Dorman Replacement Intermediate Steering Shaft

alcaudle · July 15, 2010

I just replaced the intermediate shaft on my 04 at 30,000 miles with the Dorman from NAPA. It was an improvement for the first few hundred miles, but now it is clunking worse than before. The new shaft was really stiff to expand and contract. I didn't think it should be that stiff, but put it on anyway. Should it be hard to move or did I get a defective unit? BTW, it was way longer than 15 minutes to replace, due to having a hard time moving the shaft to line up the bolt holes. Thanks,

Alan

dlstewart01 · July 15, 2010

I just replaced the intermediate shaft on my 04 at 30,000 miles with the Dorman from NAPA. It was an improvement for the first few hundred miles, but now it is clunking worse than before. The new shaft was really stiff to expand and contract. I didn't think it should be that stiff, but put it on anyway. Should it be hard to move or did I get a defective unit? BTW, it was way longer than 15 minutes to replace, due to having a hard time moving the shaft to line up the bolt holes. Thanks,
Alan

Get the GM up-dated replacement part # 19153614. I've had one in my truck for over two years with no issues.

r1byker · July 15, 2010

I just replaced the intermediate shaft on my 04 at 30,000 miles with the Dorman from NAPA. It was an improvement for the first few hundred miles, but now it is clunking worse than before. The new shaft was really stiff to expand and contract. I didn't think it should be that stiff, but put it on anyway. Should it be hard to move or did I get a defective unit? BTW, it was way longer than 15 minutes to replace, due to having a hard time moving the shaft to line up the bolt holes. Thanks,
Alan

Get the GM up-dated replacement part # 19153614. I've had one in my truck for over two years with no issues.

I must have the updated one; I had the original replaced at about 16,000 miles under warranty. I now have 82,000 and the problem hasn't reoccurred.

hamsalad · July 15, 2010

I have extensive experience with this issue. It happened with my 04 and 06 2500HD. I had the typical ISS clunks, etc. Re-greased...that fixed it for awhile. Then it came back. Replaced with another stock unit. It came back. Replaced with updated unit. Fixed for longer, but came back. But that time the clunk felt a little different. Not to be outdone I purchased an aftermarket unit from Jeg's. It may have been a Moog or Borgeson. Anyhow, that REALLY made it clunk like mad. Why? The aftermarket units are so stiff they actually wear out the ISS bearing inside the ISS tube. They create lateral or deflective movement from side to side ( up and down, really) since the slip yoke doesn't move as easily as the stocker. Nuts!

Many clunks in the ISS are misdiagnosed as the ISS itself when it could be the bearing has worn and become sloppy. The ISS bearing is a very poor design no matter if you have the white or "updated" green version. They are some sort of ABS plastic with METAL bearings inside the bearing race. Not built to stand the test of time. So...just some info for troubleshooting. Hope it helps.

Todd

alcaudle · July 15, 2010

Thanks. I'll check out that bearing this weekend.

jrrod2004 · July 15, 2010

sorry that you have had this issue like the rest of us. as Don said: GM # 19153614 should work. If not, get a Flaming River I Shaft and replace it (incoming heart attack):

http://www.flamingriver.com/index.cfm/page...prod/prd363.htm

dlstewart01 · July 15, 2010

The updated bearing part # is...88963617

ScottyBoy · July 15, 2010

I regreased my original one twice shortly after buying my truck. Each time only lasted about 2-3 months before the clunk returned. Then I replaced it with the updated shaft sometime in 2008. That one started clunking withing 2-3 months as well. In Jan 2009, they replaced it under warranty with another new style shaft and I have been clunk free ever since. Before GM came out with the new style shaft they said the original shaft had to be re-packed with grease. My warranty would not cover that since they since greasing a steering component was considered maintenance. However, they said it woul be coverd if the shaft had actually "failed". So once I upgraded to the new style shaft out of my own pocket, the new part actually failed and the warranty then had to cover the cost of replacing it.

remington351 · July 15, 2010

Hey guys I don't mean to hijack the thread but I was hoping you can help me. I have a 2005 1500 EC with 120kmi. I've owned the truck since 90k and have had the ISS clunk since day one. I don't necessary mind the ISS clunk/noise since the truck is 100% work/hauling truck.

I'm curious if the ISS clunk is a safety issue. If I continue to drive it as is do I risk the ISS breaking and/or ISS bearing failing which would cause me to lose steering control at some point in the future?

Thanks for the help.

dlstewart01 · July 15, 2010

Hey guys I don't mean to hijack the thread but I was hoping you can help me. I have a 2005 1500 EC with 120kmi. I've owned the truck since 90k and have had the ISS clunk since day one. I don't necessary mind the ISS clunk/noise since the truck is 100% work/hauling truck.

I'm curious if the ISS clunk is a safety issue. If I continue to drive it as is do I risk the ISS breaking and/or ISS bearing failing which would cause me to lose steering control at some point in the future?

Thanks for the help.

It is not a safety issue, just aggravating.