Rubbing / Grinding in my steering column

mikey_b · June 26, 2006

I've got an '02 Z71 Silverado.

I had the I-shaft lubed then replaced back at 20,000 miles for the common clunking noise that everyone knows about.

Now with 55,000 miles I have grinding or rubbing that you can hear and feel coming from somewhere down the steering column. It happens on most low speed turns but not all. No issue at highway speeds. Only low speed like in parking lots.

Any ideas what is going on?

ronskal · July 12, 2006

I've had the same problem with my 02 Yukon with 40K miles. It is a slight groan felt in the steering column under slow speed LH turns. I finally changed my power steering fluid last night and it seems 100% better. I'll keep my fingers crossed but it's like new again.

I couldn't find a drain for the system (I did not look very hard), so I just extracted the fluid from the resevoir, refilled and ran the truck. I did this 3 times till the fluid went from brown to light amber. I may do this again this weekend to flush out more old fluid.

Power steering fluid is cheap and so is my labor, give this a try.

truckmann · July 12, 2006

I am having the same problem with my 2003 Silverado. Keep us updated on the fluid change ronskal if that works I may try it soon.

bigredexpress99 · July 12, 2006

Same problem in my mother's truck, I replaced the SIR coil, and problem is gone!! Pretty sure that was the cause as the noise was coming from right @ the base of the steering wheel.

ronskal · July 13, 2006

I am having the same problem with my 2003 Silverado. Keep us updated on the fluid change ronskal if that works I may try it soon.

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OK, will do. I'm real happy so far after a couple days. I'm going to do my girlfiends 01 Tahoe this weekend.

truckmann · July 24, 2006

I changed the ps fluid in mine last weekend as I am almost positive the noise was coming from my ps gearbox. I also put in a bottle of Lucas ps stop leak and conditioner. I would say it is about 90% better. There is still a small amount of noise when turning slow, like into a parking spot, but it is much better than it was.

mike e · July 24, 2006

Where is the sir coil and what does it do.??

mikey_b · August 22, 2007

I've got an '02 Z71 Silverado.

I had the I-shaft lubed then replaced back at 20,000 miles for the common clunking noise that everyone knows about.

Now with 55,000 miles I have grinding or rubbing that you can hear and feel coming from somewhere down the steering column. It happens on most low speed turns but not all. No issue at highway speeds. Only low speed like in parking lots.

Any ideas what is going on?

In anyone else has a similar problem with their steering, here is what ended up happening with my truck.

I had to replace the steering gear box. It cost about $1000 all together at the dealership. The tech at the dealership narrowed in on the gear box after he disconnected the entire steering column + lower shaft from the gear box and turned the gear (while on a lift) by hand with a wrench. The noise and grinding feedback was still there so they changed the box and everything seems to be better now.

teddeshong · December 11, 2010

My 2002 Yukon XL has been making a grinding/whining noise from the steering system when I make right turns for about 18 months now. I can feel in in the steering wheel. I also removed fluid and replaced with 2 bottles of Lucas Steering additive. The noise went away quickly, but came back within a month. I have done this twice with the same results. A local shop warned me that the Lucas was a "tempoary fix at best" but they want to replace the entire steering system. I am determined to find the culprit, but I am afraid it is internal to the gear box or the pump, so I am going to have to replace components. Frustrated.