Intermediate steering shaft troubleshooting

[Scasper1010]

Hello all,

So I’ve had the dreaded steering clunk in my 2005 Tahoe. I had a mechanic come check it out. Quoted me 550$ to replace the “upper steering”. After looking on the internet I see that this problem is somewhat common and is traced back to a problem with the intermediate steering shaft. So I got the requisite replacement and thought I could change it myself, after watching as many YouTube videos as I could. Here’s where I hit a snag, I could not for the life of me get the shaft to come out of the upper steering shaft or lower shaft. In every video it takes people a mere finger to push the ISS out of the upper shaft and I couldn’t get it to move a millimeter. Anyone have a similar experience? I really don’t want to pay someone a bunch of money to do something that seems so straight forward.

Thanks in advance, this forum is great

 

[Mechanic421]

Yes sometimes they get over tightened! Mushroom the shaft. Vice grips and a hammer.

 

[Mechanic421]

P-b blaster aslo try get it off the bottom first.

 

[ivin74]

I all did was lube the shaft and the clunking went away.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

I all did was lube the shaft and the clunking went away.

Same. I didn't add grease, though. I just "exercised" it to redistribute. Has worked for me twice doing it roughly a year apart.

 

[Scasper1010]

Yes sometimes they get over tightened! Mushroom the shaft. Vice grips and a hammer.

I tried a bit of this, but I don’t know how to get proper leverage.

 

[Scasper1010]

I all did was lube the shaft and the clunking went away.

This forum is awesome. I’ll try this after work

 

[HiHoeSilver]

This forum is awesome. I’ll try this after work

Works great for about a year. If you do add grease, don't put too much. You're just filling the space that (as he even says in the video) is designed to be there so the shaft will collapse on impact. I haven't added any grease to mine, just push it in and out about 100 times.

If that doesn't solve it, your bearing at the top is probably shot. Only use AC Delco if you end up replacing that one. Problems reported with the Dorman one.

 

[ivin74]

If I have to grease it again, I'm going to add the grease fitting like the video below.

 

[Scasper1010]

Works great for about a year. If you do add grease, don't put too much. You're just filling the space that (as he even says in the video) is designed to be there so the shaft will collapse on impact. I haven't added any grease to mine, just push it in and out about 100 times.

If that doesn't solve it, your bearing at the top is probably shot. Only use AC Delco if you end up replacing that one. Problems reported with the Dorman one.

That’s the problem, I can’t get it to collapse at all. If I could I would have popped the replacement one in yesterday, instead of screaming obscenities as I couldn’t move the thing a millimeter. Ughh might have to actually take this whole thing apart to get it out.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

That’s the problem, I can’t get it to collapse at all. If I could I would have popped the replacement one in yesterday, instead of screaming obscenities as I couldn’t move the thing a millimeter. Ughh might have to actually take this whole thing apart to get it out.

You're doing like the video and pushing the upper shaft towards the wheel? I remember mine took a little persuasion the first time, but nothing crazy.

 

[Scasper1010]

You're doing like the video and pushing the upper shaft towards the wheel? I remember mine took a little persuasion the first time, but nothing crazy.

Push the shaft that’s going through the steering bearing? It looks like it takes just a finger putting pressure on the ISS u joint pops it out of the upper shaft. Every video says the same. I’m telling you I used every inch of my strength and I didn’t move it at all, the bolt fit right back through.

 

[frankb]

Run into this all the time (dealership tech). The first answer was the best answer, vise grips and a hammer. I'm sure I've done over 100 and only once have I had to apply a little heat to that area to get it apart. If you have a short air hammer and can get a good bite with the grips you can fit an air hammer from the bottom if need be but usually just the vise grips and a hammer work

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Push the shaft that’s going through the steering bearing? It looks like it takes just a finger putting pressure on the ISS u joint pops it out of the upper shaft. Every video says the same. I’m telling you I used every inch of my strength and I didn’t move it at all, the bolt fit right back through.

Bummer. And yes, I take that 15mm bolt out, and then push the top part up.

 

[Scasper1010]

Run into this all the time (dealership tech). The first answer was the best answer, vise grips and a hammer. I'm sure I've done over 100 and only once have I had to apply a little heat to that area to get it apart. If you have a short air hammer and can get a good bite with the grips you can fit an air hammer from the bottom if need be but usually just the vise grips and a hammer work

I’m sorry for needing so much info but did you do this from under the truck? I feel like I’m not envisioning it. In my head if I latch the vise grips onto the shaft, and give em a whack the grips will just flap over and not transfer the energy to release the shaft. Am
I missing how it’s done?

 

[Scasper1010]

Am I far off?

 

[Scasper1010]

Anyone? ....Bueller....Bueller