Clunking noise in steering column

[Lattimer]

I recently installed a new Flaming River tilt column in place of the CPP column I had. I wanted the stainless look, and I really hated the grant horn contact that I had to use on the CPP.

I also installed the Flaming River steering wheel adapter, u joints, and shaft.

It steers great, horn finally works right, and everything.

Only problem is, now I get a clunk if I hit a sharp bump, and it is definitely inside the column. I can feel it in the wheel. All of the steering and suspension parts are new, and the only recent change is the column and associated parts.

Anybody have any ideas what this could be or how to fix it? I have triple checked everything for tightness, and whacking the shaft and u joints with a rubber mallet won't replicate the clunk.

[Lattimer]

ttt

[68gmsee]

I would check the frame and mounting bolts of the steering gear pump closely for hairline cracks or looseness first. Next try grabbing the steering wheel and pulling on it fairly hard to see if it has up and down movement or you could try prying the steering column shaft upwards with a pry bar where it connects to the gearbox. If it has too much movement up and down that may be the problem but I couldn't tell you why.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

I would check the frame and mounting bolts of the steering gear pump closely for hairline cracks or looseness first. Next try grabbing the steering wheel and pulling on it fairly hard to see if it has up and down movement or you could try prying the steering column shaft upwards with a pry bar where it connects to the gearbox. If it has too much movement up and down that may be the problem but I couldn't tell you why.

Steering box is in tight and no cracks, and no movement at all in the column.

[Katrina/10]

You are getting a clunk when you hit a bump because there is no slip joint in the shaft you installed. The cab moves in relation to the frame quite a bit, and there is nowhere for the force to go except through your steering column. The original shaft had a slip joint at the base of the column under the brake cylinder.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

You are getting a clunk when you hit a bump because there is no slip joint in the shaft you installed. The cab moves in relation to the frame quite a bit, and there is nowhere for the force to go except through your steering column. The original shaft had a slip joint at the base of the column under the brake cylinder.

Good point. Never thought of it that way.

So how do I solve that? The stock shaft can't be used with a flaming river column, and this is the setup that FR recommends for our trucks.