Steering wheel is loose

[David Vandercook]

Hey y'all,
The steering wheel in my truck is getting loose. It is not the steering shaft, that is brand new. The wheel itself has some back and forth play and has a strange click as I steer the truck. I pulled the horn off to take a look, and the wheel is a bit loose, there's some play between it and the shaft. It looked like maybe it was that the steering wheel bolt was loose, but it's tight as can be. Why is the wheel still loose?

 

[Docwagon1776]

Verified no play in the joint in the shaft?

 

[huntergreen]

Might want an expert to check that out, I woundnt want to play around the air bag.

 

[David Vandercook]

Verified no play in the joint in the shaft?

Yes

 

[David Vandercook]

Might want an expert to check that out, I woundnt want to play around the air bag.

No air bag lol. Got a first gen

 

[David Vandercook]

Verified no play in the joint in the shaft?

If I wiggle the wheel right now I can actually see it moving around on the shaft. It slid right off without a puller, too. I don't know if there's a way to make it not have play or do I just need a new steering wheel?

 

[huntergreen]

No air bag lol. Got a first gen

Missed that part !

 

[Dean2]

Either the splines on the shaft are worn or the plate on the steering wheel. I would try another wheel, replacing the plate is a real pain in the ass. Hopefully replacing the wheel works becuase putting in a new shaft is no fun either.

Since you have the wheel off take it down and compare the mounting plate to a new one. Should be pretty easy to spot the wear if that is the problem.

 

[Grams]

Missing washer under the nut?

 

[Docwagon1776]

Yes

If you turn the wheel, is there a delay before the shaft moves?

If yes, pray to your favorite automotive diety it's the steering wheel. Should be reasonable simple to pull and look for wear.

If the shaft turns with the wheel but the tires don't move yet, you know it's down in the steering box most likely.

 

[Daw14]

Send pics, will let us see exactly what you have.

Lots can change in 39 + years.

 

[markabby]

wife once had a Ford Edge...great SUV, but had to have some work done on the engine, which means they had to disconnect the steering column.

When she picked it up, she complained about the steering wheel being loose. I checked it out and found out they put the bolt in ( that clamps it to the steering box spline ) backwards, so that it was threaded into the threads first and not into the clearance hole. When he tightened it, he thought it was clamping onto the spline.

I removed the bolt, inserted into the clearance hole first, then into the threads. Problem fixed. I hope i explained that right.

 

[David Vandercook]

Well, I confirmed that it was the steering wheel. Splines were just too worn down, probably from all the hard use from it's days on the farm with malfunctioning power steering... So I put the wheel back on and tightened it as much as I could without breaking it and it fixed the clunking but not entirely the play. I will probably get a grant steering wheel adapter and a grant wheel to fix it, because these oem wheels cost a fortune.

 

[Dean2]

Well, I confirmed that it was the steering wheel. Splines were just too worn down, probably from all the hard use from it's days on the farm with malfunctioning power steering... So I put the wheel back on and tightened it as much as I could without breaking it and it fixed the clunking but not entirely the play. I will probably get a grant steering wheel adapter and a grant wheel to fix it, because these oem wheels cost a fortune.

Can you use the adapter with the OEM wheel, to fix the play but keep the OEM look? Also, you can find them for a decent price on Ebay quite often. If you can locate one at a wreckers they are usually the cheapest option.

1980's 1986 Dodge truck steering wheel | eBay

This is a 1980's Dodge truck steering wheel. It is in decent to good driver quality for its age. Work great for a driver.

www.ebay.com

 

[David Vandercook]

No, it won't work to use the adapter with the oem wheel. Not particularly concerned about keeping oem look, I would be if this was a nicer truck, but with this thrown together and rigged up mess of a work truck I just want the cheapest way out lol.

 

[Dean2]

Changing out the steering wheel was VERY common back in the day before airbags so there should be a ton of good looking aftermarket choices.

 

[Sportrider300]

No, it won't work to use the adapter with the oem wheel. Not particularly concerned about keeping oem look, I would be if this was a nicer truck, but with this thrown together and rigged up mess of a work truck I just want the cheapest way out lol.

Hi, I have one that I removed from the 2016 RAM Crew Cab, let me know if you are interested (buying it).

 

[GeauxinUp]

Hi, I have one that I removed from the 2016 RAM Crew Cab, let me know if you are interested (buying it).

Did you even read the post before trying to sell him something??