Front End Noise

[wrecker03]

I know I've seen this discussed on here before, but I'm having a hard time doing a search. I am feeling something that feels loose in my front end kind of like a rattle or like something is loose and moving around, seems to be on the right side wheel. I'm thinking that it might be related to the CV's but I'm guessing. Can anyone give me some info on how to confirm what the problem is and tell me if it's a do-it-yoursef job or would it be best to take it to my mechanic. Times are hard so if I can do it myself I'd like to. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, my concern would be any special tools that might be required, or a process that might be something best handled by a mechanic.

[Nice rig]

Jack up the front end and check the wheels for play by grabbing the top of the tires and push/pull. While it's up check the shock mounts and all other connections. Do you feel it in the steering wheel or just in the seat of your pants? Does it get worse as you go faster? A little more info will help with troubleshooting.

[wrecker03]

I feel it mostly at slow speeds, like making a turn in a parking lot, or when going over a bumpy road. I don't feel anything in the steering wheel, but I can hear it. It's really faint right now. I ask my wife and she thinks I'm nuts but I can hear it "clunk clunk" and feel it just not in the steering wheel.

[95Sierra2500]

Stick-slip. From what I understand, pretty common on the GMT800 trucks. It's your intermediate steering shaft. It either needs greased (a temporary fix) or replaced (supposedly fixes the problem, though I have my doubts).

[Nice rig]

From your explanation it sounds like the infamous intermediate steering shaft...it's wierd you don't feel it in the steering wheel. I had the same thing and replaced the shaft in about 15 minutes...so far it hasn't come back yet.

[wrecker03]

The reason I'm thinking CV's is that when I put the larger tires on, I tweaked the torsion bars to level out the truck. After I did this, I remember reading something on here that by doing that, it could lead to premature wear so I've always had it in the back of my mind ever since. I forgot about the steering shaft though. I had the truck at the dealer a while back and they "greased" it up (they had to keep the truck for an entire day). Is replacing the steering shaft a big job and $$$?

[Nice rig]

A new shaft will cost you about $60-$70, give or take. It's about a 15 minute job. A temp fix that you could try is disconnecting the bolt under the hood and "stroke" a few times. The shaft will compress when pushed. I know I know...stroke the shaft...