14 Sierra steering rack clunk, rack needs replaced

lockey14s · August 4, 2015

chevy will not replace it. saying its due to leveling kit

613 IRDM A/T · August 5, 2015

chevy will not replace it. saying its due to leveling kit

That is strange cause i had mine replaced at 14000 kms with no hesitation at all by dealer and i have had the leveling kit installed since day one.

I would keep trying cause there are alot of people who have got them replaced already.

lockey14s · August 5, 2015

Right off the bat they would not do a single thing. they put it on the lift and saw the spacer and said no. they didnt want to risk the chance that they would eat the cost of the rack if chevy said it was due to the level kit. they also said they have never worked on any vehicles with any lifts and never install them, which is a flat out lie because I have seen lifted trucks in their lot before. you would think the dealer that you purchased the truck from would help you out and want your returned business.... guess not.

i will look into going to a different dealer that might cover it. otherwise im looking at a $2500 bill to fix this POS rack that cant even handle a $150 leveling kit.

ddub28 · November 2, 2016

lockey 14s or anyone else... have you found a more affordable solution?

I had a 3.5 rough country lift kit installed on my 2014 4x4 silverado 1500. I started getting the clunk noise when turning the wheel and also when backing up. The installer tightened everything back up and then it came back and has gotten worse over the last few months. Now it makes a creaking noise every time I turn the wheel and feels loose. The clunk is still occuring but more so the creaking noise now. Its constant.

Anyone have this issue and find a solution?

ezb0012 · November 8, 2016

Same issue on my 2015. Hoping GM will do a recall.

tmccm1 · January 2, 2017

My situation sounds like these. Front leveling kit(Rancho) was installed by dealer to sell a GM program truck. It's a 2014 Silverado LTZ that was built on 3/25/2013 - yes 2013. The build sheet says it. I have the clunk on left turn only. First the selling dealer said they couldn't duplicate the noise. I moved away from the area, and dealer in new area said it was due to the lift kit. Back to originating dealer, but by now we are at about 40k miles - oops, now there is no warranty coverage. Now at 73k miles, it's getting much worse, and hearing scrunching sounds as steering rack travels it's range of motion. If GM want sot blame the lift kit, does it matter that their sales outlet was the one that installed it?

SAKO79 · January 2, 2017

My situation sounds like these. Front leveling kit(Rancho) was installed by dealer to sell a GM program truck. It's a 2014 Silverado LTZ that was built on 3/25/2013 - yes 2013. The build sheet says it. I have the clunk on left turn only. First the selling dealer said they couldn't duplicate the noise. I moved away from the area, and dealer in new area said it was due to the lift kit. Back to originating dealer, but by now we are at about 40k miles - oops, now there is no warranty coverage. Now at 73k miles, it's getting much worse, and hearing scrunching sounds as steering rack travels it's range of motion. If GM want sot blame the lift kit, does it matter that their sales outlet was the one that installed it?

From my experience if you do any modification's to a truck and this cause the oem parts to fail the warranty can and may be denied. Even if a dealer install's them. It doesn't matter what brand of truck u buy it's all the same

TyGriff13 · March 22, 2018

Having the same issue on my 2014 Sierra as we speak, had to take it to four different shops to get an honest opinion out of anyone, there is a GM Recall currently out for the steering rack in 20114 GMC's and Chevy's alike. Unfortunately, it is only to flash the EPS module and say that they fixed everything and in reality it did nothing (GM Recall Number: N172085440). After taking my truck to two custom offroad shops, a Chevy, and a GMC dealer the only people saying it is because of the lift is the GMC dealer and one of the offroad shops (Who also told me it was my 4" Rough Country and quoted me a low $3,400 for a new 6" Fabtech LOL). So now the last place I took it to was the second offroad shop and they told me it was very easy to replace and told me exactly how to do it, so it sounds like I've got my Saturday project, oh joy. GM Part No: 84235647 is the new steering rack for the 2014's at least. I recommend calling your local dealer and asking them for a part number though, just to be safe.

They also did quote me $1,859.24 for the part alone, I told em to kiss my big fat white...you get the point. I will try to get some pictures of the process and the broken rack, wish me luck!

TTech631 · April 4, 2018

About 8 months ago I bought a 2014 silverado used from a local dealer. Truck already had a 4” lift with 35” tires. Shortly after buying I took the truck to the Chevy dealer because I was made aware of an open recall about the electric power steering going out at slow speeds for some owners. The dealer “reprogrammed” the electric power steering and a couple weeks later I started hearing a clicking in the steering column while turning the wheel at extremely slow speeds or while stationary. No steering issues while driving.

Last week i go down some wet/muddy county roads and my truck gets covered in mud. About 10 hours later I drive to a rodeo and after I come back to my truck. I start my pickup and suddenly it says.. service power steering drive safe... i wrestle it home without power steering and park it. The next morning I call for a tow truck. Right before the tow truck arrives I go to move my truck to make it easier for the tow truck driver to hook up and my truck starts right up and everything is working fine. I cancel the tow truck and drive my truck down the road to the coffee shop. As I’m pulling back into my apt complex my power steering goes out while I’m driving and turning at slow speed.

I park it and call another tow truck. Same thing happened again an hour later. I go and start it to move it for the tow truck and it is working fine.... clearly and electrical issue...

I get it to the dealer and they say they cannot connect to electric power steering module and says the rack/pinion needs to be replaced because it’s all the same part. Dealer (Gene Messer Chevy in Lubbock TX) quotes me $2900 for the work (saying the part alone is 2200). I get it towed to my local trusted mechanic and they get the part from the Scoggin Dickey Chevy in Lubbock for $1859 and charges me $2500 for the install, reprogram and alignment.

I will be reporting the issue to NHTSA. My mechanic said the new rack and pinion was labeled as “remanufactured” by GM which indicates to me that they have realized there is a problem and quietly fixed it.

Ive heard two trains of thought on the issue...

1- the connectors for the electric power steering control module were not initially made water tight causing moisture to enter the module and fry it.

2- the electric power steering control modules themselves were faulty to begin with and to cover it up GM said it was a software issue and issued a “recalll” to “reprogram” them so they could cover their butts when they did eventually fail.

Let me know what you think

by the way my vin series is 5xxxxx

my truck also only has 29000 miles... was bought with 22000