2016 2500hd Sierra Denali

The sloppy steering develops slowly and I think you adapt without consciously noticing it until it gets really bad. I could move the steering wheel from 10-2 without the wheels moving in any direction just prior to shipping the gear off. My experience may differ from yours, but I think the issue started for me around 8000 miles, GM complied with the TSB "D" which advises to replace the pitman arm, which helped a little. Curiously the teeth on the pitman arm were worn in half and I wondered where the metal from the pitman arm teeth went...evidently, even after flushing the gear there was still metal contamination in the gear which exacerbates bearing wear. GM said the slop was normal for 16's... They just lost another customer...

Should've proof read before posting.... #5 should read... 5: Not sure what this is called but the adjuster nut at the opposite end of the pitman shaft is torqued to IMproper spec's, and doesn't have a locking nut on it.

just got off the phone with my steering gear builder and found out a couple of things... 1: DSA has nothing to do with steering slop. 2: The slop has everything to do with poor quality control of the steering gear, including different size ball bearing utilized in the worm and piston gears...this is a cheap way to make the gear work. 3: Thrust bearings are not tight enough. 4: Lock ring is not tight enough. 5: Not sure what this is called but the adjuster nut at the opposite end of the pitman shaft is torqued to proper spec's, and doesn't have a locking nut on it. 6: The 2017 model has the same steering box as the 16...I think it also effects the 2015 but I'm not certain. I have about 2000 miles on my RH gear, also, just put a cognito PISK kit on...don't really notice any difference with the PISK kit, regardless truck drive great with no play in the steering... Good luck guys!!

Installed Red Head steering gear yesterday, only driven about 30 miles but the play in the steering wheel is gone! It now drives as a vehicle should. Previously I could rotate the steering wheel 1-2" before any correction to direction of travel was evident...which isn't a big deal when going around constant radius corners but when driving straight (or trying to) on the highway was a real PITA! My suggestion to others who have experienced this issue is contact Red Head (and no I don't work for them) I spoke with Daniel, who was very helpful, I think the exchange unit was $650, but after shipping and core charges it was more like $1K, but I'll get a refund of $300 once the core is returned. Regardless, the $700 or so to have the truck driving as it should is a drop in the bucket depreciation wise, compared to the cost of selling/trading the truck. So, I'm happy with the way the truck drives now/today...hopefully it will hold up...time will tell. EXTREMELY UNHAPPY WITH GM and their lack of response to what I believe is a known issue. Later Taters!

UPDATE...So, after getting the runaround from two dealers and not being able to sell/trade the vehicle without taking a HUGE hit, I looked at purchasing a new oem steering box, but was concerned that I would be facing the same issue in 10K miles. So, I contacted RedHead Steering gear in Washington, they have isolated the problem with the GM oem steering box and modified their overhauled units. I have the steering gear in hand and it will be installed next week sometime and I'll update you then...Sure hope this fixes it! RedHead has been in business for 40 years, so, they must be doing something right...Daniel was the guy I spoke with and he was very helpful. I'm convinced GM knows about the problem and what the fix is, but refuses to step up to the plate and repair/replace the unit. Evidently, GM has some bean counter that says it's cheaper for them to stiff their customers $65K truck and risk being sued then admit to the problem and issue a new TSB that fixes the issue. More to come...

Picked it up yesterday, marginally better? Mechanic said, yeah, "they all do that", I said the 17's don't, he said yeah, they fixed it for 17, but the 17 has shift problems from 4th to 5th and some engine noise issues... He told me he adjusted the steering gear pitman shaft lash adjuster screw...like I said marginally better. I like the truck, but don't like the way it steers. http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=5876 I think I might just sell it and move on...wasted enough time on this thing. Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread!

I asked about the pitman arm and shaft yesterday morning when I dropped it off and they confirmed they are one piece.

The pitman shaft was worn. The picture they showed me it appeared that the arm and shaft were all one piece. The shaft goes INTO the steering box, as they changed the fluid and replaced a seal. Truck goes in this morning, we'll see and I'll let you know.

Engine response was much better, seemed a little louder than the 16, honestly I didn't pay that much attention to the engine or sounds, was concentrating on the difference in steering and much smoother ride...17 has some sort of magnetic ride compensation which if it's anything like the DSA will quit at 5K...LOL It's interesting we haven't heard from the GM tech support lurkers on this thread, they know they've got a problem and the fix is expensive so what do we hear....CRICKETS...

It's been a couple of weeks since I've been on this thread. Truck has spent most of it's time at dealership. New Pitman arm TSB "D", better but still not right, truck had a readylift kit, keys, UCA's and shims, I've removed all of that and now it's stock and still on level hwy drives like a boat. I put a little starboard input in wait for the helm to answer and then put a little port in and wait...last weekend drove about 300 miles all hwy what a PITA! So, went back to dealership drove a 17...OMG night and day difference, drives straight no wandering on hwy....I'm going to shoot for a new steering box, if that doesn't fix it I'm gonna get rid of it and buy a FORD! I've tried driving with Stabilitrak off, tow mode on (better) but loose steering still present. Input on steering wheel is not uniform, very loose at 12 position, but stiff if I move to 11:30 or 12:30 position. Let go of wheel on rough road steering wheel rotates back and forth on it's own. Tap the brakes, steering wheel moves? When they removed the original pitman arm the tooth at the 12 position was worn in half, they changed the fluid in the steering box, but my thought is where did all the metal fragments go from the pitman arm...I'm thinking that whole hydraulic system is contaminated making inputs on the wheel inconsistent...I'll keep you posted!

