Steering shaft clunk

[dr9672723]

If anyone is interested- I have a 2003 Silverado 2WD with 30,500 miles. The dreaded steering clunk is beginning to show up. I asked the dealer service manager about installing the upgraded intermediate shaft, and I was told they could do it, but the clunk would eventually come back again with the revised shaft anyway, and it was a matter of keeping the shaft's splines lubricated with a high density grease.

 

He also went on to say that nearly everyone elses truck does this (Ford, etc.) as they have a similar arrangement, and that he has a Toyota that does it also. Said it was not a safety issue and that there was no danger of failure.

 

He said he has heard of guys drilling, tapping and installing a zerk fitting to keep it greased.....?

[tryn2lrn]

Just wondering why GM doesn't put some type of a grease fitting there? Must be a reason, it would save them lots of money.

[03GMCinBC]

I had my clunk fixed several months ago and it hasnt come back yet.

 

There was a discussion here some time back about installing a zerk. I didnt go look for it but there was an argument about that option not working but I forget the reasons why. you might try searching for it.

[carguru]

I've posted info about adding the grease fitting before. Here is the short version. If the dealer is telling you that people have done this successfully on GM trucks, I call I have heard of the steering clunk issue with other manufacturers. Plus, the trucks are not the only vehicle this is happening with. I've looked into the grease fitting idea. In order to get a zerk into the location on the shaft that is effective, it would have to be either very close to the firewall or under the boot extending into the engine compartment. This can lead to the fitting contacting the firewall or binding. Secondly, with the splines lenghthwise to the shaft, grease would only come out of one side of the shaft immediately where the grease fitting is. The splines would guide the grease either up or down the shaft via the splines adjacent to the fitting. Thirdly, the high density lube used for dampening is not commercially available at off the shelf retailers. This is a specialty dampening lube used only for noise/vibration dampening--not for lubrication.

[dgrammer]

What exactly do you guys mean by steering clunk? My 02 silverado has had a kinda rattle that you can feel in the steering wheel. It is not all the time, but is definately when you go over bumps, railroad tracks, etc. I had a 98 blazer before this and it did the same thing. I had it for 3 years and never got worse or anything. Is this basically the same thing your talking about?

 

Thanks

[carguru]

Yep, a rattle that you feel more than you hear. It feels like a dull thump when you have the wheel slightly turned on a road that is just slightly bumpy. So far, I've put 8k on since I did mine earlier this year and it hasn't returned.

[iron_786]

this sounds like the issue im having with my 02, usually when ur going around a corner over a little rough patch u hear and feel a clunk clunk, seems to come from the drivers side front end area