Intermediate Steering Shaft

ltj9296 · January 4, 2015

So far what has worked on mine is to separate the 2 shafts, and while someone holds the steering wheel in place, I work the shaft back and forth around 20-30 times. It feels like a brand new shaft after doing this. My knocking, clunking will come back in about 6-9 months, but this only takes about 5 minutes to do and costs nothing. Just make sure someone holds the wheel in place, or secure it so it does not move.

efritz · January 5, 2015

Get the Dorman one on rockauto.com for $37 and install it yourself, it's a way better design than the GM one and it only 37 dollars, i've used plenty of them on several vehicles. Funny, my ISS is still the original one at 250K and about 50K of that on gravel.

cobrajet84 · February 18, 2015

Is the borgeson really worth the money over like the dorman, going to do this just wanting to make sure the extra money is worth it.

VTFirefly · May 12, 2015

I've had a Dorman ISS in my '03 for quite a while now... still quiet as a church mouse. I got mine through Amazon.

rickf · July 25, 2016

Make sure it's not the bearing (plastic piece) at the bottom of the steering shaft, right before it goes into the firewall (by the pedals). Kind of has same sounds, symptom as ISS. If it's white it's the old version. If it's green its the updated one. If you grab the shaft and it rattles/moves at all in the bearing then it's toast. Pop the new (green) bearing in and it's fixed. It's an easy job.

Is it possible the ALL of the clunking noise is coming from the bearing?

rjdjbd · July 26, 2016

Has GM successfully addressed the intermediate steering shaft rattle and knock ... or do we drive down the road ashamed of our Tahoe that has so few miles on it???

My answer would have to be 'no'. My 2003 Suburban (81k miles) is on its fourth intermediate shaft, failing on average every 15k miles. Last one, Chevrolet would not warranty or pay any of the costs. Changed it out myself but what a PITA and not sure that I'll want to do it again.

kstruckcountry · July 26, 2016

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/176434-how-to-fix-your-gmt800-steering-shaft-clunk/?do=findComment&comment=1671535

CapitalTruck · July 27, 2016

Is it possible the ALL of the clunking noise is coming from the bearing?

That is where mine was coming from. Go down near the brake pedal and move the steering shaft up and down. If it makes any noise at all you should change out the bearing. Honestly, if your shaft has the white bearing you should swap in the new designed green bearing. It isn't that hard. You do have to remove the accelerator pedal if I remember correctly to give yourself enough room to move the steering shaft around.

rickf · July 27, 2016

That is where mine was coming from. Go down near the brake pedal and move the steering shaft up and down. If it makes any noise at all you should change out the bearing. Honestly, if your shaft has the white bearing you should swap in the new designed green bearing. It isn't that hard. You do have to remove the accelerator pedal if I remember correctly to give yourself enough room to move the steering shaft around.

Thanks I order both the bearing and a new ISS. I figured since I was in there I might as well just change them both out.

ChevroletTough · July 27, 2016

A few years (may 2011) back I put and updated ISS from GM in my 04 truck. No issues since... Easy to do yourself. Just make sure to secure your steering wheel so it doesnt turn when you disconnect the inside part of the shaft. No issues yet...

I went overkill when I did mine: