intermediate steering shaft

motomodo · June 23, 2006

Is a clunking intermediate shaft a safety issue or just an annoyance?

How do you trace it to the shaft? I have a 2003 2500 4wd with 33000 highway miles. The font end clunks when going over bumps. I checked the entire front end and everything is tight. I've tried to shake the intermediate shaft but I don't feel any looseness there. Thanks in advance for any help that you can provide.

Motomodo

blackberry · June 23, 2006

Is a clunking intermediate shaft a safety issue or just an annoyance?
How do you trace it to the shaft? I have a 2003 2500 4wd with 33000 highway miles. The font end clunks when going over bumps. I checked the entire front end and everything is tight. I've tried to shake the intermediate shaft but I don't feel any looseness there. Thanks in advance for any help that you can provide.

Motomodo

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Mine was just replaced under warrenty, I am guessing its a common problem because they knew what was wrong with it without looking at it

TEE · June 23, 2006

GM is beginning to really piss me off about all this junk!

My wife's 04 Sierra does it and the dealer says they can't duplicate it?

If I hear a GM tech tell me one more time that something is "normal"....I think I 'll drive it thru their showroom!

PaulieK · June 23, 2006

My 05 just had it replaced under warranty.

dewfpo · June 23, 2006

It's an annoyance, not a safety issue.

DEWFPO

motomodo · June 24, 2006

It's an annoyance, not a safety issue.

DEWFPO

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Thanks to dewfpo. To those with problems getting help from the dealership I think you just have to be polite but firm. They need to know that you aren't going to go away. I think that it is admirable that some dealers have a vigorous program of hiring from the ranks of the visually and hearing impaired when it comes to service managers (no offense intended). They never seem to see or hear the problems that the customer is having. I've done better when Ihave been able to get the tech to take a test ride with me.

Norseman · June 24, 2006

It's an annoyance, not a safety issue.

DEWFPO

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Thanks to dewfpo. To those with problems getting help from the dealership I think you just have to be polite but firm. They need to know that you aren't going to go away. I think that it is admirable that some dealers have a vigorous program of hiring from the ranks of the visually and hearing impaired when it comes to service managers (no offense intended). They never seem to see or hear the problems that the customer is having. I've done better when Ihave been able to get the tech to take a test ride with me.

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You think GM service departments are bad. My bro had a Honda Oddity (I told him not to buy that danm thing) with a trannie issue. It was pulling teeth to get them to do anything about it.

jwh463 · August 29, 2006

any ideal what it what costs to get the 'clunk' fixed out of warranty? I have 55k miles on my 03

TEE · August 29, 2006

They just re-lubed mine under warranty and was told by a guy at the dealer....if you take it back to a GM dealer even if it's out of warranty....that if you ask "nice", they'll re-lube it for you.

I told them ,"they better"! Because I'll be back soon too!

Just amazes me anymore that GM is hiding behind crappy parts and THEY KNOW IT!

Jet-X · August 30, 2006

I've had mine lubed twice and the steering shaft replaced once. All of this in a 1 year period. Just last week, I noticed the thumping is back. I think I'll just stock up on the lube kits and learn how to do it myself.

pm26 · August 31, 2006

It was menttioned by somebody that there is better aftermarket intermediate shaft which will solve these annoying problems for good. I forget what brand it is, but if it solves the problem, it is definitely worth $ 200 or so to me, even if I have to install it myself. Lubing the existing shaft seems like a cheap bandaid fix. Somebody correct me if I am wrong in this assumption.

Has anybody installed a good quality aftermarket inermediate shaft on their truck and is it holding up good?

Nice rig · August 31, 2006

There's a shaft by borgeson that replaces the OEM shaft, but I personally don't think it's worth it. My rig has done it since the day I bought it (used), yea it's annoying but it could be worse. There are defects in any product you buy and it's not worth getting spun up about, the problems wont go away by getting irritated.

TEE · August 31, 2006

There's a shaft by borgeson that replaces the OEM shaft, but I personally don't think it's worth it. My rig has done it since the day I bought it (used), yea it's annoying but it could be worse. There are defects in any product you buy and it's not worth getting spun up about, the problems wont go away by getting irritated.

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Your right but ,itsureashell don't help by setting on your hands and doing nothing!

Annoyance? Maybe if you think so...What about when your out in BFE somewhere and the thing locks up or better yet...falls off!

That'ts right, I said it!

I had a lower A arm bolt that fell out of my 04' GMC with 15K on it....

My buddy 04' Silverado is in the shop right now for a fuel pump at 20K and they don't even know when GM will have one availible....that's right...there's almost none availible...what does that tell you ?

I could go on and on about GM's quality in the last few years.

Farmedout JUNK!

seadoons · August 31, 2006

I have had mine lubed several times and replaced once or twice...I can't remember now. I had it replaced under extended warranty in February and now it is back and is WAY worse than it has ever been. It is very annoying, especially while slightly turning and moving at the same time.

tasturbo86 · September 11, 2006

I replaced mine with the NEW/updated version and it did not solve the problem.

THEN, I tied a bungie cord around the rubber cover/seal that the shaft goes through on its way into the cockpit. By pulling on this cover/seal so that it always contacts the shaft, I have virtually eliminated the noise.

Don't laugh until you try it.