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Annyoying Rattle Steering Column 08'/06'

Old May 12, 2008 | 08:37 PM
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From: Remote SE Arizona Desert Mtns
Annyoying Steering Column Rattle 08'/06'

Anyone get lined out that annoying rattle felt through the steering column usually in slow speed braking turns over uneven ground?

My 06' had it and now my 08' has it. I notice it most when weight is shifting to the front end under 5 mph. It feels like excessive play through the steering box?

Best I can do for a sorry explanation. Thanks for the help.
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Old May 12, 2008 | 09:16 PM
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by Apache1
Anyone get lined out that annoying slow speed rattle felt through the steering column usually in slow braking turns over uneven ground?

My 06' had it and now my 08' has it. I notice it most when weight is shifting to the front end under 5 mph. It feels like excessive play through the steering box?

Best I can do for a sorry explanation. Thanks for the help.
Dealer has replaced my steering rack once. Truck needs to go back in for them to check it again.
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Old May 12, 2008 | 09:24 PM
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From: Remote SE Arizona Desert Mtns
Thanks CDHD. It does feel like the rack. I hate to have them replace it if it just comes back. I may have to live with it.

In your case, how long was it before the problem came back?
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Old May 12, 2008 | 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Apache1
Thanks CDHD. It does feel like the rack. I hate to have them replace it if it just comes back. I may have to live with it.

In your case, how long was it before the problem came back?
1 week, and that was 4 months ago.

My wife's 2006 Chevy 1500 makes the same clunk, but much worse. Every part of the steering system in her truck has been replaced at least once.
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Old May 13, 2008 | 09:45 AM
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I just did the ISS on my wife's suburban last night. At least it's easy.

My truck (the '05 4x4) is clunking around. I think it's the output shaft on the steering box, so I ordered a PSC Steering Brace. It's supposed to be here tomorrow, so we'll see if that fixes the issue. If I hit hte pitman arm from the side, it clunks around. By hit, I mean give it a light thump with the palm. It has a nice clank sound to it. You can see the side to side movement of the shaft, and the steering brace is supposed to fix that. Here's to hopin'...
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Old May 20, 2008 | 02:25 PM
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This didn't fix my clunk, although even my wife noticed how much better the truck rides and handles with the PSC brace.
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Old May 24, 2008 | 10:38 PM
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From: Olive Branch MS
Please lord let me know what this issue is cause by cause mine is doing it BAD! Just like described above, when weight is transfered at speeds below 5MPH I feel a bumping in the steering wheel. Even when just driving I feel it and its at lower speeds only it seems. Also, it doesnt seem to do it as bad if at all in the morning when its cold. All steering system components are great. The shaft to the box has a little slack at the input on the box but other than that it seems great. Please help since I am trying to sell the truck.
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Old May 25, 2008 | 12:14 PM
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I bet ball joints or hubs are shot.
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Old May 25, 2008 | 04:49 PM
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After much searching, I found about a million posts that described this problem exactly. I had an idea about what I though it was so when I read about Thorenfab having the same issue and doing the same thing I thought about doing, I did it! I took the steering shaft apart and took the boot off of it. I washed the teflon coated splines down and reistalled it. The truck is back to new again with no popping that can be felt through the steering wheel or the pedals! I am glad mine was as simple as that and I hope thats all it was. It feels great again. Now, if I could just sell this thing I would be set! I just couldnt bring myself to sell a truck that has even something that minor wrong with it.
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Old May 28, 2008 | 05:18 PM
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From: "I don't live in Dallas, I live in TEXAS!"
DmaxEter...I hope this works for mine. I am a front end newb...how hard is that to do? The clunking is driving me KRAZY!!!
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Old May 29, 2008 | 01:12 AM
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From: Olive Branch MS
Man its not hard at all. Its a little more involved than and old school steering shaft but not much.

1. Remove both clamps that hold the boot in the middle of the steering shaft under the hood. This is done from the top. You will have to cut the clamps and upon reinstallation use either zip ties or small hose clamps.

2. From under the hood and the top again, remove the bolt in the middle of the steering shaft.

3. From inside the cab and under the steering column, remove the bolt that retains the shaft to the end of the column. The two bolts that are to be removed have metric heads and are 13mm.

4. Slide the shaft out from the inside of the cab. The rubber boot will drop off at this point.

5. Clean the splines and inspect them for damage. I used a multi purpose spray lubricant to clean and lubricate the splines. Slide the shaft in and out several times and make sure to get all the black gooey stuff off of it.

6. Reinstall the steering shaft.

There is no need to remove the second half that connects to the steering gear box unless you just want to to check the u-joint. I did remove mine but there was no real need. If you decide to there is a pinch bolt just like the one at the column inside on with a 10mm head instead.

I did mine nearly a week ago and I havent had that issue since. The truck feels new again!
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Old May 30, 2008 | 01:23 AM
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Would this help? It's kind of pricey, but if your going to do it, do it right.

http://www.genosgarage.com/prodinfo....er=BORG-000951
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Old May 30, 2008 | 06:18 PM
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From: Olive Branch MS
I run one of their shafts on my old pickup just to eliminate that stupid rag joint. I dont see any need in buying a pricey piece like that when about 30 minutes worth of work will fix the one that is on there. If the one that was on there had a rag joint, I would have already bought a replacement!
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Old Jun 10, 2008 | 04:57 PM
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DmaxEter a big howdy thanks and great job in lining this problem out! Talk about a real nuisance.

Next month I'm heading to town and will have them clean up the splines.
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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 09:43 PM
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so all you do is clean up the splines, do you re grease them or anything else, just a clean and reinstall? how does this fix it? just curious, i will try soon
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