Intermediate Shaft Steering Clunk

[XAutoXer]

Originally Posted by Gbuzz71

I just got done putting in an ISS from Borgenson. I had some trouble pulling the old one out from the cab. I had to remove some duct work to wiggle it out of there. I'm no mechanic by any means put the job was fairly simple. And no more knocking....for now.

2003 Silverado Z71 LT

Hope it lasts a long time for you. I visited the dealer today. Talk to a service rep. Told be that any of the greese kit jobs have lasted from about 1 to 2 years depending on driving habits. I am hoping to remove mine tomorrow and install a greese zerk. Wish me luck gang. Dam I hope this fixes it.

[waitingforcolumbus]

Gbuzz71, Did you notice if your Borgenson ISS had a Teflon bushing inside?

[XAutoXer]

Originally Posted by XAutoXer

Hope it lasts a long time for you. I visited the dealer today. Talk to a service rep. Told be that any of the greese kit jobs have lasted from about 1 to 2 years depending on driving habits. I am hoping to remove mine tomorrow and install a greese zerk. Wish me luck gang. Dam I hope this fixes it.

Ok gang you ready:

Here is my story.

It is called the Clunk that was no more...

Well it started at about 9:00 this morning. I tied off my steering wheel and removed the ISS. Was not as bed as I thought it would be. Removed the two bolts, Slid the ISS out of the lower shaft first and then wiggled it into the cab. Like I said not so bad. Then I looked at
it for a while, had a smoke and coffee. There was not much play in it as I expected. A bit of whitish grease kinda like a blob in the opening. Oh and you know what else that surprised me was there was no bent piece of metal that most said would have to be removed with needle nose pliers. You know what I am taking about. Anyways it wasn't there. So I cleaned up the shaft inside and out. I then welded a piece of metal just inside the open end. I welded it completely around just inside the edge. Then I inserted a zerk fitting 3/4" above the lower bolt hole. My theory is that once I reconnect everything and I pump grease into the now closed shaft, that there is only one way for it to come out. right up through the splies. So I put it back together, no wait a sec I drilled the zerk hole first then slid the unit back into through the firewall. Connected the lower connection first, hand tight, then the upper. Tighten them both up, good and tight. Turn the wheel slightly after removing the steering wheel strap.
This was to have the hole for the zerk facing up. Installed the zerk. Then pumped er up good. Not to much, not to little but just enough. Gut feeling sorry I know it's kind of vague. So guess what. That's right. I don't go clunk clunk clunk down the street anymore. I am so freaking happy. Every oil change I am going to give it a squirt of grease through the zerk. And I will be set.

Stopped in the local GM Dealership afterwards. The service reps and the mechanic that usually fixes them all wanted to see what I had done. And were all impressed.
I got to tell you guy's, and maybe some of you are gal's Thank you so much for helping me fix this problem. Without this board I could never have done it.

Sorry no pictures I wanted to take some. My new Canon camera is in the shop. But that is another story.

I will post a update in a month or so, or if it god forbid comes back.

[Gbuzz71]

Originally Posted by waitingforcolumbus

Gbuzz71, Did you notice if your Borgenson ISS had a Teflon bushing inside?

No I didn't notice it. I just put it in, but it did say that it had the the teflon bushing on the part description.

[truck owner]

Glad I found this forum. In February 09 I purchased an 03 silverado regulary cab v-8 w/ auto from and estate. It has 17,500 miles and paid $7,500.00. Shortly after the purchase I began hearing the clunking noise when steering left. I read all the forums about the steering shaft. I then called the local dealer and they said it would cost around $200.00 to fix and when asked if GM would take care of it, they responded with a "No, not likely"
I then called the customer service number in the owners manual. Yes I spoke with a female foreigner who was hard to understand. After getting my information:name, VIN number etc. She said I needed a "proper diagnosis". She then called the local dealer ship on a 3 way call. Guess who I talked to:... yep same guy. I made an appointment for the next week. Dropped it off the night before. The day of the "proper diagnosis" I received a call from the same gal from GM wanting to know if I had been contacted by the dealer. I hadn't so she said she would call and call me back, which she did in 5 minutes saying she had good news. The ISS had been replaced for free. I thanked her graciously and later picked up the truck and thanked them also.
I later spoke with a coworker whose GMC also had the "clunk" and the dealer had fixed his with 160,000 miles on it.
Am I satisfied? Sure am it drives like the new truck it is, now.