I don't think gm technicians know where the DSA gets it's data from...gm dlr told me wheel sensors...but that would negate any sort of change in suspension geometry, which seems to be a common thread on this site...hmmm!

Yep, I left 3VM's for service tech today...crickets...not sure what's going on. I too am about done with this truck and GM. I have a brand new Cognito stage 1 4-6" lift kit with fox shocks never installed. Banana pan (in black) and driver door pillar gauge kit...all new in box. All for sale including truck!

It's standard on crew cab models, available on double cab with diesel engine.

If your 3500 has a double or crew cab it has digital assist steering.

16 2500HD Denali, 8500 miles... Where do you suggest we file complaints, GM is not interested in addressing the issue, NHTSA?, BBB?...Thx!

10", That's really interesting about holding down the stabilitrak button to disengage...I've noticed that using tow mode also seems to firm up steering especially in 11-1 position where the DA steering seems to be the loosest...When they finish mine up I'm going to ask them to drive in all three modes...everything on, tow mode and stabilitrak disengaged...see what happens...thx 10"

10" Just curious, but did you notice when you got the stabilitrak light, was the plow up or down...my mechanic was dubious of turning the keys with digital assist installed.

I think if I remember correctly... if the vin has an F in it, Flint was the manufacturer city.

GS340, If your 3500 has a double or crew cab it has digital assist steering. They told me and showed me the damage on the pitman arm, saying it was poorly designed and that the "D" TSB should fix. The tooth on my pitman arm at the 12 o clock postion was worn in half, which makes me wonder when you were turning in a parking lot if the pitman arm jumped a tooth in the steering box, creating your problem.

I heard from the dealer mechanic yesterday, he's older with experience and he asked me some questions...which I found interesting and might help explain our dilemma. I had bought the truck with 5K miles on it as I grew tired of the dealership games and bought through a used car guy it was loaded and a great price. The mechanic asked me if I knew it had been lifted, I said yes it had "ready lift" keys on which I had removed and put stock keys in, also the shocks had been changed (Fox, might have been stock as it had off road pkg), he also stated it had non oem upper and lower "A" arms and that the front driveshaft had been shimmed, probably because the previous owner had put larger than stock tires on the truck. I told the mechanic to turn the keys down to stock position and remove the front driveshaft shim and see if that makes any difference. That's supposed to happen Monday...we'll see. After talking a bit more, the mechanic said this Digital Assist steering is very precise when it comes to front end rake, with regard to the geometry of the entire rack up front...anyway I have purchased a Cognito 4" lift for this truck and if I can't get rid of the rake I'm going to get rid of the truck...I'll keep you posted. The poster above 10" made me think more about the geometry of the front end, as when you put the plow on and are transporting it the front end is a lot lower than stock unless 10" had it lifted...lot to think about. Not sure why GM thought this digital assist BS was necessary, the 15' and previous steered just fine and you could mod the trucks without all this drama...to be continued.

Howdiy, How many miles and which model year do you have? Was the steering box, pitman arm and Idler installed under warranty? I am also going to install the Cognito PISK kit, along with their 4" lift package, assuming or course that GM can get there act together and get this fixed...I don't think it's even or their radar right now and was a monetary decision by GM bean counters to let it slide...sad. Truck is at dealer (again) pushing for a new steering box, asked if I should wait until they order one, svc replied we've got three here already...makes me think this is a regular occurrence for this model/year...

16 2500HD 8500 miles. I had the latest TSB "D" done last week, which made the steering a little better but in no way did it fix the steering issue. Truck is back at dealership, where I believe they're going to replace the steering box. I've never in my life had a vehicle that drove this poorly, even after the pittman arm replacement you can still feel it clunking through the column when taking a turn, the wheel moves on its own when driving straight down a highway and yes I had a 4 wheel alignment done at Pittman replacement. The steering wheel resistance at hwy speeds is not uniform, meaning at 70-80mph steering wheel at 12 0 clock position the SW resistance is that of a 1965 Cadillac coupe de ville, when trying to negotiate a gentle hwy turn the SW resistance is that of a non power steering diesel truck. When they replaced the PA they took a picture of the spindle gear and it appeared to have been worn in half, I asked what the gear it mated with in the steering box looked like, they said good...evidently, that was some what of an exaggeration... It would seem IMHO that GM is not stepping up to the plate (go figure) on this one, and letting the dealers take the fall. I don't think GM compensates the dealers equally for warranty work and it seems like they instruct them (dealer/service) to do the minimum and just see if that fixes it. Very disappointed in GM! I'll update when they get the steering box installed.