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Looseness Or Tick In Steering

bullitin #00-02-35-003B if this bullitin is not done properly....
the noise WILL return.....along with YOU to the dealer.
 
I've had the cluncking on the long turns (cloverleaf freeway turns) and the sharp crack when trying to get into and out of parking stalls. I've been to dealer 3 times and I think the problems may have been solved. After repacking the intermediate shaft and not being able to hear the sharp crack, my truck performed for the dealer on both problems on the 3rd repair. Intermediate shaft was fully replaced (supposedly) and they took off and cleaned the crossmember bolts and repainted the undercoating around the bolts. My steering is solid again and the cracking is gone. I've tried to get it to crack but it doesn't. I'm at 400 miles post dealership (18400 miles total) and it's looking good. I have not reinstalled my aftermarket front end links (as I had previously done) and will not as long as my truck is running good. Hope this helps someone...
 
I noticed this problem with my 02 also and I explained to the dealer as a metal on metal feel when taking an exit ramp, and I was advised by my dealer that per GM, the dealerships are suppose to regrease the steering shaft/colum 2 times and if a 3rd time is needed they are suppose to do a full replacement. And I asked if I would have to pay for a 3rd fix if my truck is out of warrenty and they advised me that I would not as this is a noted problem so warrenty or not, it is a warrenty fix item ;D
Hope this info helps someone else. By the way my dealer is Love Chevy.


Big Dog
 
I can confirm the service bulletin. It includes many late model GM trucks. I had the same problem with my last truck an 02 GMC Sierra 1500 Z-71 after a few months i notice a little looseness or knocking feeling in the steering whell when hitting bumbs on a ramp. It wasn't a shinny or a shaking just a little something i could feel in my hands. I took it to the dealer they told me about the bulletin and put in some more grease into the shaft. My brother has an 02 Chevy 2500HD, he has the same problem, same fix.
 
I had the same problem with my 11,000 mile Avalanche. My brother is a GM mechanic and he repacked the grease in the intermediate shaft. It is really easy and takes a total of about 1/2 an hour with hand tools. The rattle is gone.

Apparently this is a slip-stick caused by a lack of grease. The new "tennacious" grease is now being used (as of 04?? why wait?) at the factory. It is an intermittent problem that can be solved with the proper application of the grease unless the shaft goes dry for many miles...it then get scored and worn and the grease won't help. It effects all GM full-size trucks. It is annoying as hell, but not dangerous at all.
 
I concur with what has been said here.

I just got my shaft greased today at lunch (hey, get your mind out of the gutter! :-[) Steering feels like new again. Hope it lasts a while.
 
Not sure if this is the same problem, but today I noticed a similar issue. My 04 has 500 miles on it. When I turn the wheel either max left or max right, I get a ticking sound that seems to be coming from the sterring column. I have not discussed this with the dealer yet. ???
 
max left or max right
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no, I believe that that is the limits of the power steering. I believe that answer that this problem is kind of like what the doctor says in reponse to complaint of pain...

"don't do that"

;D

seriously, just don't turn it all the way. This is common on a whole lot of vehicles.
 
Another thing to check, especially if you go off road is your front wheel bearings. I had to have my driver side replaced this week and my mechanic noted that he has been doing this a lot in the last 2 years on Chevy's who have been off road. The part alone is $222. To check have your front wheels off the ground and push on the top and bottom of the tire. If it slops back and forth, good chance you have a bad wheel bearing.
 
I have been having the same problem everybody is having, at first I took it to the dealer cause I thought it had to do with the front end I really didn't mind I just wanted to have a record in case I had a more serious problem caused by that after warrenty, the dealer said the mechanic checked it out and found nothing wrong, I'll just arm myself with this thread next time I go for an oil change.Love this site.
Heavy D
 
Ok, here's the real question:

What is the potential, if any, safety hazard of not getting the intermediate shaft repacked with grease?

I have already had this repair done to my AV, but I dread going back due to the hassle of dealerships and getting around w/out my mode of transportation for the day. Will the shaft fall out if it's not properly greased? I'm feeling the problem come back only intermittently. At 12000 miles, how long can I ignore this before safety becomes an issue? I grew up where every vehicle had some type of annoyance, but you lived with it because you knew the the big three didn't give a s**t about something so miniscual, and your collective opinions always fell on deaf ears. The only time anything got corrected properly was when safety become a concern.....can we say lawsuits?

Anyway, yes it is an annoyance that really pisses me off...because I hate going back to the repair shop. Apparently GM is choosing to ignore this problem, for several years now, for the mere fact that it is cheaper to make more shafts and pay dealerships to replace them, and it doesn't really create a safety concern. Or does it????

Oh, and thanks for the TSB. I'll print it out and add to my AV file. Is there a more current version of this TSB?

Tony
 
no, I believe that that is the limits of the power steering. I believe that answer that this problem is kind of like what the doctor says in reponse to complaint of pain...

"don't do that"
seriously, just don't turn it all the way. This is common on a whole lot of vehicles.
Posted by: dementlr Posted on: 12/31/03 01:08 PM
Not sure if this is the same problem, but today I noticed a similar issue. My 04 has 500 miles on it. When I turn the wheel either max left or max right, I get a ticking sound that seems to be coming from the sterring column. I have not discussed this with the dealer yet.


dementlr, RichUF, ALL,

Just joined the club and hope the this thread isn't closed. I just purchased a 04 Z66. It had been used as a demo and I was told the the sales manager had used it for offroading. Well it's got 2K on it and I'm having the same issues that dementlr had. When I cut the wheels not even to the max(but close to it), in forward and reverse, there is the click/tick sound that is very noticable. Kinda like a click...click... click. Doesn't matter the weather, or if the truck is cold or has been warming up. The sound is there and my concern is could there be some major damage going on. dementlr, are you still having the same problems, did you have your AV looked at? I may just be paranoid, but I would think that even if I am pushing the limits of the power steering there shouldn't be that much of a noticable noise. Would appreciate any replys, comments, brush offs, or anything. Just want to make sure that I'm taking care of my AV. Thanks.
 
