Popping steering

MDSilveradoGuy · October 2, 2019

Has anyone here experienced a mild popping noise/sensation coming from the steering yet?

Mine started out being just when I was backing out of my driveway and turning. I figured it was something being flexed hard up front - but now it happens on all ground, both forward and reverse at low speeds. I am adding it to my laundry list of crap they need to fix the next time I hand this thing over - but wondering if these are symptoms of a steering column issue (my shifter is floppy, so I am imagining I am going to be in column hell now as well).

2024Denali · August 24, 2020

I have this! Dealership replaced the whole steering column, but it still does it. Have you found a fix?

econometrics · August 24, 2020

1 hour ago, 2020SilveradoCC said:

Have you found a fix?

Time.

I never had mine looked at. It was doing the weird noise thing when I turned the wheel at low speeds. It stopped after about 5K miles and I’ve only noticed it since once.

batman900 · August 24, 2020

8 hours ago, 2020SilveradoCC said:

I have this! Dealership replaced the whole steering column, but it still does it. Have you found a fix?

99% it's the boot on the firewall that the column runs through. As you turn the wheel it pushes that boot side to side rather aggressively and the rubber catches and pulls on the column. I greased the inside portion of the boot and it did nothing, so I greased the outside (under the hood) portion and it removed most of the noise. It's hard to grease because it sits very tightly around the column. You just have to push it back, grease up the column, pull forward and repeat to work some inside of it. You can also pinch the end with pliers and try to get the nozzle in there. I tore my hair out trying to figure this out, dealer thought it was the boot but they pulled up a brand new truck and it creaked/clicked louder than mine so they didn't do anything.

Edit: Also check to make sure the bolts holding the boot on (under the hood) are tight. I got over one full turn out of 2 of the 3 bolts, couldn't reach the 3rd. Dunno if this made a difference so much as the grease but I did it at the same time.

Edited August 24, 2020 by batman900

2024Denali · August 24, 2020

2 hours ago, batman900 said:

99% it's the boot on the firewall that the column runs through. As you turn the wheel it pushes that boot side to side rather aggressively and the rubber catches and pulls on the column. I greased the inside portion of the boot and it did nothing, so I greased the outside (under the hood) portion and it removed most of the noise. It's hard to grease because it sits very tightly around the column. You just have to push it back, grease up the column, pull forward and repeat to work some inside of it. You can also pinch the end with pliers and try to get the nozzle in there. I tore my hair out trying to figure this out, dealer thought it was the boot but they pulled up a brand new truck and it creaked/clicked louder than mine so they didn't do anything.

Edit: Also check to make sure the bolts holding the boot on (under the hood) are tight. I got over one full turn out of 2 of the 3 bolts, couldn't reach the 3rd. Dunno if this made a difference so much as the grease but I did it at the same time.

Any advice on getting to that boot? It seems to be under everything! Did you go up from underneath the truck?

batman900 · August 24, 2020

2 hours ago, 2020SilveradoCC said:

Any advice on getting to that boot? It seems to be under everything! Did you go up from underneath the truck?

I used a single step plastic folding stool that I got for my 5 year old so he can reach the sink lol. I kinda laid across the engine/air box, I’m about 6ft tall.