and install one of his. He did all the research and got the thing right, let him make a few bucks on his work. I would hate to have someone, even if they are on a shoestring budget, step in and copy my hard work.
That said, I nstalled one on my truck and it was the single best mod I made. I had changed everythingin the nose of my rig twice trying to get it to steer and this was finally the cure.

Hey RamVanMan!

I just found my bushing I ordered a long time ago...must have been a year or maybe more. Been in and out on military duty, lost it during the moves and finally found it again. I went back through the posts here and think I may be missing a part. I've got a black bushing and an installation tool, but can't find the retainer or instructions. I'm fairly certain I can work without the instructions, but the retainer would be nice. Can't find a receipt or anything. I'll try to email you from your site, but could you email me and see if there's any way you can help?

Just a food for thought.....
When I had my 95 Ram, I received a recall notice to repair the steering
shaft due to plastic parts wearing out/breaking which could cause the
upper shaft to separate from the lower shaft. It is recall #96V230000.
Could this be the cause of what you guys are experiencing?

Dave

How "difficult" are these to install?

I have yet to experience this in my 94'. Something I'll keep an eye on.

I think this may very well be the problem in the 2001 2500 i just picked up.I had the front end checked out and evrything was ok,but when i drive on a rough pothole road or in my case built up ice and snow there is a definite clunk/rattle that feels like the front end is really loose.I can definitely feel it in my feet.Anyways i will check it out as i will be under the truck this weekend.If there is play i will definitely be ordering one to see if it is the fix.I will check the trackbar as well while i'm under there.The truck doesn't seem to wander or anything like that,very stable going down the highway but a definite rattle on rough roads that a can feel in my feet and hands.Mine is a 2001 2500 4x4 with the automatic,approx 220,000kms.

could be worn shock bushings.

i wouldnt mind one, mine has been clunking since i bought the truck. I completely rebuilt the front end, all the steering components, trying to get rid of it. Steering is allot tighter but its still there.

Got the "clunk"! '01 1500 5.9 QC. Need some type of fix!

good stuff thanks.

I have had that 'clunk' forever in my truck.

It's funny how these Rams all have the exact same issues.

Im not sure what it is??? When I stop sometimes there is a loud rattling sound. It sounds like it would be the dash but I know its not. Is there a vid of the clunk or rattling???

Well I'll be darned. I had the same clunk after replacing everything as well. I twisted the spring at the top of the steering shaft and the clunking went away. I am convinced it is the bushing as well. It just appeared as if something else in the front suspension was bad. I had considered the link bar bushings moving, and they were a little loose over only 80k miles. But the link bars/bushings are fine. I read the threads and tried the twisting of the spring. I also noticed significant play/movement in the steering shaft itself. It's kind of frustrating to spend all the money and all the time and then have something like that bug ya. Not to say the front end didn't need attention because it did. All steering components, pump, gearbox, balljoints, axle joints, track-bar were replaced with Moog parts. If anyone would like input on these items feel free to ask. I did it all in my own garage and saved mucho $$ in labor and added several new tools to the toolbox. The balljoints were the toughest but can be done with a press.

Originally Posted by Richie Rich

Well I'll be darned. I had the same clunk after replacing everything as well. I twisted the spring at the top of the steering shaft and the clunking went away. I am convinced it is the bushing as well. It just appeared as if something else in the front suspension was bad. I had considered the link bar bushings moving, and they were a little loose over only 80k miles. But the link bars/bushings are fine. I read the threads and tried the twisting of the spring. I also noticed significant play/movement in the steering shaft itself. It's kind of frustrating to spend all the money and all the time and then have something like that bug ya. Not to say the front end didn't need attention because it did. All steering components, pump, gearbox, balljoints, axle joints, track-bar were replaced with Moog parts. If anyone would like input on these items feel free to ask. I did it all in my own garage and saved mucho $$ in labor and added several new tools to the toolbox. The balljoints were the toughest but can be done with a press.

Welcome

I have seen pictures of the bushing that is out there in the thread, but not vids, I assume you are talking about videos? I had a 96 Dodge 2500 4x4 gasser that did that and it was a steering shaft deficiency that the dealer took care of as a recall item. And it worked whatever they replaced. It was a different clunk altogether and it definitely felt like it was in the shaft and or wheel assembly. Try looking up TSB's for your application before you do anything. Try twisting the spring in the engine compartment up at the firewall and see what that does. Good luck.

I decided to do my install today.

Pullin the steering column is easy. Hardest part was the damned linkage for the auto shifter! 6 bolts total, 6 (I have steering wheel controls and everything) electrical connectors, and out it came.

Cut the retainer off. Watch it go FLYING into the air.. clean it all up, press in the new bushing. tap on the retainer, put it all back together.

I think I spent longer cleaning up the trim pieces on the steering column than doing the actual work!

Downside: It didn't fix the squeak I was tryin to kill.
Upside: My steering felt 'ok' and now it's GREAT!