2004 dakota steering issue

Asked by Scott Jul 11, 2015 at 09:03 PM about the Dodge Dakota

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

2004 Dodge Dakota Question: Power Steering problems
I have noticed that my power steering is progressively starting to go over the last week.
When I turn left or right it's real hard as I come off the center point, then it will break free,
then get hard again. It will also get stuck in the turn, not allowing the wheel to straighten
out coming out of a turn. it makes for a real choppy ride. Once everything warms up it
seems to go away a little bit but I can still feel it. Engine RPM does not seem to play a
factor whether it is hard to steer or not (I have put gotten up to speed, put it in neutral,
brought it up to 2500 RPM and tried turning and it is still stiff.) I don't know if that is an
official method of diagnosing if the pump is bad or not, but that is my problem...I don't
know if it is my power steering pump or my rack and pinion.

5 Answers
64,810

firebird338 answered 8 years ago

Add some Lucas Power Steering and Stop Leak to your power steering pump. It not only stops leaks but also corrects hard steering. Friend of mine had the same problem steering getting hard sometimes put in Lucas problem went away instantly.

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Martin answered 8 years ago

I recommend that you try the inexpensive route first and see if that works. If not, the next thing to do is to have it checked out by a mechanic that YOU trust. The internals of the power steering on my '02 went out and took the rack and pinion with it. Since I beat the daylights out of my undercarriage, the R&P had been replaced recently so was under warranty.

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Shawnnance1 answered 6 years ago

Im haveing to same problems can someone please email me an answer i just replaced the whole front end and its still hard to stear my email is shawnnance827@gmail.com i think its the rack but not sure can someone give me some advice please

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Graylix answered 5 years ago

I had this problem on my 2009 and took it to my steering specialist. He knew right away, the problem was in the lower steering shaft. One of the two U-joints was seized. Makes sense as this part is before the power assisted steering and so feels like worse than manual steering. Replaced the shaft and viola, all fixed.

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