Intermediate steering shaft....again

I had mine replaced a while ago and the problem came back. I called my local dealer and even though I was out of factory warranty they would take care of it for free. While I was talking to them they said GM stopped replacing the shaft because it was not doing any good and now they repack the shaft. They said GM was working in a fix for that but if it started again to bring it back and they would take care of it again. I am just posting this for an FYI and to find out if anyone else is still having this problem and if anyone has heard anything else about GM getting this fixed.

Bill

I had mine replaced a while ago and the problem came back. I called my local dealer and even though I was out of factory warranty they would take care of it for free. While I was talking to them they said GM stopped replacing the shaft because it was not doing any good and now they repack the shaft. They said GM was working in a fix for that but if it started again to bring it back and they would take care of it again. I am just posting this for an FYI and to find out if anyone else is still having this problem and if anyone has heard anything else about GM getting this fixed.

Bill
GM does not want the shafts replaced or repacked!
The grease in the shafts will migrate away from the splines and this will cause the knock to occur.
The shafts need to be exercised to bring the grease back into the spline area.
The intemediate shaft noise is usually found on vehicles that are not driven agressively. The intermediate shaft does not move in and out too much on these vehicles and this is what causes the knocking.

So Merlin Does this mean we have to drive them like they are stolen ...............LOL . just kidding.

Yeah I am not sure what that means either. I shouldn't have to "drive it like I stole it" to keep it lubed. I don't know but I don't think I should have to rag my truck out just to keep grease in a steering shaft. Thank you for the inout Merlin. DO you know if GM is looking for any other fix for this? Or does anyone know of an aftermarket upgrade that would fix this problem? Thanks again merlin for the information.


Bill

Yeah I am not sure what that means either. I shouldn't have to "drive it like I stole it" to keep it lubed. I don't know but I don't think I should have to rag my truck out just to keep grease in a steering shaft. Thank you for the inout Merlin. DO you know if GM is looking for any other fix for this? Or does anyone know of an aftermarket upgrade that would fix this problem? Thanks again merlin for the information.


Bill
You don't have to treat your truck like the "General Lee", but don't be afraid to hit a bump.
The intermediate shaft is the flexible link between the frame mounted components and the cab mounted components. It is designed to move in and out as the cab and frame twist against each other.
If it doesn't move, the grease will migrate away from the splines. By hitting bumps and twisting the frame and cab, the shaft will work up and down and force the grease up into the splines.
My 02 isn't ragged out and the shaft doesn't knock either :2cents:

i am not afraid to hit a bump. heck i did not even get 30 miles from the dealer befor my truck had a load in the bed.

second day out from the dealer it was in 4x4 mode on the river. 90% of the time its hight way miles. but that 10% is on twisting, winding back roads, to get to that bit of a strech ware 4x4 comes in handy.

it seems i need to lube the steering shaft every fall.

it me it seems there lube maby be the worng kind for the job.

Oh I am not afraid to hit a bump, but my truck is 2wd and I don't go off road much. A dirt road here and there when needed. I drive it everyday and it rarely sits around. I am not sure what the design is or how the lube isnt staying in there, but I do think GM could find a more permanent soloution. I bought my truck for the occasional chore work but mainly so I could haul my whole family around comfortably (crew cab LT). GM has to know that there are folks who mostly drive in the city and have decent roads. I appreciate the input and I think I drive the way you described. So I shouldn't have the knock problem IMO. Thanks for the replies and it is interesting to hear others input on this.



Bill

(Knocking on wood) my '02 with 120K miles has never had a clunk.

I go over speed bumps without braking and have been to Joshua Tree and Death Valley this year alone so it does see dirt even though it's a 2wd.

Is this the issue where the steering starts getting a catch or a knock in it when you turn the wheel at slow speeds? I just had my 03 2wd in for that issue for the second time, and basically the service guy said GM is trying to figure out what to do about this, in the meantime they lube it and, as he laughingly put it, "exercise the shaft." I only have 58K and as I said, this is the second visit for the problem. If GM was counting on rough driving to force grease up the shaft, I hope those engineers are working in the Antarctic right now. I bet 90% of trucks in the US never go off pavement.

I bet 90% of trucks in the US never go off pavement.

I bet most of the ones that don't go off pavement have brush guards on them too!:screwy: :lol:

I bet most of the ones that don't go off pavement have brush guards on them too!:screwy: :lol:


you know whats sad about that. I have seen trucks jacked way up brush guards, light kits the works. thay have never even seen a gravle road.

I feel bad becouse there has been no snow for me to romp around in this year.

A buddy of mine went to the dealer last week and they told him that Chevy was gonna come out with a good fix in a month or so. So I'm gonna hang loose and bring it in for this rythmic vibration I'm getting in the front end also. Almost like it's the U-Joints.

Gm is giving us a LUBE job.

Merlin..

I know GM has their special kind of grease they like to charge you an arm and a leg for. I replaced my shaft with the so called "replacement" part they offered myself. I just bought it from the dealer and installed it so I know how to remove it/put it back together. Would it be ok do you think to just smear some regular grease on there, or would it really need that special GM junk?

Thanks..

FYI. I just spoke with my local dealer about this issue again and he said that they have been told by GM not to replace or repack the grease in the steering shaft anymore. Now they will only "exercise" the intermediate steering shaft to redistribute the grease. He said this is only a temporary fix (as we all know). He also told me that GM has hired a contractor to produce a new shaft. He was told that GM would issue either a new bulletin or a recall in 4-6 weeks. I'm not sure how realistic this 'new shaft' is or whether we will actually know something in 4-6 weeks, but he recommended to wait it out instead of scheduling me to have my "shaft exercised". :grinyes: So, we will see...

Sounds to me everybody here is standing in line to get their "shaft excerised".
LOL. Lucky for me, my shaft gets plenty of excerise. :D

So excersising the shaft will make the grease fill the empty area? LOL!!