Steering Column U-Joint

[tlong]

I have a new noise. A pop you feel in the steering wheel. It's coming from the u-joint connection between the column and the intermediate coulpling arm. Has anyone had this u-joint fail? There is a bolt that holds the fork onto the joint that may be loose. That would be too easy! It looks like hell to replace.

I don't see that u-joint wallowing out in 50,000 miles.

Thanks

 

[Fabinatl]

I think there was/is a recall for a poping sound like this in the steering column. Check the recall section for this info.

 

[tlong]

Recall

Fab, you are a bright fellow. That is probably it! I live it Atlanta and owe you a brewski. Wow, I love this place. Now it's finding out if it's still covered. Is a recall a recall forever? We'll see.That sounds like about a $500 noise.

Update: This is a service bulletin, not recall. Factory defect on a BUNCH of GMs. I'm going to hammer the bearing with lithium grease and pray to Lord Zora.

 

[compyelc4]

tlong,

Had that noise in my '95 at 15,000 miles. It is the joint at the rack end. Once I removed the bottow shaft I placed the joint in a vice and cranked down on each of the two bolts. What that did was mash the coupling a little tighter. Problem solved. Took me about 1 hour as I remember. If I had to do it again I think I could cut that time in half. I did all the work from the top end. I think I had to remove a small idler pulley from the bottom front of the engine but that was a 1 minute job. That allowed me to loosen a small clamp on the boot that covers the rack steering output shaft. Once that is loosened up it is fairly easy to reach in there with a small socket and loosen the nut that holds the lower shaft to the rack steering output shaft. Then the shaft and joint just pulls right off.

 

[tlong]

Thanks CompyelC4

I was trying to find the source last night and have convinced myself it is one of the u-joints or shaft forks. Couldn't feel the pop in the column. It looks like a beeotch to get at the shaft. It is a minor thing but will get fixed soon. I appreciate your advice.

tlong