New member in Italy

[manuel86it]

Hi folks!

Here i am!

Happy owner of a black 2003 Avalanche 1500 in Italy! I live in the north-east corner of this "strange" country, close to one of the biggest US Air Force bases in Europe, that's one of the reason why i spoke english, not so good but enough to understand each other. Just bought it some months ago, spent some time in addressing some issues, installing some mods and upgrades and i'm now finally starting to enjoy my truck!

Actually there's a couple of things left to do, a front end clunk which i'm in quest for and a oil burning issue that i'm going to address soon with a compression test of the cylinders.

Apart from that, the truck runs great and it's going to be my daily drive.

Already found some good info on this forum so i'll keep going on! Come back to you later.

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

Welcome !

[Carder09]

Aviano I presume?

[MikeNH]

Welcome to the site!

[Stevens03]

Welcome to the site. As far as your clunk goes, it could be the intermediate steering shaft. Other than the clunk which know one likes, its not a safety issue. GM's fix was to replace the shaft but that didn't solve the issue for some so they put out a lube kit to pack the joint with grease to help take up some of the slack which helped remove the cluck noise. The shaft comes out in about 5 minutes and you can pack the joint full of grease and reinstall. Also another common problem with the trucks is the slip yoke clunk. That too can be fixed very easy with some grease. By unbolting the u-joint at the rear differential, you can drop the shaft. Once out, you can pack the slip yoke splines with grease and re-install. It will feel tight going back in.

 

Good luck!

[manuel86it]

hey! once brought home i had the clunk always when turning in both direction for all the duration of the turn. i changed the intermediate steering shaft and no more clunking when turning!

i only get a clunk\thump noise, but it is only one noise (not for all the duration of the turn, just a thump and not always) when i do a high degree turn, like roundabouts or something similar...

 

Do you think i should pack with some grease also the new shaft? It seems strange because this clunk noise... i can feel just under my feet (drivers seat)... making me very angry...

[Stevens03]

Yes, its the slip yoke thats making the clunk. Once again, GM replaced with nickle plated slip yokes and that works for a while, but in the end, the noise comes back. Drop the drive shaft, and pack the spline with some grease with your fingers and re-install. It should be tighter since grease doesn't compact. It will take up some of the slack and the noise at your feet will go away.

[SteveBBB]

Welcome Aboard, good luck with the new truck!

[manuel86it]

thank to you all, i'll definitely spend some more time with the new clues! and yes... for who said Aviano, there i am! Have you been here?

[txab]

Welcome

[RyanbabZ71]

Welcome!

 

 

Ryan

[02suburbanZ71]

Yes, its the slip yoke thats making the clunk. Once again, GM replaced with nickle plated slip yokes and that works for a while, but in the end, the noise comes back. Drop the drive shaft, and pack the spline with some grease with your fingers and re-install. It should be tighter since grease doesn't compact. It will take up some of the slack and the noise at your feet will go away.

So if the clunking re appears this means the updated nickel slip yoke is not effective, or something is causing it to wear out/clunk? Would an aftermarket performance yoke be a better alternative?

[MikeNH]

When I got what I thought was the final revision of the ISS for my 2003 in like 2006/7 it solved the issue for me.

 

 

 

No idea if the shaft they sell today is made to the same specifications though.

[02suburbanZ71]

When I got what I thought was the final revision of the ISS for my 2003 in like 2006/7 it solved the issue for me.

 

 

 

No idea if the shaft they sell today is made to the same specifications though.

Was there only 1 revision?

[MikeNH]

Was there only 1 revision?

 

Up to that point, I believe so. Prior to the one I got the only releases from GM were different lubricants and the TSB about "exercising" the shaft (basically disconnecting the underhood end and cycling it in and out to re-distribute the grease) and then once a revised part came out I ordered it. But I traded the truck in 2008 so it was only 2 years at most I had it for after.