bigblockV8 said:
my 04 silverado with 95k had the same noise - searched the forum, found info about recalls, installing new parts, grease fittings, etc. I said, C'mon Man , a Chevy is built like a rock, right !! After seeing this video, did the ol' shaft job & the noise is gone ! Steering is better & I purposely ran over the bumps in the road I had been avoiding ! Chevrolet needs to own up to this problem & issue a legitimate repair bulletin if they want their trucks to be the " longest lasting" trucks on the road. I will do this free lube myself maybe every other oil change, & if it stills needs new parts, then I'll be driving a Tundra, sorry guys; have had bow ties all my life, but at least I found an easy fix, thanks to this forum
Yeah, I've heard about the 'DIY' fix where you drill/tap a hole into the steering shaft and then thread in a lube-nipple so that you can literally lube up the steering shaft.
You know, I'm on your side too btw.. about the whole 'switching truck companies' idea.. because this truck, when I bought it brand new off the showroom floor back in 2005, cost me 33k total after taxes and fees and so on. That's a LOT of money!! But, I agreed to pay it because I truly felt like I was getting a tough, quality, reliable, dependable and great truck! Now, I can't say anything bad about this truck.. EXCEPT for the dang steering clunk noise. That's the ONLY issue I've had from this truck since I bought it brand new back in 2005.. so, even with the steering clunk noise, I still have to give Chevrolet props on building a tough and dependable truck. The Vortec 5.3 (basically a 327 engine) is one of the best engines you can get in the Silverado IMO. My truck now as 116k miles on her and I'm telling ya, she starts/runs like she doesn't even know she has 116k miles on her. Same with the transmission.. I've not had any issues from it either. But, then again.. I also make sure that I keep both the engine/transmission serviced on a regular basis.. and when it comes to the engine oil, I do that myself and always use either the Mobil-1 filter or the K&N oil filter because they flow and filter so much better than those cheap ones could ever think about doing. As for the transmission, I take that to a local garage that I trust (the only one I trust) because I'm not confident enough to do the transmission service because you have to follow the right protocol to make sure you get a correct reading from the dip-stick and so many other things, that are so vital and you have to make sure they're done correctly, otherwise you will end up damaging the transmission.
But, again.. whenever it comes time to get a new truck? Yeah, I'm seriously considering looking into browsing the Toyota Tundra's (the fullsize trucks with the 5.7 V8 engines) or possibly even going with a new Dodge.
Before I bought this 2005 Silverado, I had a 2001 Dodge Dakota Crew-Cab (2wd) that had the 4.7 liter V8 in it and that thing would flat out run! I had it for 4 years and never had one single problem out of it. And believe me, I ran that thing hard at times.
I could only imagine a Dodge Dakota Crew-Cab 2-wheel drive with a HEMI in it. I mean, could you imagine?!?! LOL!
Now, as far as Fords go?? Ehhh yeah... no. I wouldn't drive a Ford if the dealership/factory GAVE me one, period! I had a 1997 Ford Ranger 4x4 Single-Cab back when I was in high school. It had the 3.0 V6 (crappy engine) with a manual 5-speed transmission. It had the push-button 4X4 and 'LOW RANGE' buttons on the dash. Only thing I can say positive about that truck would be that it would go places that any other trucks wouldn't dare even think of going. I mean, literally, I went down trails that some professionally equipped off-road jeeps wouldn't even go.. and that little Ranger would go down those trails like it was nothing. It was crazy!
So anyhow. Yeah, its either going to be another Silverado (or maybe GMC Sierra) for me.. or, I'll just go with a new Dodge crew-cab. If Chevy doesn't have their engineering disasters figured out and fixed in the next 3 years when I'm ready for a new one?? Then they can count on losing me as a customer.. and believe me, I won't be the only loyal customer they'll lose if they don't get this crap under control.
-SG