DOTLDaddy
Camp Canine, Union / Ballwin, MO. U.S.A.
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My '03 GMC Sierra has developed an intermittent "clunking" sound when turning at very low speed on my rough, gravel driveway. Mostly happens when I am turning the truck to position it to back into my garage.
Any ideas???
Walter & Garland - Camp Canine caretakers
Gen. Gretchen - 5 y.o. GSD - Special Forces/Seal/DOTL Cloudbusters
Gen. Missy - GSD/Aussie - Special Forces/DOTL Rainbow Division
2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD
2008 Puma 25RBSS TT
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Capt Skup
Southern Maryland/Nantucket
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Joined: 05/14/2004
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Ball joints, tie rod ends, steering box, steering column u-joint?? Time to do some basic investigating.
Capt Skup
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Wonderful Wife,3 Daughters,2Goldens Gus&Riley
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Geozzz
South Jersey
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Capt Skup wrote:Ball joints, tie rod ends, steering box, steering column u-joint?? Time to do some basic investigating.
add shock bushings
Kathy & George Zimm
Mickleton NJ
2006 Coachman Epic and 2 Shelties
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b_salgado
Salisbury ,NC,USA
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Check your sway bar end links also.
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jenoble99
Indiana
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We had an '02 Tahoe that did the same thing. I would be willing to bet it's the steering shaft that connects the steering wheel to the gear box. This is a common GM problem with trucks of this vintage. The only fix I am aware of is replacement. But it will eventually do the same thing. Though I believe a few had some luck with cleaning and greasing the shaft. If it is the steering shaft then it's nothing to worry about, just a little annoying.
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DOTLDaddy
Camp Canine, Union / Ballwin, MO. U.S.A.
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jenoble99 wrote:... I would be willing to bet it's the steering shaft that connects the steering wheel to the gear box. .
The sound does seem to be coming from the steering column area.
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1mtnman
Colorado
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Gm truck products are very prone to developing the problem you have with your vehicle. It is a problem with the intermediate shaft in the steering column. Over the years there have been many attempts by GM to correct the problem and they finally have come up with a cure. The shaft is replaced by a new engineered replacement and that takes care of the rattle/loose sounding condition. I don't know what your luck will be in trying to get GM to replace it as they did with many others a few years ago. You probably will have to pay for the replacement. The regreasing technique they used prior to the new shaft was only a temporary fix so don't let they con you in to that.
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Thunderbolt
North Branch, Mn USA
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It is the intermediate steering shaft. Very common problem on GM trucks as far back as mid to late 90's.
Bryan
2003 2500HD Ext. cab short box
6.0 liter 4.10 gears, Nelson performance PCM
98 K1500 4x4 heavy duty 1/2 ton
6,600lb GVWR 5,280lbs on the scale empty
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frank henn
jackson, mississippi
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GM has had a problem with the intermediate shaft on a whole bunch of their units. At on time the fix was to pull the shaft pack it with a HD white grease and put it back in. two years ago the redesigned the shat, and seems to have cured this problem. Note it is not a safety issue but an annoying noise. My DW Buick 2006 model just started to do it, the car has only 40K on it I will replace it, because it bothers her, I will just turn down my hearing aid
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Thud
MS
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Joined: 04/10/2007
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Yes, it is the steering shaft and as others have said, nothing to worry about except for the annoyance. My 04 started doing it at about 20,000 miles and I put off getting it serviced and you know what? It quit making the noise about 10,000 miles later and now it is silent again and drives like new, so I'm not gonna mess with it.
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