These U joints wear out. They're new ones that are manufactured for replacements on other cars, but not for a 1996 Dodge B2500 van. How do I know that? I've looked EVERYWHER. No auto parts store has it, online or brick and mortar. Dodge dealerships can not get one, unavailable. Ebay, unavailable. WHAT THE HELL?! I have to go through Summit, give them the dimensions for a new U joint to put on my old shaft.
@@kngkam Thanks but, IMO, getting a u joint from a junk yard is equal to finding a good shock absorber from there. Shocks, breaks and u joints need to be new.
Mr. CPG , I used the old bolts. Mine were still in good condition. Once you remove them, look at the threads and the head of the bolt, you should be able to tell if you will need to replace or not.
I had a 2004 Dakota I bought new. It only had 44,000 miles on it when I foolishly sold it in 2016. It was garage kept it's entire time in my care. Extended cab, 318CID, rear drive. Sold it for $6500. I was a dope for letting that go. Anyway... my steering was tight as new. How many miles on your Dakota?
D N - The Dakota is a really great truck! I sold mine right around 140k Miles last year. I didn’t want to sell it - but having 3 vehicles was 1 too many. I do miss it. They are very dependable and easy to perform routine maintenance. When the time comes, I will probably end up buying another Dakota.
@ Doug N The only way ya had a 318 in your '04 Dakota was if ya swapped it into it!...they stopped offerin' the 318 & 360 Magnum's after '99 & replaced 'em with the 287 cu.in. modular 4.7 V8's in '00...
dandre5150 - Sorry for the delayed response. Yes, this fixed the problem with my steering wheel play. If your curious if it's your tie rods, lift up your vehicle and preform a tie rod test.
Exactly the same as mine. Same spot.
These U joints wear out. They're new ones that are manufactured for replacements on other cars, but not for a 1996 Dodge B2500 van. How do I know that? I've looked EVERYWHER. No auto parts store has it, online or brick and mortar. Dodge dealerships can not get one, unavailable. Ebay, unavailable. WHAT THE HELL?! I have to go through Summit, give them the dimensions for a new U joint to put on my old shaft.
That or a junk yard.
@@kngkam Thanks but, IMO, getting a u joint from a junk yard is equal to finding a good shock absorber from there. Shocks, breaks and u joints need to be new.
Did you use new bolts on the new one? You think it's ok to use the existing bolts if they're still good?
Mr. CPG , I used the old bolts. Mine were still in good condition. Once you remove them, look at the threads and the head of the bolt, you should be able to tell if you will need to replace or not.
I had a 2004 Dakota I bought new. It only had 44,000 miles on it when I foolishly sold it in 2016. It was garage kept it's entire time in my care. Extended cab, 318CID, rear drive. Sold it for $6500.
I was a dope for letting that go.
Anyway... my steering was tight as new. How many miles on your Dakota?
D N - The Dakota is a really great truck! I sold mine right around 140k Miles last year. I didn’t want to sell it - but having 3 vehicles was 1 too many. I do miss it. They are very dependable and easy to perform routine maintenance. When the time comes, I will probably end up buying another Dakota.
D N
They didn't make a 318 Dakota in 2004. Did you custom order it?
@ Doug N The only way ya had a 318 in your '04 Dakota was if ya swapped it into it!...they stopped offerin' the 318 & 360 Magnum's after '99 & replaced 'em with the 287 cu.in. modular 4.7 V8's in '00...
2 or 4 wheel drive
@luvkountry its 4 wheel drive
Was that the problem ?
dandre5150 - Sorry for the delayed response. Yes, this fixed the problem with my steering wheel play. If your curious if it's your tie rods, lift up your vehicle and preform a tie rod test.