Steering Clunk

[D90DRC]

Today I pulled into the driveway and heard a really loud clunk.... Then when I went to center the steering wheel, it clunked several more times. I was stooped at this point...

I crawled under it and everything looked normal. I then backed out and drove about 1/2 mile and pulled into the store parking and the clunk was even louder. I then went lock to lock several time and the noise was louder and i felt a shudder, then the steering wheel moved about 20 deg from its center position. The tires were pointed straight but now the wheel was off. I drove it home and it still remained the same position,It drove fine no drive line noise like a broken 1/2 shaft or CV

Question has the Box gone south? Or should I look a the steering shat joints?

[Andrew Vick]

I think it's the joints took a "shat", to paraphrase from above. You need to be under it with someone turning the wheel. It will be self-evident. Sounding like your drop arm ball joint shat the bed as in locked to one side.

[D90DRC]

I think it's the joints took a "shat", to paraphrase from above. You need to be under it with someone turning the wheel. It will be self-evident. Sounding like your drop arm ball joint shat the bed as in locked to one side.


Andrew, I think yor right about the ball joint... I'm going to swap it out and the steering "shaft" u-joints thrown in for good measure (there rusted up) . I can't believe RN wants 75 each for the u-joints...

The box sounded OK when i cycled it through also no leaking. My understanding of the box when it goes it gets all loose and slopy... I could see if i was climbing a ledge and grenade it but this thing has not seen off highway in over 2 years

[andyrad]

Have fun getting that drop arm ball joint out. Once the nut is off the top and the cir-clip is off the bottom, support the arm with a solid piece of metal and get a very long aluminum drift to strike the ball joint downwards from above the radiator. It's much easier than trying to smack it from under the truck. Unless of course you have the ultimate, the correct tool for removing ball joints. Use plenty of penetrant, mouses milk if you can get it.

[epninety]

I think you want to take a *very*careful look at this. If the steering wheel shifted in relation to the wheels, then either something is loose, bent or broken...

1. Bent track rod or drag link. Unlikely, as usually you have to hit something hard enough to know about it for this to happen.

2. ball joint (threaded portion) moving in the drag link or track rod. Never seen it but it could happen.

3. Steering box. My steering box was making loud 'cracks' when steering lock to lock with the wheels on the deck. No other obvious problems, but I changed out the box to cure the problem.

If you've got a lift the changed angle can cause the ball joint on the pitman arm to bang on the arm as you go from steering one way to the other, but it doesn't account for the changed position of the steering wheel.