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Play in the steering wheel found - safety check

2K views 0 replies 1 participant last post by  RBinOregon 
#1 ·
First post, but this is important. Truck is a 2005 Dakota 4x4 SLT. The steering wheel had free play (about 1") side to side. Checked the all suspension parts - no problems. Started working backward from the intermediate steering shaft in the engine bay - hold the shaft immobile, check for free play at the steering wheel, if yes then move up the shaft and check again. No problems in the engine bay. Moved into the cab to check the knuckle on the tilt wheel when I noticed an extra joint in the steering shaft just before it goes into the firewall. A round opening shaft (female) connected to a double D shaft (male) coming out of the tilt knuckle that should be held tight via a welded in C clamp at the connection. After an impact with a large pot hole several months back the double D end of the shaft apparently shifted inside the round shaft (and the clamp was loose). Put the steering wheel in the center and tightened the bolt in the C clamp - no more play in the steering. Had the bolt continued to loosen or had there been another pot hole my concern is that all control of the steering could be lost - please check your connection for your own peace of mind.
 
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