My 2004 has developed the knocking steering shaft. I've been told by service that they are now replacing rather than lubing the shaft. Problem is the replacement is on national backorder and might not be in until February and the kncking is really bugging me.

I thought I saw on here that you can buy what you need to lube the shaft yourself (no wise cracks please). Question is: What do I buy, where do I buy it, and how easy is the job. This will at least solve my problem until the parts come in.


John

That's interesting that they're replacing them now. The dealer just lubed mine a few weeks ago.

They lubed mine a couple of weeks back, made it worse. Said replacement parts were on nat'l backorder.

Jim Moses
'04 2500HD CC D/A

Had my steering shaft replaced this past Friday, took about 4 weeks to come in. Nice and tight now, hated to hear that clunking too.

Same with the Yukons and Suburbans. I had the wife’s Yukon in last week, they said they will order a new on, but also lubed the “shaft”. There is nothing finer than a lubed shaft, all works well now, but will still put in the new on for free.

The lubed shaft will do it again, just takes time...

This is where I've seen the lube kit.

www.gmdieseltech.com

I don`t understand how some dearlers can be getting the new shafts while others say they don`t know when they will be able to get them. I would think they would all get their info from the same people at GM Parts. Could it be that these shafts they have recently put on are the same one we presently have only leftover new ones ? Does anyone have the part # for the new " type " shaft ?

The lubed shaft will do it again, just takes time... I got the new one, had to wait a good 5-6 weeks for it, due to backorder.....2 weeks later it did it again...does it every once in a while but nothing like the old one...

My new shaft started doing it about 2 days after it was installed. I talked to the dealer about it and they told me they have no idea why that happened... So we will see what they will be doing about it. Told me they will get me another new one soon but will have to wait till sometime next month for it...

I just got the new shaft today i hope it takes care of the problem for more than two days ?

Mine is driving me crazy with the clunking noise ! Parts have been on back order for a good 4 weeks id say. Not looking good though that some of you are having reocurring problems with the new shaft.:( What is different from the LB7 trucks cause they dont clunk do they??

Based on My experiences there's no difference between the shafts in the trucks.

I've had a '99 Z71, a '01 2500HD 8.1, a '00 Tahoe, and a '04 2500HD Duramax and they all developed the steering rattle at some point.


Mine is driving me crazy with the clunking noise ! Parts have been on back order for a good 4 weeks id say. Not looking good though that some of you are having reocurring problems with the new shaft.:( What is different from the LB7 trucks cause they dont clunk do they??

Is their nobody out there that can take a used shaft & tinker with it to see if it could be "modified" to stop doing what it's doing when it bangs around. I have a 02 CC max that does not do it yet...but i'm sure it will. My wife has a 02 tahoe,... it's done it for ever. We just never took it in. If i can find one from a dealer(that they discarded)...i'm going to tinker with it to see if it can be fixed for good. It justs seems stupid to replace it with another one that will do the exact same thing again & again!!

Pevo, Let us know what ya find out.

For anyone desiring the truth, here is a copy of GM's bulletin on the matter:
(note that it only applies to 2003 and older) (You can buy the lube kit from your dealer)

Clunking Noise Under Hood and Can Be Felt in the Steering Wheel (Lubricate the Intermediate Steering Shaft Assembly) #00-02-35-003G - (Oct 22, 2004)
Clunking Noise Under Hood and Can Be Felt in the Steering Wheel (Lubricate the Intermediate Steering Shaft Assembly)
2002-2003 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade EXT

2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV

1999-2003 Chevrolet Silverado

2000-2003 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe

2002-2003 Chevrolet Avalanche

1999-2003 GMC Sierra

2000-2003 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL

2003 HUMMER H2

This Service Bulletin DOES NOT include Mid-Size Utilities such as Buick Rainier, Chevrolet TrailBlazer / TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy / Envoy XL / Envoy XUV or Oldsmobile Bravada. Refer to Service Bulletin 02-02-35-006A for Mid-Size Utilities.

This bulletin is being revised to notify dealers that it is acceptable to service the intermediate shaft with Lubrication Kit P/N 26098419 until sufficient inventory of the replacement intermediate shaft part numbers become available from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 00-02-35-003F (Section 02 -- Steering).

Condition
Some customers may comment on a clunk-type noise coming from under the hood that also can be felt in the steering wheel. These conditions may be more noticeable when turning at low speeds on rough road surfaces.

Correction
Important:

• It is critical that when using Lubrication Kit P/N 26098419 to service the intermediate shaft that ALL the service steps below are followed completely.

• Failure to follow the service procedure below will result in a repeat repair.

• DO NOT attempt to lubricate the intermediate shaft with the shaft partially mounted in the vehicle.

• The intermediate shaft MUST be cycled an adequate number of times obtain the proper grease displacement.


Remove the intermediate shaft from the vehicle and lubricate the intermediate shaft with a Steering Column Intermediate Shaft Lubrication Kit, P/N 26098419. Follow the service procedure below.

