Sachemhockey44

Hey guys just brought my car in for warranty work to fix some issues.

1. Clunk noise that happens going slow over bumps and when I turn my steering wheel left to right fast. (Intermediate steering shaft ?)

2. 50+ mph I hear a grinding type of noise that sounded like when my wheel bearing went bad on my old car. But the thing that's throwing me off is the noise is loud then low then loud then low like a consistent pattern when I thought a bad wheel bearing would have a consistent loud noise.

3. Loud "marbles in can" like noise coming from supercharger (bad coupler?)

Couple of other little things but long story short turns out I have a 6yr 60k warranty and not a 7yr 70k like I thought so I have to do this all myself . ... Any of those work hard/expensive I'm pretty good mechanically. Also is there a better intermediate shaft I can replace this old one with?

Thanks everyone

user 72239

iTrader: (4)

Clunks going over bumps is usually either CABs or Sway Bar endlinks. Check those first

Marbles in can is supercharger coupler usually. not hard to do just time consuming. about 40 bucks from ZZP

The other sounds like a wheel bearing. As I've never done it, I cant tell you the difficulty.

Sachemhockey44

Already replaced the end links with moog ones didn't help at all, only reason I believe it's the intermediate steering shaft is because it makes the same clunk when I turn my wheel left and right quick and I feel it in my foot on the pedal.

Ill just buy a new bearing and hub assembly to replace the bearing I think that's the easiest way.

user 72239

iTrader: (4)

well that might be my problem then too lol. I have the same clunk and have had it for a long time. I replaced both Endlinks and CABs and its still there.

Sachemhockey44

Can anyone help me out with part numbers for a aftermarket intermediate steering shaft that is built better to replace this crappy one with?

buildmeanempire

iTrader: (5)

Someone on here was talking about one from rockauto.com. Brand is Dorman and their part number is 425161. Don't know how to link but it says in the description that they re-engineered the weakness from the original design AND it's only $74.

Sachemhockey44

That's great thank you!! Now I just need to find a good how to on how to change it and ill be set!

buildmeanempire

iTrader: (5)

You're welcome. I did a quick search but couldn't find a how-to. Probably because most have just had it replaced under warranty. Mine does the same as yours even after replacing cab's and end links. Guess I'll just have to wing it henever I get around to it.

Sachemhockey44

Yea I wonder if the Haynes manual has this in jt

dannysauer

iTrader: (3)

I would check the sway bar bushings for the clunking sound that was my issue they r like 20 and easy to do

rivaladore

iTrader: (7)

Intermediate shaft is easy to change. Did mine a few months ago. Drive to CT and I'll do it for ya.

rivaladore

iTrader: (7)

Check your control arms for a scuff mark where the sway bar gets close. When my sway bar bushings were bad and making a clunk it left a scuff mark on the control arm

Sachemhockey44

Haha I appreciate the offer , any chance you'd be willing to do a quick write up ... As far as I can tell through my research you take off the cover under the steering wheel and remove the one bolt on the top of the ISS... Then remove the driver side wheel to get to the bottom bolt on the ISS... Pull from inside the car to remove the shaft and is imagine reinstalling a new dorman shaft is just following those directions backwards (all while keeping the wheels straight and not moving the steering wheel)

One question I have is after I had my power steering motor replaced as a recall my steering wheel is a little tilted left while driving straight( not centered) ... Can I possible fix this after I take off the ISS and before installing a new one?

Sachemhockey44

I am going to be replacing my shaft with this one


hopefully this solves my issues!!

rivaladore

iTrader: (7)

You don't have to remove any cover under the steering wheel. Make sure you secure the steering wheel so it doesn't rotate and break the clock spring when the shaft is removed. I used my gf's yoga bands and some duct tape to secure the steering wheel lol.....ghetto yes but worked fine. There are many splines so yes you can try centering your steering wheel, but if your car needs an alignment centering the steering wheel won't fix anything. Does your car pull to any side or does it drive straight and the steering wheel is off? Also check to make sure the psi is equal in both front tires.

Sachemhockey44

actually my car does pull left it seems, but can my off centered steering wheel be re-centered with a simple alignment? Or is it something ill have to do when i change the intermediate steering shaft...then get an alignment to correct the pulling left issue?

rivaladore

iTrader: (7)

First solve that clunking issues and replace the shaft. Then take the car in for an alignment and tell them to center the steering wheel as well if the alignment doesn't center the steering wheel. I guess you never messed with your tie rods before, when I put new tie rods in it was fun trying to get my steering wheel somewhat center so I could get it to a shop for an alignment even though I counted the amount of turns when I removed the old tie rods.

Sachemhockey44

yea im going to install the dorman steering shaft and work from there, still searching for a detailed how to just to have something to reference when im working on it

Sachemhockey44

the only reason i feel its not the sway bar bushings / CABs is because i can replicate the clunk/feeling in my pedal when driving 5 mph and pulling my wheel left and right quickly, also can do the same thing at a dead stop.

TGstring

can we get an update on the effectiveness of the Dorman intermediate shaft?

I have not tried lubing any components in at least 50,000 kms... and simple observations shows that I get some "play" in the upper u-joint on the intermediate shaft. I bought a can of white lithium grease spray to lube the stuff up real nice in hopes of fixing it, yet haven't gotten around to it... and have looked around for a simple update on how effective the Dorman claim is and haven't found a coherent one.

After 1 million of these cars around, I'd bet 80% of them have the problem and I still cant find a clear solution.

My ball joints are tight, control arms and right and front end components are in very good nick.

EWC88

OP please post if the shaft helped that issue, my gf has that issue with her 2.4 cobalt where bumps you hear clunking and when turning.

Aleksey

iTrader: (6)

rattling in the steering column when going over bumps at slow speeds is a bad steering column.... OR sway bar end links

Sachemhockey44

Passenger side wheel bearing fixed today!! No more annoying humming sounds.... Intermediate steering shaft is next!!

user 72239

iTrader: (4)

where did you buy wheel bearings?

Sachemhockey44

Got both the wheel bearing and shaft off of amazon because they had the best price. Rockauto also has both but slightly higher in price