2004 LS front end clunk - revisited

Have spent some time in here (back to page 33 of posts) and I have seen several folks describing the clunk in the front end. I bought my 04 with 53K on it and it had the problem up front. No biggy - thats why it's a used car. Took it to the dealership and they replaced the steering control rack ($565):2cents: . Even asked if the replacement was OEM part, which they assured me it was. Three months later same noise is back. Good news is it came with 12 month or 12K warranty. Bad news is most of us know, that I won't just be going in there and getting another rack without them finding something else that I need to pay for.

I digress - is there any updated info on this problem as far as cause and effect to get it to stop.

Nope. My noise also is back, but it's far much less noticeable than it was before it was replaced. Rumor has it that we'd better learn to live with it. Because no more fixes are coming, supposedly. GM is now focusing on the "all-new" '08 Malibu. Happens every time a new version is on the way.

Under what conditions does it clunk? The control arm bushings are a known issue as well as the front hub bearings in causing a clunk in Malibu's.

The intermediate steering shaft will have to be replaced as well. Have the dealer inspect it. Some malibus shaft were manufactured with not enough grease, and it makes the exact same clunk noise.

I had my rack an pinion replaced and the clunk went away, for 3 weeks then it came back, the dealer replaced the intermediate steering shaft and I have heard nothing since.

Mine does it just about everytime I take off from a stop. And if it is the control arm bushing then shame on them for making a car that can't make it 60K without those going. Just did the ones on my 77 Ranchero last year - now there is longevtiy in a part.

Based on GM's history, I doubt that replacing the ISS will last as a fix for long, either.

GM has had many ISS problems. For example, a neighbor's '03 Tahoe is now in the shop for its 5th ISS replacement in under 50K miles.