Steering Quality

[Steve Wolfe]

Replaced intermediate shaft last week, got rid of the classic knocking noises. Still sloppy steering, though. Replaced steering gearbox a few days ago, got some but not all of the slop out. Today I'm replacing the lower steering shaft. Will update with results. Replaced all of the front suspension parts last year.

 

[Steve Wolfe]

It's a 2002 LT.

 

[blueinkd]

What parts exactly are serviceable when you say intermediate shaft and lower steering shaft?? I'd like to replace if easy and cost friendly

 

[Woodblocker55]

Don't forget to bleed that steering box if you have hydraulic boost brakes. I used cap that was on Amazon and hand brake pump . And yes I replaced the pump also .[emoji106][emoji41]

Sent from my LGL722DL using Tapatalk

 

[Steve Wolfe]

What parts exactly are serviceable when you say intermediate shaft and lower steering shaft?? I'd like to replace if easy and cost friendly

There is actually a TSB for replacement of the Intermediate Shaft in order to stop a "knocking" sound which transmits through the steering wheel. I did that first. It stopped the noise and feel, but I still had slop or "dead zone" of about 2-3° at the nuetral position, right where you do most driving on the interstate. Don't waste your time adjusting the steering box for this. So I replaced my steering box. Still had slop. Next I swapped the lower steering shaft. Still had slop. So I put a vice grip on the intermediate shaft under the hood and held it as my wife moved the wheel in the slop range. The steering wheel still moved. So I got back under the dash with a flashlight and saw my slop between the steering shaft stub and the universal joint of my new intermediate shaft. How could this be? I allowed that I may have stopped tightening the bolt on that joint when I felt resistance and needed to apply more effort in order to crush the collar around the steering shaft stub. (Maybe that's why the Intermediate shaft came with a new bolt- duh!) I applied as much force as I reasonably could with a 3/8" ratchet and tested the slop again. Slop gone! I wasted my money, effort and time on a steering gear box and the lower shaft. So don't be a Steve and fail to check your work in more detail. The "hard way" is a rude teacher.