The truck in my signature just started gettin a bind in the lower U-joint on the steering shaft and it pops kinda bad. Only thing im worried about is what i gotta replace. Is there anyway to tell whether its the shaft or the box. The u joint has very little play but its just enough to put it in a bind.

If yall have some advice id greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

 

I havent heard of too many steering shaft issues with these trucks... I have heard of PLENTY of steering box, and steering component issues

 

What made you diagnose it as stemming from the lower u-joint in the steering shaft? Kinda a strange diagnosis... Has the frame ever been pulled after a collision?

 

A bad joint in the steering shaft might cause a tiny bit of play, but I can see it being that bad

 

is the box lose

 

The box is tight and doesnt move. When you turn the wheel, there is a little resistance and then a pop. So i got under and looked while someone turned the wheel. And the lower steering shaft ujoint has some play in it. Therebis a little bolt in it to tighten, but it wasnt loose. I dont know exactly how that shaft attatches to the box but it seems to me that the lower half of te u joint slides directly down over a pin coming out of the box, and the play in in the u joint is coming from the joint not being tight in that pin.