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Looseness Or Tick In Steering

ShapeShifter

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Location
Buffalo, NY
marc_w said:
I don't have a LOW speed noise, but I DO have a bit of a 'tick' when I have the wheel cranked over to take the large sweeping 180-degree turns to come up the hill here to work...

I hit a bump from a crack or manhole, and I get a little loose feeling up front, along with the faintest little 'tick' noise.
I have what sounds like the same thing. I can't hear it, but it feels like a little bit of play in the front end. When going around a rough right turn cloverleaf ramp, I can feel a slight "tick" in the steering wheel as I hit any bumps.

It doesn't really bother me, but I don't want to ignore it in case it's the beginning of a bigger problem. I'm about due for a tire rotation, so when I have the front end jacked up and the tires off, I will look for anything loose or worn.

If I find any problems, I will take it to the dealer. I have the Waag brush guard waiting for me to put it on, but I will wait until I have a chance to check out the front end. If I do have to take it to the dealer, I don't want them trying to blame the problems on the extra weight of the guard. :rolleyes:

-- SS
 
This is the "clunk/pop" i get in my steering wheel!, THe dealer has no clue how to fix it or even hear the noise. It will be interesting if you dig up anything.
Frank
 
ultravorx said:
This is the "clunk/pop" i get in my steering wheel!, THe dealer has no clue how to fix it or even hear the noise. ?It will be interesting if you dig up anything.
Frank
It could just be a difference in terminology (which is a very subjective thing) but I wouldn't characterize my issue as either a clunk or a pop. It may or not be the same thing.

In my case I hear nothing, marc_w hears a faint sound. It's just a faint little feeling in the steering wheel... as if there is a little bit of play or backlash, maybe even a fraction of a degree.

If I had to guess at this point, it seems like it may be just a little bit of play in the steering linkage or front suspension. But time will tell when I have a chance to look at it. Maybe this weekend.

-- SS
 
I had the "right turn" clunk in my truck. I could really feel it when on the cloverleaf ramp. There is a service bulletin for the dealers to regrease the steering shaft. This problem is common in the 99+ new body style tucks and 00+ SUVs. Apparently there isn't enough grease in the shaft from the factory.

BTW, since I own my truck, I asked them how long does this fix last? And how much would it cost if I had to pay for it? The answers from my dealership: We don't know how long it lasts because nobody has brought them back in for the 2nd regreasing. And, at today's labor rates, it's just over $100 bucks.
 
Do you know what the TSB # is on this? I've noticed the same thing ShapeShifter is referring to in that there is a looseness that I can feel that may not be apparent to someone not driving the truck regularly - just a touch of looseness, a 'click' that I feel (but not hear) when going over rough pavement.
 
I've been noticing the same thing. Hard to explain, it seems to click and be a little loose on right turns. Thanks for the info a TSB # would be great so I can print it out to show it to the dealer. That should save me about a half hour of arguing!
 
I have had the same problem with the tick in the stearing at 15,000 miles. Now, I am at 30,000 miles and the problem is back. The dealership said that they replaced the stearing shaft the first time: now I brought it back in and they said they couldn't find any problems. They did not even regrease it and it is still making the tick.
 
This may sound really idiotic, but I thought I had some noises coming from my steering wheel as well. It sounded like some scratching noise, or something. Well, what was it?

I have a keychain that is from a local supermarket that you can scan and you get discounts, right!!! Well, it would scratch against the back of the wheel as I made a hard turn!!!!! Since there are airbags the wheel is bigger and was just scraping against this little plastic key chain. So far....thats been my only problem with my AV 27000 miles and counting.
 
I have had this problem as well. I took it in with about 21000 miles. What they did was replace and repack the steering intermediate shaft. This seem to fix my loosen in the steering wheel. I am not at 42000 miles and have started to feel the same loosen once again. So if you were to ask me how often does this need to be repacked. I would say every 20K miles. If someone has the manuel and can tell us how this is done. I talked with one of the techs from the dealer and he said this was common problem :-[
 
Hey guys, Im telling you it is the intermediate shaft. I had this problem from the day I drove it home from the dealership. It drove me nuts. It eventually got so bad, not only could I feel it but I could clearly hear it. I took it in the first time and they said this has not been a service issue, but did say they greased the intermediate shaft. On the way home I noticed it still did it, just not as bad. Of course it eventually got severe again. I took it back a second time and they said they replaced the intermediate shaft. Well once again they said it has not been a service issue. Needless to say, still doing it. I took it in a 3rd time and requested that a technician drive it with me. We didnt even get out of the parking lot and he said it was definitely the inermediate shaft. He immediately pulled it into a work bay and asked me if I had 5 minutes. He pulled the intmdt shaft and replaced it in less than 3 minutes. I said to him "its a good thing you had the part on hand," he in turn said "Ive done so many of these I can do it with my eyes closed". He said almost all of them are bad. I said theyve already replaced it once and he just shook his head and rolled his eyes.

My guess is that they are more than aware of the problem and are trying to grease these things as way to passify the problem while they are billing GM for full replacement of the part. Dealerships make a ton of their money from service and warranty work. Dont let them tell you theyve never heard of this problem, and request that you watch while the tech actually replaces the part. Only takes a couple of minutes.

Good Luck J
 
Wow... some usefull info. I just hope my local dealer is as good as yours, white02. (I still have a bad taste in my mouth from a different local one. I went in because my other truck's brake pedal could be floored under hard braking. "No problem found.")

I'll pull my shaft and grease it this weekend... If it still does it, I'll pick up the dreaded phone.

