How To Replace Intermediate Steering Shaft - Dodge Durango (’00-’03) & Dodge Dakota (’00-’04)

This video is a step by step guide on how to replace the intermediate steering shaft on an ’03 Dodge Durango 4x4. This video applies to all 2000 to 2003 Dodge Durango 4x4's and 2000 to 2004 Dodge Dakota 4x4's.
This is a very basic & simple job that can be done in less than a half hour, even if you take your time, with simple hand tools in your driveway. The typical failure point on these shafts is the rag joint. If you turn the steering wheel back and forth and there is play in the rag joint then the shaft needs to be replaced.
My "''03 Dodge Durango 4.7L Repair & Maintenance" Playlist:
• '03 Dodge Durango 4.7L...
Steering Shaft: Dorman 425-257
The information in this video is for educational purposes only. Pet Rock assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use the information in this video at your own risk. Pet Rock recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Pet Rock.

[@ricardosandoval7471]

Came home from a 11 hour work day and headed to my dads house to do this on his 03 Dodge Durango. and I'm truly bless for this video . Got it done before dark . Like fr bro God bless you .

[@petrocksgarage]

No problem. Glad to be of service.

[@jeffnajmowicz5634]

One of the better done videos for car repair, well done mate! (Get a go pro, girlfriend, or a 6-pack and a buddy to hold that camera for you! Lol) I hope you make more.

[@petrocksgarage]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it. I have a small tripod, but it doesn't fit under my truck.

[@matthewmoore54]

Excellent video, very informative

[@petrocksgarage]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.

[@jeffsilvis6573]

Just bought a 2000 Dakota today give ya one guess what it needs haha thanks for the vid very clear and concise

[@petrocksgarage]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it. Have fun with your new (to you) ride.

[@david9783]

Dude my 2000 Dakota has the SAME problem, and even with this video I'm not looking forward to this job....gotta' be done though, cant live with so much slop in my steering.

[@Rob94hawk]

2000 Durango owner here. Just what I was looking for! I've read horror stories of head bolts snapping off. Gonna WD-40 it over the next couple of days.

[@petrocksgarage]

Thanks a lot. Yes, penetrating lube & maybe heat will be your friend here. Good luck.

[@jamesleewright4324]

Excellent! Thank you very much. Stay safe.

[@petrocksgarage]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.

[@devilkiller1920]

Just the vid I needed. Thanks.

[@petrocksgarage]

I'm glad my video helped you out.

[@danroggie8265]

Good vid. Easy to follow

[@petrocksgarage]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.

[@garymccloskeyjr.6265]

Dude super helpful video! Thank you! 🍻

[@petrocksgarage]

No problem. Glad to be of service.

[@sandovalmanny34]

Very informative thank you 👍🏽

[@petrocksgarage]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.

[@SteveRobReviews]

HNY bud. Nicely done and it wasnt all rusty. Worm gear works 👍

[@petrocksgarage]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it. Been a little busy with 'life' last couple years, so haven't had time to edit/post videos. Got some free time recently and banged this one out. Hopefully I can get some more out soon-ish.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@@petrocksgarage Your ready good at this but life is a goof alternative too 😂

[@yepyep7629]

Only criticism I have of your video is how quickly the written instructions disappear. I’m not illiterate but I’m also no speed reader lol. Great video help a ton bro, sincerely thank you for posting

[@petrocksgarage]

Sorry about that. If I keep it up too long it often bleeds into the next section which makes it confusing. I'm not a speed readier either. Not by any means. But maybe you could pause & rewind the video if you need more time to read the text? I'm not sure about other OS's, but on macOS pressing the space bar will pause the video and pressing the left arrow will go back 5 seconds or so. iOS has a similar thing, but its tapping the center & then left part of the screen. Thats what I do with other peoples videos.

[@robertcastillo6848]

Thanks for the video!...i just had my son hold the steering wheel or turn it when needed. Followed everything step by step...took only 20 minutes. Did this repair on my 06 Mitsubishi Raider

[@petrocksgarage]

Thats great! I'm glad my video helped you out. Jobs like this always go faster when you have someone to help. Working on cars was my dads idea of father son bonding. I plan to do the same when my daughters are old enough.

[@glenfriend774]

Thank you I have had trouble finding a video my bottom knuckle is almost gone and I have lots of play in the steering wheel

[@petrocksgarage]

Glad to be of service. Good luck.

[@Gary_in_NoVA]

Great video! One thing: wouldn’t lock-title be more appropriate for this application than antiseize?

