Dead spot in steering + discontinued part.

[Roilux]

2004 Tahoe LT, bought used, drove and handles well for 158k miles.

To regain that new truck feel I've replaced hubs, A-arms, bushings, tie rod ends, upper and lower steering shafts, steering shaft bearing and most recently the steering box and again for the upper steering shaft. All nuts and bolts torqued to spec. It rides great and steering is crisp once I get out of a narrow dead spot at TDC. It's a narrow dead spot but it has to go!

Upon pulling the top plastic cover off the steering column I can see a shaft wiggle congruent with wiggling the steering wheel. However, the end of that shaft that bolts to the upper steering shaft just inside the cabin does not wiggle. I now know where the play is. Whether it's the joint or telescopic shaft isn't known yet.

It has taken a minute to locate the shaft part #, Online searches come up dry. Does anyone have a lead on a new aftermarket shaft source or part number?
GM discontinued it, Rock Auto has none, etc .....


GM 26090770 Steering Shaft Assembly. (photo of shaft and shaft within tilt mechanism.

 

[mikez71]

So the play is in the steering column?

Sometimes I feel a suspension clunk through my steering wheel. Whatever is knocking, it can travel right up the shaft.. sometimes..

 

[Roilux]

So the play is in the steering column?

Sometimes I feel a suspension clunk through my steering wheel. Whatever is knocking, it can travel right up the shaft.. sometimes..

Yes, solely in the steering column between the steering wheel and the upper steering shaft. It has taken weeks to find where the dead spot remains as the steering improved greatly while replacing parts, but not quite perfect.

What you've described is usually eliminated by replacing these two steering parts.

 

[mattbta]

Borgeson makes a beefy aftermarket setup; I have no experience with it though. https://www.borgeson.com/99-08-Full-Size-Chevy-GMC-Truck.html

BTW - keep an eye on that Dorman bearing if that screenshot is from your order history. Mine fell apart in less than a week. Similar reports seen elsewhere.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Wonder what it would take to get Borgeson to make (or just rebuild the everlovin shit out of) our GMT800 12.7:1 steering boxes?

 

[mikez71]

@Roilux might need to buy a used steering column?

Borgeson makes a beefy aftermarket setup; I have no experience with it though. https://www.borgeson.com/99-08-Full-Size-Chevy-GMC-Truck.html

BTW - keep an eye on that Dorman bearing if that screenshot is from your order history. Mine fell apart in less than a week. Similar reports seen elsewhere.

Good to know, the genuine GM bearing is only $1.10 more than Dorman at Rockauto..

That's a bit more for the Borgeson.. I like their u-joints, but wonder if the vibration reducing coupling is necessary..

Wonder what it would take to get Borgeson to make (or just rebuild the everlovin shit out of) our GMT800 12.7:1 steering boxes?

Their OBS steering box is $520, and you would think NBS would be a bigger market..

 

[Roilux]

Borgeson makes a beefy aftermarket setup; I have no experience with it though. https://www.borgeson.com/99-08-Full-Size-Chevy-GMC-Truck.html

BTW - keep an eye on that Dorman bearing if that screenshot is from your order history. Mine fell apart in less than a week. Similar reports seen elsewhere.

Hello fellow Prime shopper.
I've already replaced the upper intermediate shaft twice. The ULTRA-POWER unit from RA became sloppy within 3k miles and was replaced last week with a stout Doorman unit. I have an AC Delco bearing in my '04. The Doorman unit was in my '01 and did well for the three years it was in there.

The shaft I'm doing the deep dive on is inside the steering column and resides entirely inside the passenger compartment. Note that it has splines at one end that the steering wheel mounts on. So far, no aftermarket units have been found online.

 

[Roilux]

Wonder what it would take to get Borgeson to make (or just rebuild the everlovin shit out of) our GMT800 12.7:1 steering boxes?

I installed a Plews Edelmann steering box a couple days ago and really like how it feels. It also revealed the upper intermediate shaft had worn out prematurely. Replacing that led to the discovery of the steering column shaft I'm searching for. That's the only component remaining that has play in it.

 

[Roilux]

@Roilux might need to buy a used steering column?

Pulled a steering column today from PYP out of a '06 LT to examine, possibly dissect or determine paths to swap entire columns, swap parts or rebuild a shaft if needed.

I have noted there are two Torx screws on the plastic joint inside the column that could possibly be tightened.

 

[Roilux]

When tightening the T25 Torx screws inside the column, it only tightens the joint and increase steering wheel turning resistance. The play remains the same. Sooooo, scratch that from the playbook. Should you have really light steering with no play and wish to increase turning resistance then pop the top column cover and give each Torx a 1/4 turn. (last photo in this post)

Now that I have the column essentially stripped, the photo in post #1 of the shaft with tilt mechanism vs bare shaft needs further consideration. Whatever I do once will be repeated once more in order to swap shafts. I'd really like to avoid messing with the clock spring, layers of orientation and an obscene amount of electrical connections, but alas, I'm on a mission.

 

[Roilux]

I'm leaning towards shaft removal from the column. There are far less electrical connections to futz with if I can leave the vehicle's column in place and slide its shaft out.

A 'U' shaped bracket needs to be fabricated to compress the stout spring behind this plate in order to remove the retaining clip. The threads on the shaft and steering wheel nut should do nicely to apply uniform pressure since none of the steering wheel locking plate removal tools I've found appear to be compatible.

 

[Roilux]

BTW - keep an eye on that Dorman bearing if that screenshot is from your order history. Mine fell apart in less than a week. Similar reports seen elsewhere.

Speaking of lower shaft bearings, once I get this column shaft business sorted, here's the final parts canon upgrade to achieve steering nirvana.

Do I need it now, no. Do I want it, yes.

Wolf Engineering lower steering column bearing.
www.wolffeng.com

 

[mattbta]

Speaking of lower shaft bearings, once I get this column shaft business sorted, here's the final parts canon upgrade to achieve steering nirvana.

Do I need it now, no. Do I want it, yes.

Wolf Engineering lower steering column bearing.
www.wolffeng.com

View attachment 488376

Nice, looks like they have one that accommodates the position sensor mine has. I even replaced that when I was chasing some issues!