odd noise from dash when back wheels spin free.

[Scottydoggs]

thanks for the info. being i got it a few weeks ago at a used car lot i got no back story of its life, but ill check back in a few days when it breaks 30º's out. shaft looks to be a cake walk to change, seen that vid too. once i can get my head under the dash ill know more. if it is the shaft ill just wait till i install shorty headers. no brainer there.

that shaft looks way easier then the one i changed on a w body, i can tell you that first hand.

 

[Matahoe]

shes got 120 on it, one owner. front end feels tight still been at it doing all the pull push tests.

Do those prelim tests i talked about today and narrow it down to linkage or column. Then we can discuss more. At 120k you are still to asume the worst looking at replacing all linkage components (idler, pitman arms, inner/outer tie rods, etc)...especially on a vehicle with no history and you being uncertain about its condition. Regardless if it's a one owner or not.

 

[Scottydoggs]

all these sounds are in the dash, not under the truck, no idea if the idler /drag link pitman arm or tie tod ends have been changed, but all passed the push pull and i had someone crank the wheel while i watched all joints move, all tight no slop. did this before buying it. it actually drives real nice, front end feels good, dont drift around or nothing.

 

[Matahoe]

all these sounds are in the dash..

Well there is no way a lock to lock metallic clunk is caused by anything in the dash. The column parts inside the dash don't stop or limit lock to lock action. Aside from the clock spring, rotating steering column parts are for the most part free wheeling. There is nothing to hit/clunk against.

 

[Scottydoggs]

i could see the shaft do it, or the bearing, once it hits the end those parts can show play. like the u joint in the shaft, or its slipper parts. or the bearing moves, can feel it in the wheel as well. im only tapping it at the end there, not hard at all.

when it makes that clang sound its inside the cab 100%. sound comes from the same place turned left or right.

 

[Matahoe]

A bad steering column bearing would cause slack grabbing the wheel pushing in and pulling out. Can you replicate that? The lower column bearings are plastic in a green plastic race. The noise you are presenting is a loud metal on metal clunk indicating a linkage issue. Bad idler or pitman arms exhibit the exact noise you have at the end of steering travel.

 

[Scottydoggs]

cant see how id hear a pitman or idler clanging inside the cab windows up that loud.

like i said, ive replaced all these parts on other trucks with lots of slop, i used plow with them. a front end refresh every 2 years was normal. its a duller clang for sure more of a knock. and i watched mine move, also did the hand on them, no slop.

ill know more once i get my head under the dash. waiting for a bit warmer weather, this below 30 crap gives me no ambition at all.

 

[Matahoe]

Again. Does it make the noise with the engine off yanking the wheel left and right? Reason I ask is because you think it's the lower column bearing. If there is no noise behind the dash doing this test then it isnt the lower column bearing for sure. Remember you aren't trying to actually turn the wheel so the tires move without power steering. Just jiggle the steering wheel as you said left and right and see if the noise appears.

 

[Scottydoggs]

im on board with ya there, aint been back out side. im hibernating this day away.