Intermediate shaft for 2004 GMT800 Silverado K2500HD

[OR VietVet]

The new to us 2004 Silverado K2500HD has the eventual steering column clunking noises when turning. I know I just need the new design bearing #88963617 and the upper intermediate shaft #19329330 but if I am in there I will be doing the lower shaft too, #25958109. Found the bearing and lower shaft no problem for a decent price. Lots of used, #19329330 on ebay. I checked the usual GM parts houses and GM Parts Giant shows out of stock for a price close to $60 and the rest show "discontinued". Amazon has them for around $170.

Anyone know of another source. Parts Geek shows out of stock too.

 

[OR VietVet]

Further digging revealed that the upper intermediate shaft does not need to be replaced unless the u-joints are sloppy. I just crawled under there and there is no play at all in the shaft u-joints. Plenty of play in the collar bearing though. Ordered in a Genuine GM part and will make my body smaller when the parts get here. Tight under there for a big guy like me. I am thinking of unbolting the seat from floor and shifting it back a bit.

 

[OR VietVet]

I received the Genuine GM bearing today. I did not choose to go with the Wolf Engineering custom bearing set up.

I did see where the Genuine GM bearing design can be made better, or longer lasting. When you get it, there is the green outer housing and inside it, there is a white collar that snaps in to place and inside that white collar there is a set of round ball bearings that the lower metal shaft of the steering column slides inside of as the housing is pushed up in the bottom of column and snaps in place. I took a 3/8" drive chrome deep 6 point socket and tapped that white collar out and the bearings are then exposed. There is very little grease on them. I took some white lithium grease and smeared on the bearings and then you can reinsert the white bearing collar assembly and it snaps back in place and rolls easier than before you add the grease. Seems like it would increase the longevity of the repair. I saw that extra grease trick on you tube. Too bad it does not have a grease zerk on the bearing outer housing, that allows for a squirt of grease every now and then.

 

[Fless]

Slick!

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I received the Genuine GM bearing today. I did not choose to go with the Wolf Engineering custom bearing set up.

I did see where the Genuine GM bearing design can be made better, or longer lasting. When you get it, there is the green outer housing and inside it, there is a white collar that snaps in to place and inside that white collar there is a set of round ball bearings that the lower metal shaft of the steering column slides inside of as the housing is pushed up in the bottom of column and snaps in place. I took a 3/8" drive chrome deep 6 point socket and tapped that white collar out and the bearings are then exposed. There is very little grease on them. I took some white lithium grease and smeared on the bearings and then you can reinsert the white bearing collar assembly and it snaps back in place and rolls easier than before you add the grease. Seems like it would increase the longevity of the repair. I saw that extra grease trick on you tube. Too bad it does not have a grease zerk on the bearing outer housing, that allows for a squirt of grease every now and then.

Great innovative wrenching! Since there is no heat and very little lateral stress on the bearings, my guess is that the grease that you put in will stay there and provide good lubrication for a long time.