Steering Clunk??
 

here's another well known issue with the 99-current fullsize p'ups and utes. steering clunk when turning, hitting bumps, or both. will be felt in the steering wheel. almost sounds like it is coming from the base of the column.

gm has issued the 13th or so revision for this issue. they are now again replacing the shaft that runs from the column to the gear box. (intermediate shaft) the noise is coming from the splines in the 2 piece shaft.

p/n for the new shaft is 19153614. prices vary depending on dealer mark up.

Its about time the General came up with a fix not just a band aid for the problem.Will they replace the ones that are not yet clunking?


Nate

in that case i'd guess it depends on how good of a relationship you have with ur advisor. most of the guys in my shop don't even drive 'em before hand anyway though. we just pull 'em in, swap 'em out and make sure their quiet when we park 'em.

clunk
 

I complained to my gmc dealer so many times about the clunking noise over the 3 years I have had my truck and they gave in and replaced it for free even though I have almost 100k on it

If you use a 2" hose clamp around the shaft collar it fixes the problem.

Some guys have been pulling the telescoping shaft apart, removing the grease and replace it with silicone gasket maker. The silicone dampens the rattle. I have been thinking about doing that myself.

The NBS is not reporting the "steering clunk". But I had it both my 03 and 05, I am glad that it is getting rectified.

I have had 4 of these vehicles, starting with an '02, and have had it replaced for free every time, no hassles at all. I didn't realize there was a bulletin on it until after the fourth time.

There have been numerous bulletins but the dealers still dont correct the issue. I've owned 3 DMax's and fixed the problem on each one of them with a hose clamp and lithium grease.

Have any pictures where uou installed the hoseclamp??

Well that sucks, but it is also a Dodge issue at least in the 06's. I have had to have both the upper and lower input shafts replaced twice on mine, and they are not cheap...

Dodge has now gone to a non-gresable bearing which seems to fail shortly after your bumper-bumper warranty runs out. Just a heads up!!

Sure do. :up:

There's also a new mod that at guy over at DP has done and seems to have fixed the problem also using silicone on the splines. I'll look it up and post up the info.

Here is another fix that a machinist came up with. Quoted text from RCH @ DP.

Here are some photos of how I cured the clunk in my truck. Was very easy to make. Installation was a bit more difficult because the shaft that this bearing mates to is tapered which is why we get that sloppy feeling.When the plastic is pushed over the larger diameter at the end of the shaft the hole is opened up then fits in place on the shaft where the diameter is smaller, then the bumps in the road finish the job. I measured .008/.010" of taper over less than 2". I stumbled upon this by measuring the shaft, making the bushing and when I went to install it the bushing wouldn't fit over the shaft, So I got my hacksaw out and slit the aluminum bushing so it would slip over the end of the shaft, then slipped the steel bearing race over it, then I greased the race and installed the green plastic with the needle bearings in place. This took a little leverage to slip in place. After driving it, It feels great now, no slop, no clunk and I don't have to worry about the plastic getting distorted again. I bored out the green housing to fit the 1.625 o.d. by .750 long bearing, and made a split bushing with a flange at one end 1.003" i.d. by 1.250" o.d. by .750" long. You can probably find the bearings and the bushing at Mc Master-Carr if you don't have a bearing supply near you. Hope this helps.

One more pic.

Mine has just started doing this in the last 5k about time to take it to the dealer and let them try to fix it 21k on the truck.

Since your under warranty go ahead and let them do it but I can tell you that all they will do is grease it and send it out the door. In about 15-20K it will start doing it again. :madd:

I know the service Manager pretty well so maybe he will replace it, if not I just do your trick in 15-20K

So far its worked on three trucks. I tear it apart and grease the shaft and then install the hose clamp. Seems to work. :up:

I did the hose clamp/grease kit and it worked great.

I really need to get off my arse and get this done.

The dealers wont grease the old ones anymore. If you had your old one greased under warranty and are having the problem again, they will replace it with the updated shaft for free even if you are out of warranty. Had mine done about 10k ago, still no clunk. :U:

i bought a borgessen intermediate shaft but still have the clunk

did you order it off of jegs?

intermediate shaft
 

i think the problem mite be lying in the area of the drivers side bearings in the front endshaft coming out of the front end.i can push mine up and down rite at the 6 bolt flange coming out of frontrear end .it has play in the front rearend bearings.2nd vehicle with this problem.both have the clunk syndrome

they supposedly made some new shafts that get rid of the clunk now

Yeah, and the Brooklyn Bridge is available for $350...:tttt:

The best and simplest solution for the clunk is the muffler clamp fix. Costs all of $3 and takes 10 minutes or less. Sure wish I had known about this while I had my Avalanche.

that the same as the 3 inch hose clamp fix?

Yep :pca1: Wouldnt call it the best though, its just the easiest and cheapest. Still doesnt address the and correct the issue.

It'd be nice if someone had a DIY that they could post up. :w2::w2::w2:

:pca1::pca1:

Well Sam...I dont know how much easier it can get than showing you pics of where to install the clamp. Want a write-up to explain to you how to use a nut driver and the exact procedure for operating a hose clamp? :lol88:

































:sorry:

:ph: Well, phalluslips, I was thinking it would be nice to have a separate thread of this particular procedure from start to finish, listing materials, sizes, tools, where to grease, how to remove the shaft if needed, etc.

Some people might really appreciate a good step by step article like that.


And I do the jokes around here, you do the laughing.

lol

So, what's the latest with this?

I just purchased a used 2007 duramax and the dealer I bought it from replaced the intermediate shaft on it. When I climbed under my dash for a lookie, I could move the steering shaft inside the green bearing Assy and make the clunking noise my steering makes while driving.

After reading threads about this it seems to me where the problem really lies in is the body movement. Body moves via body mount bushings and the steering box mounted on the truck frame does not. So steering sector must slip freely on splined shaft so not to create stress on the steering column shaft bearing. < seems logical to me anyway.

Any current solid fixes out there for this now?

Thanks.