Wkleptof14
New member
Finally fixed this problem on my 2001 with 295k miles
Bought the truck 3 years ago and finally fixed it tonight! Like guys have said, you have to find the “loose link” in the steering chain. Mine happened to be- move the steering wheel, and the splined shaft end by the brake pedal wouldn’t move. So....must lie somewhere in between! Removed the steering wheel, removed wiring harness plugs from steering wheel “cluster”, unfastened plastic wiring harness holder from metal mount, removed steering wheel tilt springs, removed the 6mm hex wrench fasteners on either side of tilt pivot point, crawled under dash and removed bolt COMPLETELY from splined end by brake pedal, then pulled the entire steering shaft unit from vehicle. There is a “hex” shaped shaft that fits into a larger “hex” shaped shaft (sleeve if you will). This shaft inside a shaft had play to it. It didn’t seem like very much but I guess when magnified by the diameter of the steering wheel this slight play becomes more pronounced. It appears to have had factory crimps, or punch marks, on two of the sides. I grabbed a punch and put two on each side of the hex shaft and repunched the factory ones. It now steers like a dream!
Bought the truck 3 years ago and finally fixed it tonight! Like guys have said, you have to find the “loose link” in the steering chain. Mine happened to be- move the steering wheel, and the splined shaft end by the brake pedal wouldn’t move. So....must lie somewhere in between! Removed the steering wheel, removed wiring harness plugs from steering wheel “cluster”, unfastened plastic wiring harness holder from metal mount, removed steering wheel tilt springs, removed the 6mm hex wrench fasteners on either side of tilt pivot point, crawled under dash and removed bolt COMPLETELY from splined end by brake pedal, then pulled the entire steering shaft unit from vehicle. There is a “hex” shaped shaft that fits into a larger “hex” shaped shaft (sleeve if you will). This shaft inside a shaft had play to it. It didn’t seem like very much but I guess when magnified by the diameter of the steering wheel this slight play becomes more pronounced. It appears to have had factory crimps, or punch marks, on two of the sides. I grabbed a punch and put two on each side of the hex shaft and repunched the factory ones. It now steers like a dream!
