Steering slack - 1997 Dakota

From : barry

Q: anybody know what creates the problem with slack in the steering of a vehicle multiple different possibilities i imagine right barry .

Replies:

From : tom lawrence

anybody know what creates the problem with slack in the steering of a vehicle multiple different possibilities i imagine right 1. worn ball joints in drag link 2. worn idler arm 3 worn steering box 4 worn u-joints in intermediate shaft with the engine off steering unlocked see if theres free play in the steering wheel. if so its either the intermediate shaft or the box. if not its probably the drag link or idler arm if so equipped grab the intermediate shaft with a big set of pliers/channel-locks/vise-grips hold tight and have someone try to turn the steering wheel back and forth. if it wobbles the upper u-joint of the imtermediate shaft is worn. if it doesnt the play is in the steering box. .

From : tom lawrence

also if you have a tilt column the wear could be in the u-joint within the column. if you can grab the top half of the u-joint on the intermediate shaft where it connects to the base of the column coming through the firewall and hold that with a large pair of pliers you can check the steering wheel the same way. if it still wobbles then its the joint in the column. .