[@petrocksgarage]

These bolts & shafts are prone to rust. There are tons of videos and forum posts of these bolts and/or shafts rusted solid requiring heat & cutting devices to remove. That is why I used anti seize. If it's properly torqued down the bolt will not back out, so lock-tite would be overkill in my opinion. If you live in a low rust area then lock-tite would not hurt, but with proper torque it is debatable on if it would help. Hope that clears things up..

[@jimdonbrock1668]

So what are your thoughts on if the wheel turned to far and the spring is apparently damaged, now the horn stays on and also the airbag light ??????

[@petrocksgarage]

Those sound like classic symptoms of a broken clock spring. Only solution is to replace the clock spring. Good luck.

[@BillyWaters-pv2xq]

I want to know what made you changed it out? Was it making a noise or what

[@petrocksgarage]

The joint was worn out and loose. If you grabbed the shaft and rotated or pushed/pulled on it there was be noticeable movement in one of the joints indicating it was worn out. There should be no play in the joints. There are other ways these things can fail, but that is the most common. If you try that make sure not to be fooled by the entire shaft moving (all the way up to the steering wheel). You need to have the front wheels on the ground and someone holding the steering wheel from moving to isolate the joints. Good luck.

[@ryanstranacher8708]

What is the seal in the top of the rack called? Mine is leaking really bad.

[@petrocksgarage]

I'm not sure. You can buy steering rack seal kits for some racks. I tried one on the rack on my wife's mustang years ago and failed miserably. Ended up just replacing the rack instead. If you are looking to replace just one seal it might be worth giving it a shot. Otherwise, I would just replace the rack. Good luck.

[@thomask1013]

Can I follow these steps on a 98 Durango?

[@petrocksgarage]

The steps will be very similar, but the part will be different.

[@jusjohn]

My lower bolt broke.. I was hoping for a hidden trick. Letting the upper bolt soak and hoping for the best come tomorrow morning.

[@petrocksgarage]

I can't think of a hidden trick other than penetrating oil & heat. If the penetrating oil doesn't work, apply some heat with a torch. Make sure to apply anti-seize to the bolt when you put everything back together so this doesn't happen again. Good luck.

[@42TY.Gaming]

I can't even get my lower bolt to even move

[@balloonfnafyeet2348]

What's the rag joint

[@petrocksgarage]

its the part of the shaft that used to be fabric or leather in the 'old' days, but is now rubber. If you look at @4:23 in the video, on the bottom shaft, its the two shiny metal plates on the left side sandwiching some rubber. Hope that helps.

[@jaystanton7581]

will this fix my issue with play in my steering wheel ????

[@petrocksgarage]

If that play is coming form the intermediate steering shaft, then yes. Have a friend wiggle the steering wheel back & forth while you watch the steering shaft (or you wiggle the steering wheel with your phone or other recording device positioned to record the shaft). If half of the shaft moves but the other half doesn't then the problem is the shaft. Hope that helps.

[@jaystanton7581]

@@petrocksgarage Thanks i replaced the steering shaft, its as good as new..

[@petrocksgarage]

@@jaystanton7581, glad to hear you got it sorted out.

[@tbot6666]

Did you reuse the bolts from the old shaft?

[@petrocksgarage]

Yes.

[@tbot6666]

@@petrocksgarage I've been trying to get mine off but they're being a pain.

[@petrocksgarage]

@@tbot6666, they are probably rusted in place. Have you tried some penetrating lube? I'd start there. If you have an impact wrench, try that. If those don't work, apply some heat (you can get a good hand held torch at Home Depot for around $20-30). There isn't anything special about the bolt. You can pick up a replacement pretty much anywhere. If you do use heat, make sure to only heat up the shaft where the bolt goes through and not the bolt or the steering wrack. Good luck.

[@tbot6666]

@@petrocksgarage I tried an impact drill, gonna get some penetrating oil tomorrow and give it a shot. Thanks for the help.

[@petrocksgarage]

@@tbot6666 No problem. Good luck.

[@saltycrowgarage7215]

Just did this on my Durango with the same Dorman part. Let's just say my worn out stock shaft had less play. Dorman dropped the ball on this one.

[@petrocksgarage]

Sorry to hear that. Mine is still running strong with no play. Maybe you got a bad part?

[@saltycrowgarage7215]

@@petrocksgarage I guess I got the 1of10

[@engelram77]

Your rack and pinion may need to be adjusted then