[jodirt26]

truck owner:

Your situation is very similar to mine. I bought an 03 Silverado in 04 with 19k miles. They packed it with grease before I took it home. It was fine until about 50k miles which was about 2 years ago. I read some stuff online about packing it with grease was the only fix. Now I hear there is a re-engineered part out there. My truck currently has about 93k miles on it. In your post you say that your friend had 160k miles and they replaced the part with the new one. Did they replace his for free? Also, did he have to call the customer service number as you did, or did they just replace it. I am just figuring out what to do. I got 1 quote from a local dealership saying it would be $150 installed. I see that I can buy the new part for $55 on gmpartszoneonline.com and the instalation sounds pretty easy. But if I can get the dealership to do it for free since it really is their problem, I obviously want to do that.
Let me know.

thanks

Joe

[ukrkoz]

Originally Posted by jodirt26

truck owner:

Your situation is very similar to mine. I bought an 03 Silverado in 04 with 19k miles. They packed it with grease before I took it home. It was fine until about 50k miles which was about 2 years ago. I read some stuff online about packing it with grease was the only fix. Now I hear there is a re-engineered part out there. My truck currently has about 93k miles on it. In your post you say that your friend had 160k miles and they replaced the part with the new one. Did they replace his for free? Also, did he have to call the customer service number as you did, or did they just replace it. I am just figuring out what to do. I got 1 quote from a local dealership saying it would be $150 installed. I see that I can buy the new part for $55 on gmpartszoneonline.com and the instalation sounds pretty easy. But if I can get the dealership to do it for free since it really is their problem, I obviously want to do that.
Let me know.

thanks

Joe

no, you will not get a freebie. GM has it covered under warranty up to whatever it was for your truck. Also, they have an un=advertised "participation program" - for up to 70K miles, they will pro-rate replacement and deduct some of your costs for it.
DO NOT buy OEM design ISS. get a NAPA design, it is said to last much longer than OEM one. "Excersizing ISS", using GM terminology, only prolongs the agony and delays replcement, that's it.

[ColoradoSilverado]

Am I the only one that used the NAPA ISS ? This has an Teflon bushing inside and so far so good.

Bert

[jodirt26]

ukrkoz-

Thanks for all of this great information. This site has been the most helpful. I will definitely come back if I run into any more problems.

You said:

get a NAPA design, it is said to last much longer than OEM one.

Can you possibly give me the part number you used. I searched the part on NAPA's website and it comes up with 3 different ones ranging in price from $74 - $184. All 3 have the same description.

I could call. Generally speaking all the people working at NAPA are pretty knowledgeable compared to other stores, but I just want to make sure I get the correct part.

If you have no idea, no big deal. I will figure it out.


ColoradoSilverado/Bert-

How long have you gone with the NAPA part installed?

[ColoradoSilverado]

Originally Posted by jodirt26

ukrkoz-

Thanks for all of this great information. This site has been the most helpful. I will definitely come back if I run into any more problems.

You said:
Can you possibly give me the part number you used. I searched the part on NAPA's website and it comes up with 3 different ones ranging in price from $74 - $184. All 3 have the same description.

I could call. Generally speaking all the people working at NAPA are pretty knowledgeable compared to other stores, but I just want to make sure I get the correct part.

If you have no idea, no big deal. I will figure it out.


ColoradoSilverado/Bert-

How long have you gone with the NAPA part installed?

I installed mine on September 8th last year.

Bert

[glenn77]

My truck is a 2005 chev silverado which has a similiar problem. Does anyone know if this was a concern for the 2005 years as well??

[ukrkoz]

Originally Posted by glenn77

My truck is a 2005 chev silverado which has a similiar problem. Does anyone know if this was a concern for the 2005 years as well??

dude, they have never fixed it. i had it tracked as recent as 2009 models. probably will be followed by a brown nosed post from some chevy fan, saying that they have changed to improved design, it's bull, they never did.

[kbaird83]

ok here's my question. i have a 02 silverado that clunks at slow speeds not only when turning left but right aswell. also can feel the jump in the wheel while going down the road and hitting bumps. gets up my nerve when going down the highway doing 70-75, hit a bump, and the truck wants to jump around a little. does this sound like the problem being discussed?

[ukrkoz]

Originally Posted by kbaird83

ok here's my question. i have a 02 silverado that clunks at slow speeds not only when turning left but right aswell. also can feel the jump in the wheel while going down the road and hitting bumps. gets up my nerve when going down the highway doing 70-75, hit a bump, and the truck wants to jump around a little. does this sound like the problem being discussed?

nope, wrong symptoms. ISS is felt only at take off and rapid braking, when front lifts or dives.
you have:
1. bad idler, if so equipped
2. bad pitman, if so equipped
3. one or both bad hub bearings.
you let it go - you'll get "death wobble", and that will scare the shit out of you when you experience it.

[kbaird83]

Originally Posted by ukrkoz

nope, wrong symptoms. ISS is felt only at take off and rapid braking, when front lifts or dives.
you have:
1. bad idler, if so equipped
2. bad pitman, if so equipped
3. one or both bad hub bearings.
you let it go - you'll get "death wobble", and that will scare the shit out of you when you experience it.

I know the suspensions getting a bit beat down. this could cause these same symptoms couldnt they? get the bounce hop and sway at high speeds. also how do you check if bearings are going bad? everything feels tight and doesnt have any play.