I dont seem to have a tick or looseness in mine. It feels sticky at certain positions in the turn when wheel should be returning to straight. Doesnt do it always just sometimes. Dealer said they couldn't find anything.
 
I just had my wife's Tahoe service last week (14,500 miles on the ODO) for the same problem. They greased the intermidiate steering shaft. It's been doing it since the truck had about 10,000 miles on it. The dealer claims the new grease is better and they too have not had any back for a second fix. There is a technical service bulliten out and it effects all full size GM trucks including the Suburban, Tahoe, Silverado and Avalanche. My Avalanche only has about 1,000 miles on it, so we'll see what happens there. My suggestion is to have it serviced under warranty no matter how slight it is. It is amazing how it tightens up the steering like new. Good luck to all.
 
What is the potential, if any, safety hazard of not getting the intermediate shaft repacked with grease?
Click to expand...
My service manager said no hazard, but I guess we can't be completly sure of this. If it were a real safety issue, I'd hope that there would be a recall. I'm not personally worried as I believe this to only be any annoying thing, not a dangerous one. JMO.
 
blackbeauty said:
...dementlr, RichUF, ALL,

Just joined the club and hope the this thread isn't closed. I just purchased a 04 Z66. It had been used as a demo and I was told the the sales manager had used it for offroading. Well it's got 2K on it and I'm having the same issues that dementlr had. When I cut the wheels not even to the max(but close to it), in forward and reverse, there is the click/tick sound that is very noticable. Kinda like a click...click... click. Doesn't matter the weather, or if the truck is cold or has been warming up. The sound is there and my concern is could there be some major damage going on. dementlr, are you still having the same problems, did you have your AV looked at? I may just be paranoid, but I would think that even if I am pushing the limits of the power steering there shouldn't be that much of a noticable noise. Would appreciate any replys, comments, brush offs, or anything. Just want to make sure that I'm taking care of my AV. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'd have that looked at if it were my av. I was referring to that squeeling type sound that nearly all vehicles with power streering seem to make when turned to its limit.

Welcome to the club (y)
 
Took the beast in for the intermediate shaft lubrication... Imagine my surprise when the dealer said they had performed the TSB when I last had the oil changed... Still had the clunk, so the dealer is replacing the shaft.... Part will be in tormorrow.

Never knew they had done the job the first time.... Pretty sneaky, huh? ;D I'm not complaining... Nice service...
 
Took my Av in this weekend for a tire rotate/balance (probably last one before $1,000 of new tires :cautious:) and had 30,000 service done...the one in the book, not the one the dealer tried to sell me :0:

Anyways, I compained about loose steering again. Had lubed per the TSB about 20,000 miles ago, so that's about as long as it lasts on my truck. To my surprise, they replaced the intermediate steering shaft. They said that that's what they do after two complaints. Drives like new again, at least for a while (y)
 
got my Av. back after having the same problem with the steering wheel ....

Make sure!!! ... if they are going to just lube it that they change the shaft too! .... once they changed my shaft and lubed it, the truck was better than when I bought it. ... Wife finally got to drive it over the w/e and she agrees ....
 
Intimidatoruag said:
got my Av. back after having the same problem with the steering wheel ....

Make sure!!! ... if they are going to just lube it that they change the shaft too! .... once they changed my shaft and lubed it, the truck was better than when I bought it. ... Wife finally got to drive it over the w/e and she agrees ....
Click to expand...


Intimidatoruag,

Do you happen to know the TSB or under what guidance the service department used to replace your steering shaft. Unfortunately My service department won't do anything without a sheet of paper or GM telling them too.. Thanks.

BB
 
I've had this same ticking in the steering shaft, but it was LONG time ago.. they re-greased it per the TSB. Then, it came back, and that caused me to take it back in.

This time, after inspecting everything, the replaced the Pitman arm and the Idler arm. Apparently it was ticking from there this time.

I guess that fixed the problem because I have no ticking now.
 
(y)

Well my 03 AV went in today to get that infamous "tick" diagnosed...when I go up or down an offramp I feel like the front end is loose and a click in the steering wheel...yep thats what i had....The tech did say they are replacing them quite frequently and I had the TSB from one of these forums dated jan 04...but he did say there was a newer one actually telling them to replace the shaft with this "new" and improved shaft..

WHo knows...all I know is it did fix the problem and seems to steer a bit better..but that could be all in my mind....

they didnt have the S.S. tailgate cables yet though..(recall stuff)

Just FYI... :cool:
 
wow folks, just when mine started with this problem it shows up on the top 10 list on the homepage. Thanks to all who posted on this problem and providing the list of fixes - now I'm well equipped with info for the dealer...

BTW, last service visit I mentioned this and the response on the bill says..."NPF VEHICLE OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS"
 
blackbeauty said:
Does Anyone know the TSB number for the steering shaft replacement? I've tried one site but it didn't show up there?
Click to expand...

Would this be on my paperwork from GM? I can go and get it outside and look....
 
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