1998 Dodge Dakota steering wheel

Replace the steering intermediate shaft between the firewall and steering gear. The new one will have the same rotational play and knocking between the two parts until it is extended to the installed position.

Good answer, but in this case, the intermediate shaft was a real common problem. I was the suspension and alignment specialist at a very nice family-owned Chrysler dealership through all of the '90s, and I replaced a lot of them. There's a couple of different styles, and you have to get the right one for the year of the truck. Don't waste your time with a used one from a salvage yard because they will develop the same noise. The clue is you'll feel the knocking in the steering wheel, and unlike tie rod ends, which aren't common failure item in these trucks, you'll feel and hear the noise when driving slowly through a parking lot. The noise will stop whenever there's pressure on the steering system from turning. The additional clue is it will knock when you accelerate briefly, and again when you let off the gas pedal.