I have had the truck in a good front end shop and they replaced the driverside ball joints and a tie rod end, but they cannot get the intermitant knock or "rattle knock" out of the steering wheel. It seems to be worse when the truck is warmed up and I am turning a gradual turn (like a freeway ramp). Its not a safety issue, just drives me nuts. I cannot hear anything, I can only feel it in the steering wheel.

Any ideas? Collapable steering staft? Gear box seems okay.

 

On my old 99' I had the exact same condition you are talking about. It was the steering shaft dampener clunking (2 piece rod between steering column and steering box). When you take it out, you can feel some play in it if it's worn. Not much play but I guess it's really amplified through the steering column. I replaced two of them in 100k miles on that truck. Doesn't really hurt anything, just very annoying especially when turning and slowly going over rough road surface (kinda felt like a loose shock or something). They probably could avoid this whole problem by putting a grease fitting at the coupling to keep it lubed. I thought of drilling my own in at the time but was afraid I might affect the integrity of the shaft. Good Luck!!!

Sticky

 

It this a dealer item? How much is a new one? Is it hard to put in? Can I just weld it solid?

 

Yes, it is a dealer item. Yes, it is VERY easy to replace. No, you can't weld it, it is a slip fitting with a rubber boot on it meant to have movement. If I remember correctly, I think it was 1 bolt on top (where it meets the steering column) and 1 bolt on the bottom (where it meets the power steering box). Bolts need to be removed entirely. I don't remember the part being overly expensive.

Best,

Sticky

 

It's probably the 2 nuts you had in your head finally coming loose and rolling around.

 

I checked that, tighened them up and used Loctite! I still have the rattle!

 

Hey Sticky!

THANKS! It was the intermediate shaft like you said. It had too much play in it after 170K miles, or was too "dry". A little WD40 helped alot, but I replaced it anyway since I had it out and a new one on the bench. I could not even get it to slide up and down off the truck without sticking until I lubed it. On the truck I could even feel a "bump" even when I hit the brakes. It felt like the front end was really loose.

THANKS!

Larry