2003-2018 Dodge Ram 1500/2500/3500 - Dodge Ram Intermediate Shaft Bushing (Pair) - DSB-3999-PAIR

2003-2018 Dodge Ram 1500/2500/3500 and some Jeep Models
**NEWLY DISCOVERED INFO - SOME NEWER RAM'S NOW HAVE A RAG JOINT IN THEM INSTEAD OF THE BUSHING.  SO WE ARE LIMITING OUR YEARS TO 2018 TO AVOID THE PURCHASE OF THEM WHEN THEY WONT WORK.  IF YOU HAVE A NEWER RAM, CHECK AND SEE THAT THE BUSHING IS THERE BEFORE PURCHASING.  THANK YOU! **
 
Disclaimer
The Bushings should be installed only when the shaft is worn and wander is experianced. New Intermediate shafts with no play may experience a resignated tone when collars are installed. Upon installing your new intermediate shaft bushiongs, some customers have experienced a variable “tone” of road and/or truck noise. There are many factors that we have to take into consideration on each truck to determine where or what you may feel or hear. You are not eliminating the rubber bushings that Dodge/Ram have installed. You are simply controlling their movement for a more responsive feel. 
See our video on YouTube here for what we are talking about:

 
We have seen many customers replacing absolutely everything on their vehicle and not seeing any results.  We suggest starting with this inexpensive fix first to see if it helps solve your issue before dumping a ton of money into parts you may  not need.... or at least if you are replacing the ball joints, add these on and do them at the same time to maximize your results.
 
This is what the space in the Intermediate Steering Shaft Looks like when it is taken out of the truck without and with the spacers inside:

 
 

 
The Intermediate shaft is located under the hood near the brake booster for 2003 and some 2004 models, but mostly it is located inside the driver side cab near the gas pedal around shin height.  You can remove it if you like, but you don’t have to.  There’s enough room in there to get them in without removal from the truck and takes about 5 minutes.
There is a Tapered end, and a Square end... press the Tapered end in first. 
 

 
Tap one side in ½ way using a small hammer.  Then start the truck and rotate the steering wheel so the other side is showing and tap the other side in next half way.  Then rotate the wheel to get the first side and tap that in all the way and repeat for the remaining side until the bushings are flush with the intermediate shaft collar.
The press-fit bushings will fit very snugly, however, you can add some RED thread locker to the bushings to ensure they stay inside and you can also add a 1.75" Hose Clamp if you want to ensure they stay in there even longer if you like.

The final product should look something like this on both sides.
 
Re-install the Intermediate Shaft if you took it out or sit back and enjoy your tighter steering!
 
QUESTION:    Without removing the shaft, how can I tell that this is my issue?
ANSWER:     Go look under your dash with the truck not running.  You will see the silver bushing housing.  Use a flashlight and you will have to be on your back on the floor.  Have someone turn the wheel left and right and if the pin inside the hole (as seen in the pictures above) hits the side of the housing - this is your issue.  Another tell-tale sign is if you're correcting between 11 and 1 o'clock on the steering wheel - more-so at slower speeds.  Bad rod ends on the drag link can cause this issue as well, but you would see those moving up and down.
 
QUESTION:    Do I need to remove the shaft before pressing these bushings in?
ANSWER:   You don't have to but if you want to, you can.  It takes approximately 1 hour to remove and 1 hour to re-install.  However, you can install them using a hammer in about 5 minutes.  Just tap them in 1/2 way on one side, 1/2 way on the other side and then finish one side at a time.

 
QUESTION:    Will this work with my specific year/model of Dodge?
ANSWER:    We do not have exactly every single year and model that this will work for, but it looks like most 1500/2500/3500 2003+ and some Jeep models will have this joint on the intermediate steering shaft.  Your best bet is to have a look and see if you have this bushing housing before purchasing and measure the hole.  The hole is approximately 0.6" in diameter