Steering wheel/column clunk revisited

Fuddrucker · June 30, 2003

Ok, I read about this in previous posts, and just want to confirm that this is my problem as well.

My truck is brand new and only has 4200 miles on it and just started doing this. The symptoms are as follows....

Does it the most when only going 1-15 MPH. More so when I am about to park.

I can hear it. Sounds like something came loose inside the steering column and is bouncing around in there under the dash along the steering column.

I can feel it.

I am hoping this is only the infamous "steering clunk" that I have read about here. If this is, is it dangerous to drive like this? I am planning on just taking it back to the dealer and letting them deal with it since the truck is only 2 months old, but I am going out of town on a trip an need the truck to pull my trailer. If this is a serious problem, then I only have two days to get it fixed before I leave.

Thanks for your help!

03GMC2500HD · June 30, 2003

Had the exact same thing on mine at 2000 miles. Thought something was really screwed up when I took it to the dealership. Took them about an hour and they said it was fixed. I asked what was wrong and they said they had to lube the steering shaft. Wait a minute, this sounded like something was physically broke in there how can lubing it fix it? Haven't had a problem since and it seems like alot of folks have had the same problem as yours sounds like the same thing. Let them fix it for you and see!

GnatGoSplat · July 1, 2003

Wow, 4yrs and they still haven't fixed this in manufacturing?

My 99 did this when I bought it. I bought the grease kit to pump grease into the intermediate shaft, but there really wasn't hardly any grease in the kit. I've also heard the kit's results are only temporary for some people.

So I took the incentive and packed my intermediate shaft FULL of grease.

A year later, so far so good, and no recurrence of the problem..

Taaaaaaahoe? · July 1, 2003

Wow, 4yrs and they still haven't fixed this in manufacturing?

My 99 did this when I bought it. I bought the grease kit to pump grease into the intermediate shaft, but there really wasn't hardly any grease in the kit. I've also heard the kit's results are only temporary for some people.

So I took the incentive and packed my intermediate shaft FULL of grease.

A year later, so far so good, and no recurrence of the problem..

YEah that kit susks! About 1/4 full of grease. And it is for sure only a temp fix. Mine sems to have come back WORSE than before!

What kind of greese did you fill it up with? I think I like the idea of just filling it up like you did...can't see any adverse effects!

mike

dukbludvl · July 1, 2003

That sounds like the infamous clunk. I had that on my 2000 Yukon -- started at 35K miles. I drove it like that for 9K more miles and then did the lube myself with the kit. That was 5 months ago and it's still good. Lube kit didn't have much grease. If I do it again, I'll pack it with more wheel bearing grease.

akjay · July 27, 2003

Found this thread via a search...

I've been experiencing what I think may be this but though I might post first to see if it sounds like the same as what everyone else may have experienced. I feel more than hear the clunk on mine. I can make a gentle turn left or right and if it's just the slightest bit bumpy on the road I can feel it clunking through the steering wheel. Maybe a front end problem? I dont' know what to think or tell the dealership when I take it in. I thought I might be just imagining things but it's been getting slightly worse over the last couple of months. My truck has 17k miles on it.

Does this sound like the same thing? I can't actually hear it so I was somewhat skeptical.