Clunking from Steering column?!?

[vandeda]

Hey all,

Anyone have this problem before? '98 Cavalier. When turning the steering wheel either left or right, it goes clunk clunk clunk clunk. It's coming from the steering column. You can hear and feel it. The car does not have tilt steering, but I was thinking (without tearing it apart yet) that there's a u-joint in the steering column for tilt steering purposes, so either the u-joint is messed up, or maybe there's bearing in there that's binding?

I don't know as I've yet to tear it apart to see what it's like in there, so I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this before and had any suggestions.

Thanks for the help!
Dan

[vintweed]

Originally Posted by vandeda

Hey all,

Anyone have this problem before? '98 Cavalier. When turning the steering wheel either left or right, it goes clunk clunk clunk clunk. It's coming from the steering column. You can hear and feel it. The car does not have tilt steering, but I was thinking (without tearing it apart yet) that there's a u-joint in the steering column for tilt steering purposes, so either the u-joint is messed up, or maybe there's bearing in there that's binding?

I don't know as I've yet to tear it apart to see what it's like in there, so I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this before and had any suggestions.

Thanks for the help!
Dan

I have this problem to. I've been told by a few different car enthusiasts that it's the cv axle's, unfortunately I've replaced both of mine and it still does it. So if you find out it's not the cv's, let me know will ya? LOL But try that first!

[johnnyh]

did you try the checking the power steering fluid???? try that if its full and it's not the cv joints then it has to be the power steering pump does it squeel or just clunk???

[muff34]

it is probably the steering gear shaft. this shaft is at bottom end of steering column ,about a foot long slip shaft with a u joint and coupler at each end. had mine done at a garage by a former Gm mech. about an hour`s labour part was $100.00 Canadian. Ask at local Gm garage they should know about it. Also I was told that they used to have a kit for it,to re lube the joints it was a waste of money,just change the whole shaft. I did and the clunck is now gone,and I DID NOT do any cv joints. The car was up on a hoist to do the job, alot easier to work on
hope this helps Good Luck MUFF

[Classicrocjunkie]

GM had a recall on the intermediate steering shafts for i believe 96-97 or some years of the such. Thankfully i have an extended warrenty and they covered the problem for my own car. But its most def. the shaft.

[muff34]

Originally Posted by Classicrocjunkie

GM had a recall on the intermediate steering shafts for i believe 96-97 or some years of the such. Thankfully i have an extended warrenty and they covered the problem for my own car. But its most def. the shaft.

Now I`m depressed ...LOL I had mine changed ,got the part at Gm garage , There had not have been a recall on 2000 Sunfires for that problem. I know the parts manager there and he did not say anything about a recall, but with my luck there probably was

[slinkee]

i had an 89 cavalier that did the same thing and it was the struts that needed replacing.

[94VL]

If you think whats attached to the steering wheel you can trace everything that could be loose.Steering wheel to column shaft.....then to the jointed shaft leading to the steering rack,the rack has inner rod bushings (as does the rack itself where it bolts to the firewall),those rods lead to outer tie rod ends that fit thru the steering knuckle/strut assy.The struts pivot on bushings/mounts that have bearings in them.There are also control arm bushings,but these usually clunk on up/down movement,rather than steering motions.