Set the front wheels in the straight-ahead position.
Notice: On 2002 and later model year vehicles, the steering column LOCK was removed from the steering column. It is critical that the J 42640 Steering Column Anti-Rotation Pin is used when servicing these steering columns. Failure to use the J 42640 may result in damage to the SIR coil.

Set the steering wheel in the LOCK position on 2001 and prior vehicles.



Install the J 42640 in the steering column lower access hole.
For vehicles equipped with adjustable foot pedals, do the following steps.
• Reposition the carpet away from the accelerator pedal position (APP) sensor.

• Remove the two nuts retaining the accelerator pedal to the bulkhead.

• Reposition the accelerator pedal out of the way so that the intermediate shaft can be removed.





From inside the vehicle, remove the upper bolt from the upper intermediate steering shaft (1) to the steering column connection.



From under the hood, remove the lower bolt that connects the upper intermediate shaft to the steering gear coupling shaft.
Remove the upper intermediate steering shaft assembly.
• From inside the vehicle, slide the shaft down and off the steering column shaft.

• From under the hood, slide the shaft towards the dash in order to disengage the shaft from the steering gear coupling shaft.

• From inside the vehicle, slide the upper intermediate shaft through the dash boot seal and remove the shaft from the vehicle.





Important:

• Intermediate Shafts are currently on back order from GMSPO.

• General Motors recommends lubricating the intermediate shaft rather than replacing at this time.


Remove the spacer clip from the end of the intermediate shaft with a pair of needle nose pliers.
Fully extend the shaft by pulling the two shafts apart.



Apply the syringe of grease supplied in the Steering Column Intermediate Shaft Lubrication Kit, P/N 26098419, into the open end of the shaft. Direct the syringe tip as deep as possible into the shaft and dispense the full content of the syringe.



Insert the plug supplied in the Steering Column Intermediate Shaft Lubrication Kit into the open end of the shaft and finger tighten the wing nut.



Place the plugged end of the shaft on a hard surface and apply pressure to collapse the shaft and dissipate the grease through the shaft.
Remove the plug from the shaft and fully extend the shaft.
Important: A minimum of 13 mm (1/2 in) of grease MUST be on the shaft splines to insure proper lubrication of the shaft.






Inspect the shaft for a minimum of 13 mm (1/2 in) of grease on the shaft splines.
Important: In some cases it may be necessary to use a second Lubrication Kit P/N 26098419 to obtain the proper amount of lubrication on the shaft splines.


Repeat steps 10-15 if less than 13 mm (1/2 in) of grease is on shaft splines.
Clean the excess grease off of the shaft splines and around the shaft opening.



Carefully spread apart the spacer clip with a pair of pliers.



Reinstall the spacer clip into the open end of the shaft.



Align the spacer clip with the stakes in the shaft.
Reinstall the upper intermediate steering shaft through the dash boot seal and slide the lower end into the steering gear coupling shaft.
Raise the upper end of the intermediate steering shaft and install into the steering column shaft.
Install the upper bolt and nut.

Tighten
Tighten the bolt to 47 N·m (35 lb ft).

Install the lower bolt and nut.

Tighten
Tighten the bolt to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).

For vehicles equipped with adjustable foot pedals, do the following steps.
• Reposition the accelerator pedals into position on the bulkhead.

• Install the two retaining nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 20 N·m (15 lb ft).


• Reposition the carpet back into place.

Parts Information
Part Number
Description
Qty

26098419
Lubrication Kit, Steering Column Intermediate Shaft
1


Lubrication Kits are currently available from GMSPO.

Intermediate Shafts are currently on back order from GMSPO.

The word I got yesterday is that it is the third design shaft that we are waiting on now. The second design GM came out with is doing the same thing ( klunking noise ) so they went back to the drawing board. Still no word on when it will hit the parts dept.

Every 1999-up Gm Truck/suv I Have Seen In My Shop Always Have The Clunking Intermediate Shaft. From Personal Experience It Seems To Happen When When I Wash Out My Engine Compartment Or Drive In Rain For An Extended Period Of Time. On My Old '01 Sierra I Used Teflon Water-proof Grease (used For Urethane Bushings) On The Shaft And It Seemed To Last Longer Than Gm's Grease. Also Installed A Boot Over The Shaft To Keep Out Water And Dirt. This Prolonged The Clunking, But Not A Permanent Cure.

They are being produced in Delphi's plant in Athens Ala....The problem is they can not produce them fast enough....( GM want's 1 M) All they changed was the compound in the plastic....

As others have indicated, my 2000 Silverado and my 2002 Silverado both have suffered from the intermediate shaft clunk. Still not having this problem FIXED by 2005 speaks poorly of GM's design capability and/or attention to quality. This problem should have been fixed many years ago. GM, get your damn act together.

My '04 is having the same symptom. Any "official" documentation I can show the dealer that it is policy to replace the shaft?

My LLY truck is coming up on a year old and 22000 miles. I feel the steering clunk more than I hear it, but it is getting progressively worse.
I'll wait until I don't have to wait, then get it fixed :-)


Gar