02 Impala LS (steering)

My steering wheels cluncks when I turn and sometimes even over bumps. From what I've heard it seems like it's the Intermediate Steering Shaft..Can someone give me more info on this? Is it a simple fix my cousin (mechanic) can do? Like put some liquid graphite in there or do I need to take it to the dealership? Is it recalled or what? More info please :)

Supposedly there is an updated steering shaft that will eliminate this once and for all, we'll see. You will be fooling with this for the life of car, check with a dealer on this.

Supposedly there is an updated steering shaft that will eliminate this once and for all, we'll see. You will be fooling with this for the life of car, check with a dealer on this.

It's a 2002 with 72,000 miles. Is there any warranty still? Can I still go to the dealer and they should know about it?

No warranty that I know of, if they don't know about it they have been in business on Mars!!!

Is it something I can have my cousin (mechanic) do? Like just put some more lube on it, or do I need to buy a whole new steering shaft? Is this under any type or recall or do I have to pay for it all?

Is it something I can have my cousin (mechanic) do? Like just put some more lube on it, or do I need to buy a whole new steering shaft? Is this under any type or recall or do I have to pay for it all?

You'll likely have to pay for it all at this point. I'd have your cousin double check that the ISS is the problem, theres a whole bundle of parts in the front that can cause problems, especially on higher miles cars.

I just ordered the new intermediate steering shaft. going to have my cousin help me put it in on wednesday. It was like $95 with his discount. :)

I just ordered the new intermediate steering shaft. going to have my cousin help me put it in on wednesday. It was like $95 with his discount. :)

Good deal. Hope that fixes your problem.

I have the same problem on my 01 LS. I've had a couple friends drive the car to see if they could feel it and they could. I've had two mechanics look at it and they think it's all in my head and can' t find anything wrong (they're not a dealership).

Maybe I'll have another mechanic look at it now that I know what it might be.

take it to the dealer ITS covered its not a recall but a updated part so they will install it like a recalled part at no cost to you

take it to the dealer ITS covered its not a recall but a updated part so they will install it like a recalled part at no cost to you

are you sure about this? I already paid for the part..it got here yesterday. I was going to install it myself, but if they will do it free that'd be great. Any chevy dealership or what?

my steering wheel also squeaks when I turn it. I wonder if this is part of the same problem.

I have the same problem on my 01 LS. I've had a couple friends drive the car to see if they could feel it and they could. I've had two mechanics look at it and they think it's all in my head and can' t find anything wrong (they're not a dealership).

Maybe I'll have another mechanic look at it now that I know what it might be.


I have this steering noise on my 01 LS, its the impact shaft between the rack and pinion and where the shaft goes thru the firewall the dealer can only inject a special grease into the joint to quiet it down. there is no fix I'am told by GM!

My steering wheels cluncks when I turn and sometimes even over bumps. From what I've heard it seems like it's the Intermediate Steering Shaft..Can someone give me more info on this? Is it a simple fix my cousin (mechanic) can do? Like put some liquid graphite in there or do I need to take it to the dealership? Is it recalled or what? More info please :)


GM covers the steering shaft up to75,000 miles, they replace or lube it. check with the dealer... after 75,000miles you have to pay for it. my impala has been lubed and then replaced, but i still have to have it lubed, even after the replacement..:frown:

From my experience with my '01 LS the only permanent fix is to have GM replace the ISS with their redesigned unit... I had the same problem and the re-lube fix didn't last long... I am fortunate in that I bought the extended GMPP with the car and the replacement ISS was fully covered... Since then (over 1 year now) the steering has been fine... I've heard stories that GM won't cover the replacement and other stories that they will cover it... I think it depends upon how big a PIA you are with the dealer over this and what mood he is in at the time... I like my '01 LS but I recommend to anyone buying a used one to buy the GMPP with it... In my case over these past 2 1/2 years it's paid for itself...