Fixed my SteeringWheel Clunck today...

[Chuckster]

I bought the grease kit from the dealer and did it this morning..

What a simple job!

 

Changing spark plugs is probably more demanding.. lol

 

Anyway, my dreaded clunking is gone!!!!

 

Even it it comes back next year.. Who cares.. I'll grease it again!

[seadoons]

Can you please describe the clunk and when it happens? going over bumps, etc?

 

Thanks.

[Chad H]

Yes, I am experiencing the same thing. Although, it sounds like its coming from inside the vehicle. Describe your sound??

[Chuckster]

Yes, I am experiencing the same thing. Although, it sounds like its coming from inside the vehicle. Describe your sound??

Verry subtle clunking sound eminatingfromthe steering wheel.. More felt than heard...

 

Mostly occurs at slow speeds on rough pavement or around turns...

 

I am just anal.. My wife told me she does not notice it.. I did and it was annoying...

[chvythndr]

Yes, I am experiencing the same thing. Although, it sounds like its coming from inside the vehicle. Describe your sound??

Verry subtle clunking sound eminatingfromthe steering wheel.. More felt than heard...

 

Mostly occurs at slow speeds on rough pavement or around turns...

 

I am just anal.. My wife told me she does not notice it.. I did and it was annoying...

It's much more noticeable when you're driving than when riding shotgun. Was your wife driving when she said she didn't notice it?

 

It's the intermediate steering shaft TSB. All you do is pull your upper intermediate steering shaft and repack w/ the $7 grease kit GM sells. It takes all of 20 minutes. I did mine a while back and it's cured, for now

[Chuckster]

Yes, I am experiencing the same thing. Although, it sounds like its coming from inside the vehicle. Describe your sound??

Verry subtle clunking sound eminatingfromthe steering wheel.. More felt than heard...

 

Mostly occurs at slow speeds on rough pavement or around turns...

 

I am just anal.. My wife told me she does not notice it.. I did and it was annoying...

It's much more noticeable when you're driving than when riding shotgun. Was your wife driving when she said she didn't notice it?

 

It's the intermediate steering shaft TSB. All you do is pull your upper intermediate steering shaft and repack w/ the $7 grease kit GM sells. It takes all of 20 minutes. I did mine a while back and it's cured, for now

My wife was driving...

[Taaaaaaahoe?]

It will be back...

I promise

[Chuckster]

It will be back...

I promise

Even if it does come back, who cares...

Takes less time to do than an oil change and cost less.. ;)

 

I can do it every 10,000 miles

[Taaaaaaahoe?]

Guys, yes it is easy...JUST BE SURE not to rotate tour wheel when doing it or you will be replacing the Airbag clockspring deal too

 

Mike

[Chuckster]

Guys, yes it is easy...JUST BE SURE not to rotate tour wheel when doing it or you will be replacing the Airbag clockspring deal too

 

Mike

What is this clock spring?

 

I had to turn the wheels to access the bolt under the dash... When I disconnected the shaft the steering wheel fell back to the straight position.. I wrecked something?? What does that shaft have to do with the airbag??

 

Here was my procedure

 

1. Set wheels and steering wheel straight ahead

2. Remove the bolt under the hood

3. Start truck and turn steering wheel 90 degrees to the left

This allowed me access to the bolt to remove under the dash

4. Remove shaft

 

At that point the steering wheel naturally dropped back to the straight position.. I guess it's weighted..

 

When reinstalling I

 

1. Re-attached the shaft under the dash 1st. I had to move the steering wheel 90 degrees to do it.

2. Connect (but not bolt) under the hood

3. Start truck and turn wheels straight. (This allowed me easy access to the bolt)

4. Reconnect the bolt under the hood

 

Done..

 

Geeze that seemed to easy to have wrecked something..

 

The steering wheel was only turned 90 degrees on way and was only turned 90 degrees back the other way..

 

I think you mean do not spin the steering wheel??

[GnatGoSplat]

I didn't think the kit came with enough grease, so I pumped my intermediate shaft full of extra grease. The problem hasn't come back in 2yrs.

[tmoreau]

The clockspring is an assembly that allows you to have electrical devices in the steering wheel, all your wires are arranged in a flat cable and wound around a drum loosely. You can then turn the steering shaft several times in either direction without binding the cable... too far one way and it will tighten up and damage something, too far the other way and the cable is pushed to the outside of the drum and can damage something. There should be enough slack for the shaft to turn a couple times more than your wheel will normally turn lock to lock, but if you turn your wheel while its not connected then you could use up this slack and start ripping things apart in there.

[Chuckster]

The clockspring is an assembly that allows you to have electrical devices in the steering wheel, all your wires are arranged in a flat cable and wound around a drum loosely. You can then turn the steering shaft several times in either direction without binding the cable... too far one way and it will tighten up and damage something, too far the other way and the cable is pushed to the outside of the drum and can damage something. There should be enough slack for the shaft to turn a couple times more than your wheel will normally turn lock to lock, but if you turn your wheel while its not connected then you could use up this slack and start ripping things apart in there.

Ahhh. So I am fine.. As long as I went back to the exact position I started...

[Taaaaaaahoe?]

The clockspring is an assembly that allows you to have electrical devices in the steering wheel, all your wires are arranged in a flat cable and wound around a drum loosely.  You can then turn the steering shaft several times in either direction without binding the cable... too far one way and it will tighten up and damage something, too far the other way and the cable is pushed to the outside of the drum and can damage something.  There should be enough slack for the shaft to turn a couple times more than your wheel will normally turn lock to lock, but if you turn your wheel while its not connected then you could use up this slack and start ripping things apart in there.

Ahhh. So I am fine.. As long as I went back to the exact position I started...

Thats correct. I did mine, and was one turn off. So when i put my car back together and made a full lock turn into a parking spot I hear this horid plastic ripping sound. Then the airbag light is on. Yep I ripped the little ribbon cable out of the clock spring for the airbag. Just make sure your always back to where you startred if you move the wheel!

MIKE

[ONALL4Z]

I fixed my steering wheel cluck this weekend. Very simple.

But I did have a problem. When I had the steeing column out my child spun my steering wheel. Now my air bag is broken. I would like to remove the airbag to see exaclty what the damage is, but I can't seem to get the airbag off.

Any suggestions would be very helpfull. I have a 01.

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On the good side. The clunck is gone!