But yeah, I noticed the issue a little more this morning. I'm still hearing/feeling a little tick.
 
At 34k miles I had the steering shaft repacked by the dealer. The work order said that the mechanic repacked and "worked" the grease into the splines of the shaft. I put up with this since 15k, I love the way it feels now. If it comes back, (out of warranty), I will talk to the mechanic, (or read the service manual), to see how to do it. I wonder if a ZERK fitting could be installed and make this the 12th. grease fitting. Any professional GM mechanics out there who might have any idea.??
 
I am still waiting for someone with a service manuel to tell us how to regrease it or replace it. It looks real easy the only problem is the air bag can go off. If someone has the part # and instructions on how to replace this please let us know. I am over 47K miles and do not what to pay the dealer to do this work.
 
Hernz Av said:
I am still waiting for someone with a service manuel to tell us how to regrease it or replace it.
This information is not in the service manual, at least I have not been able to find it.

The service bulletin has been previously posted:

mrosenfield said:
For those interested, here is a copy of the service bulletin for this fix. I hope this is readable. I had to ZIP it so I would post. It is viewable using Internet Explorer.
The ZIP file that is attached to that post is here.

TexAvFan also adds this advice:

TexAVfan said:
There is a TSB about the problem and a kit you can get to apply the special grease to the intermediate section of the steering column shaft - the kit is cheap and the job is simple - I have done it on my wifes 01 Suburban - however you must be very carefull as the steering wheel must be locked in place when doing this service with a steering wheel lock bar - if the wheel rotates too many times it will break the clock spring for the SRS (air bag, horn - wiring) You should ask the dealer about this Campaign as it should be performed at no charge. I would let a dealer do this or you can drive to Texas and I will do it for ya. ;)

Hope this helps!

-- SS
 
All, i had my intermitend half shaft regreased per the TSB and now the problem is back. ?I did do some rough 4x4ing (about 12,000 miles later) and had some deep water crossings. ?When I drove home the next morning the problem was there again, only about 10 times worse. ?I wonder if water can get in the shaft and either eliminate the grease or affect it somehow, then when it dries out everything is fine. ?I have not had it back in but the problem only appears randomly now. ? Maybe twice a month the feeling returns but it is never consistant. ?Kinda strange...
 
Thanks SS,
I think this was done by the dealer when I had about 22K miles. It did fix the problem for a while. I now have 48K miles and have the problem back again. Does anyone know if this is a schedule maintence that need to be done every so many miles. I know the kit is cheap but if the steer shaft is a problem is there a new replacement part where you will not have to grease the shaft every 20K miles. I know the TSB says not to replace the shaft but is it that GM is trying to save some money to get by till after the warrenty is expired. I know some of the post above say that the dealer replaced the shaft. That is what my service advisor told me also, but all they did was put the grease kit on.






ShapeShifter said:
This information is not in the service manual, at least I have not been able to find it.

The service bulletin has been previously posted:

The ZIP file that is attached to that post is here.

TexAvFan also adds this advice:


Hope this helps!

-- SS
 
Just had mine fixed...there is a problem where the stearing collum fits into something underneath...well..the grease leakes from this box. The fix...they have a plug to stop it from leaking and they inject new grease inside. It fixed it!!! no problems now. sorry fro the lack of tech. terms.
 
I ahve had my Intermediate shaft re greased twice. Now the problem is back again. It is a well known GM problem. Even the front end tech at my dealer has the problem on his 03 silverado.
 
I don't know if the grease kit is a perm. fix. I don't think it is. I don't know if replacing the shaft is a fix either. Here is the price for the grease kit and shaft from Dal. I might just get a couple of kits and do this every 20-30K miles.

hi, the grease pkg is 9.52 each.

thanks
dal

hi george, the prices are below:

upper shaft 103.16 each
lower " 106.72 each
complete kit 147.80 each (incudes top and bottom)

let me know

thanks
dal

 
There is NO replacement shaft made... DO NOT waste your money on a new intermediate shaft is you will only be buying what you already have.

The grease is temporary and will eventually work it's way off the rubbing and sliding parts of the intermediate shaft. The whole issue is due to a poorly designed intermediate shaft. It affects Silverados also and has been an issue for a few years.

The reason why there is an intermediate shaft that has movement (In and Out) is in case of a front end collision. It prevents the steering colum from pushing into your belly :)
 
OK, I have been noticing my steering has been acting up again. BUT, only when it rains, it is very annoying. I had the TSB done but when the roads are wet it acts up. Anyone who stated they have had this reoccuring problem notice it worsens when it rains?

~bekind
 
My steering wheel has had that "click" also...but only on extended right turns (exiting a highway or taking a loop, something like that)...

...guess I'll take it to the dealership and see what happens...

Kim
 
Yes, this is when I notice mine too, long sweeping turns you can really feel the ticking, both through the wheel and sometimes it is even audible.

~bekind
 
bekind said:
OK, I have been noticing my steering has been acting up again. BUT, only when it rains, it is very annoying. I had the TSB done but when the roads are wet it acts up. Anyone who stated they have had this reoccuring problem notice it worsens when it rains?

~bekind

Yeah, this is when I notice the click most. Also if it's hot weather and I have the AC on. I guess if there is a little extra load when turning it's really loud.

The dealer as my truck today. Hopefully they can deal with it, even if it's a temporary fix. Last time they tried to fix this they replaced the driver door hinge pins. ???

Maybe I should show them this thread!

chevy03
 
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