Clunking Steering wheel Dilemma

Chuckster · February 2, 2004

I realize I have 2 choices.. to fix this..

1. Grease Kit

2. Nickle Plated replacement..

Which is better? Which gives the most solid feel. I don't want to keep to greasing this thing like I am doing oil changes...

carguru · February 3, 2004

If the steering is clunking, the nickel plated slip yoke doesn't help you. It is only for driveline clunk.

Chuckster · February 3, 2004

If the steering is clunking, the nickel plated slip yoke doesn't help you. It is only for driveline clunk.

Ahh

So Greasing is my ONLY option for Steering clunk??? The truck has 47,000 miles..

Should I just replace the intermediate shaft with a new one and Grease it good? Of just grease the old one?

carguru · February 3, 2004

Just grease the one in there. In fact, if you bring it to the dealer, this is all they will do. Dealers were told not to replace the shaft assembly (at least under warranty).

LogixRat · February 3, 2004

I feel your pain. I just took my truck in the shop for some other problems, along with the clunking you noted. As already noted, they just apply the grease pack and that is it. I too don't feel this should be a normal "maintenance" issue. My truck only has 33k miles, and this is the lesser of my probs. Lots of minor annoyances as well. Kinda feels like my truck is falling apart, and I wonder what it will be like at 66k or 100k, or if it will even make it.

I used to love my truck, but I am quickly getting tainted.

seadoons · February 3, 2004

Can someone please describe this cluck for me? I don't think I have what you are talking about, although I did notice a "clunk" noise in the steering wheel when I hit the bump pulling in my driveway.

scottac · February 3, 2004

I don't have a clunk in my steering wheel. It is more of a creek. and it is getting a little worse. definately a creeking sound. I will probably use the guide at the top of the page and just lube it up.

Is the clunk you guys are talking about more like a creaking noise or is it a clunk.

Chuckster · February 3, 2004

I don't have a clunk in my steering wheel. It is more of a creek. and it is getting a little worse. definately a creeking sound. I will probably use the guide at the top of the page and just lube it up.

Is the clunk you guys are talking about more like a creaking noise or is it a clunk.

Mine is a clunk.. And it happens wen making slow turns on bumpy roads.. Highway diving is dead quiet and smooth..

by the way.. The clunk is not really heard at all.. It's a wierd feeling transmitted into the steering wheel.

carguru · February 3, 2004

I only have a little over 14k miles on mine when it started. The clunk feels like something is bumping or loose in the steering when you have the wheel turned slightly. Like Chuckster said, it is more felt than heard. It gets really annoying after a while. When I did mine, it looked like it was inadequately greased from the factory. When I extended the shaft out all the way, there was very little grease on it. What I speculate happens over time is that through heating and cooling and compression by the shafts, the grease migrates away from the splines. Without the grease there is no dampening, thus the bumping of the inner and outer shafts together causing the "clunk".

variant · February 3, 2004

Mine is a clunk.. And it happens wen making slow turns on bumpy roads.. Highway diving is dead quiet and smooth..

by the way.. The clunk is not really heard at all.. It's a wierd feeling transmitted into the steering wheel.

exactly... I have it too... started around 14,000 miles...

Anthony

sgiangregorio · February 3, 2004

As far as I know, the clunk should not come back once it's fixed. A buddy has a 2001 that had the clunk start around 8,000 miles. He got it fixed by the dealer and he know has about 65,000 miles and it never came back. I heard it does in some cases, but I hope they are less common than it not coming back.

scottac · February 3, 2004

yeah that is exactly what I experience also. smooth on the highway but during slow turns and even minor adjustments at slow speeds it can be felt.

carguru · February 4, 2004

The clunk should not come back if the procedure was done correctly. Grease would have to be forced up the shaft at least 1/2" when the inner and outer shaft are fully extended. The lubricant is a very heavy dampening grease that tends to stay in place. It is different from the grease that was originally installed in the intermediate shaft. The original grease looks like a general lithium grease. The grease in the lube kit is a much thicker, black grease. From what I've been told so far, is the grease has a high amount of tackifier in it to keep it in place and to dampen vibration. I've had the grease analyzed to see if there is an alternative. I'll post the results as soon as I get them.

hihosilver · February 5, 2004

I had the same symptoms on my truck as stated above, and took it to the dealer for the steering shaft lube. To my suprise they replaced the front rotors saying they were corroded and pitted. So if you do the steering lube and still have the same problem you might want to check the rotors out. I only had 34k miles when this happened. I drive on salty roads galore (Chicago area), but come on only 2 or so years for rotors.