MTB_Ryder

Occurs when I brake and when I hit bumps.

When I brake, my front rotors have a slight warp. this obviously causes a little bit of pulsing in the brake pedal and a little wobble in my steering wheel. That's no bother, I'll do the brakes eventually. Problem is, when I brake and that pulsing/steering wheel wobble occurs, there is a rattle that sounds like it's coming from my steering shaft. I also happens when I hit bumps.

I have already replaced my Lower BJ's and intermediate steering shaft. I have STAB links and outer tie rod ends on hand to replace if I want too as well.


Does anyone have experience with these symptoms?

Thanks

Kolt

Usually its the intermediate shaft or the gears for the power steering in the column that causes the rattle. Some rattle if you have brake pulsation is normal due to the way the gear is setup but the column and shaft is what I usually replace, esp if your getting noise from the column when hitting bumps. The only problem is you have to have someone with a tech 2 recalibrate the torque sensor and steering angle sensor when you replace a column.

MTB_Ryder

No ****? The whole steering column? Replacing the steering shaft did correct some of the problem, but it still persists. Is this a common thing with the bolts regardless of model?

exninja

iTrader: (1)

Try sway bar bushings. That cleared up my rattle over bumps.

Kolt

It depends on where the noise is coming from so you need to be sure to pinpoint it. Rattle from the suspension is usually sway bar links. But yes if you can verify its coming from the lower steering column/intermediate shaft area its 90% of the time the column. Its fairly common, they used the same column in multiple trim levels of cobalts, mailbu, aura, and a few others. I tend to replace Malibu columns the most though.

MTB_Ryder

I'm pretty sure if I'm stationary and the car is shut down, I can recreate the rattle just by moving my steering wheel back and forth slightly. It also seems to be less noticable if I'm driving and in the midst of a turn.

Still think its the column?

T-Man

iTrader: (3)

Yes, 100% the column. I've had it in all of my Cobalt SS sedans. Some worse than others...

Check these out -

Kolt

yes, and unfortunately the only way to get the bad section is to get the whole column.

MTB_Ryder

Thanks guys, greatly appreciated!! One last thing. Best place to find a column?

Kolt

If you can find a low mileage (sub 50k) car in the junk yard that didn't have a front end collision then that would be the cheapest. Otherwise dealer is the only place I know around here. Idk bout Canada though and have never tried to search aftermarket.

MTB_Ryder

Are all years compatible? I have a '10

Kolt

I believe all cobalts used the same column. I know some of the Malibu's and saturns used a different motor/module setup but I think the column is the same in those. They also used that same column in Saturn ions as well. I would try to get a low mileage used one before the dealer unless you can get a NEW one from the dealer, not "reman". Ive had a few "remans" come in that rattle out of the box.

royce777

iTrader: (29)

not all columns are the same. First you have to see if your car ESC. There is a different column for ESC cars because of how the steering wheel position sensor mounts to the column.

Also I believe the SS are different internally.

Kolt

Got to looking deeper and it does look like there was a couple options for the 2010. If you can send me your vin I can do some cross referencing and see what rpo on vehicles and part # you can look for. Most vehicles use part# 19209136 column that ive done but it appears 10' cobalt had 3 options

MTB_Ryder

1G1AE1F50A7209481

MTB_Ryder

I saw a fella selling one of these (19209136) on Kijiji here in London. If It's what I need, I'll buy it. Any chance you know why my steering lock suddenly doesn't work? I did change my intermediate shaft but I barely moved the wheel. Then I popped my steering wheel off to realign it again. I think I messed up the steering lock in doing that

Kolt

The column parts calalog call for on your car is part# 19209155.

I'm not sure what you mean you took your wheel off and aligned it, the wheel is keyed to be only in one position on the column shaft

MTB_Ryder

Thanks for the part number. I'll make sure to get it. that rattle is annoying. But with new brakes, you barely notice it now.

The steering wheel was off counterclockwise after I had changed my intermediate shaft. So I used a steering wheel puller, popped it off and realigned it. I'm a newb with stuff and learning as I go along. Hope I didn't mess things up

double clutch

iTrader: (1)

The bushings in the rack will make the same noise

MTB_Ryder

Good to know. How would I test for that?

double clutch

iTrader: (1)

The only 100% way to know is to disconnect the intermediate shaft from the rack, and manually move it to see if you can replicate the noise