tahoe suspension knock

[squints88]

I've got an '03 tahoe with 46,000 miles and I'm hearing a knock in the front suspension. You can hear the knock while turning, and you can feel it in the wheel pretty good as well. It does not knock while driving straight. What could this be? I don't know much about independent suspensions, I'm a jeep guy and this is my dad's truck so If someone could help me out it would be great!

[pwall]

Sounds like a UV joint. I'm assuming that the Tahoe is 4x4.

[squints88]

Sounds like a UV joint. I'm assuming that the Tahoe is 4x4.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

yep it's 4 wheel drive...i got under it the other day to poke around and I realized I know nothing about IFS..

[Bish]

Sounds like intermediate steering shaft to me. Feel it in the wheel when turning going reasonably slow? If the cause, you need to lube it or replace it.

[squints88]

Sounds like intermediate steering shaft to me.  Feel it in the wheel when turning going reasonably slow?  If the cause, you need to lube it or replace it.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

i was looking under her this morning, and it looks like the half shaft or whatevr you call it that comes out of the differential. I could actually twist the whole thing side to side a bit....

 

has anyone had this problem? If so does it need repacing or is there a way to tighten it down?

[Bish]

Sounds like intermediate steering shaft to me.  Feel it in the wheel when turning going reasonably slow?  If the cause, you need to lube it or replace it.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

i was looking under her this morning, and it looks like the half shaft or whatevr you call it that comes out of the differential. I could actually twist the whole thing side to side a bit....

 

has anyone had this problem? If so does it need repacing or is there a way to tighten it down?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

You are looking an the CV joint. There should be some play in those. In fact, unless the boot is torn, they wear really well. I've got 171K on both mine and the are still good. If you have a torn boot allowing water and dirt into them, they will wear out in no time. I'm not sure what the spec is on play but if the noise repeats faster as you speed up, it could be the CV. If the noise of "feel" in the steering wheel seems more times to bumps in the road, it is likely the intermediate steering shaft. This shaft is between the steering gear (below the battery) and the firewall.

[squints88]

ahhh i checked out that shaft, thats definately the problem. Now the question is, what would it take to fix that? It has a decent amount of play..

[Bish]

ahhh i checked out that shaft, thats definately the problem.  Now  the question is, what would it take to fix that?  It has a decent amount of play..

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

HERE is a great write up on lubing the intermediate steering shaft.