I've been reading that the noise I've been hearing is possibly the intermediate shaft or something inside of the steering column. I can hear it badly while stopping and going over bumps and slow speeds.

 

sounds like marbles?

 

yeaaa we all got that problem lol

 

Is it even worth fixing? I turn my radio up loud just so I don't hear it lol. It drives me batty.

 

My car has 112k on it. I've been dealing with for 111k lol

 

Everytime someone rides with me they always ask me what that noise is. So what exactly is bad? Intermediate shaft? Or something else in the steering column?

 

Check your front trans mount, control arm bushings, and sway bar bushings.

 

It's none of that it's something in the column.
Yeah what do I have to replace?

 

welcome to the club
luckily i only get the marble sound over train trakcs and washboard

doesnt mean it doesnt clunk over every other bump in the road

 

yea same with me OP may have other "clunk" issues as stated above, CABS, endlinks yada yada yada

 

ya, i personally blame my struts for giving my clunks. end links replaced, and everything els is tight / in good shape. except for the driver side strut, previous owner only had passanger side repalced

 

Its most likely the intermediate shaft, its under the shaft that runs through the firewall. I believe its like $70+ shipping through rockauto.com. and they guys who have done it, say its beefier than stock, and fixed the noise. I have one sitting on my tool box awaiting install.

 

yeah isn't it the knuckle section or something in the steering column that runs through the firewall? My moms malibu had the same issue...SUPER COMMON ON CHEVY's...and irritating like a yeast infection.

 

^ yes.

 

Anyone replace one of these?

Rockauto claims a simple install and no special tools.

 

They usually are pretty easy, hardest part is more then likely getting it off the rack if you don't have a lift.

Do the rock auto ones fix the Malibu? My dad car is awful.

 

Yeah I replaced mine with the dorman unit. It's easy you just need a socket wrench. The hardest part was getting the dumb grommet lined up... and getting the old shaft off of the steering rack, mine was frozen on there. Definitely have some liquid wrench on hand.

Didn't fix any of the noise or clunking though. lol I think it's the strut bearings. No longer care...

 

check the front trans mount

 

I have a brand new intermediate shaft to sell. My issue was bad mounts so I dont need it. $70 shipped.

 

I only get some minor noise when it's cold. Once warmed up everything is fine.

I'll leave it alone.

 

I replaced mine as it was worn and had play in it.....(long story)
but it WAS NOT the source of the column noise.
It was a very very easy job on mine, no rust......
Just make sure you DO NOT turn the steer wheel once removed !

Some say it is the steering column itself ???? IDK !
I put strut bearing in also, but no stoppy the noise !

 

the number one common issue with our cars with clunking over bumps= sway bar bushings!!!

 

edit: sway bar endlinks....

 

I have personally replaced about 5 sets of bushing for 5 different cars. Two of which I also changed the end links. All noise is gone after bushings.

 

I had a clunking noise at one time.... Replaced the stock endlinks with a set of Moog endlinks, and the noise went away. That is the most common thing to go.

My sway bar bushings look new.