This one’s a doozie… Getting to the point of religious help may be needed

[KevOLTZ]

Hello all. Here is my current issue that my better half may send me to a locked padded room for…

I have has a clunk and now a vibration in the steering wheel when going over 90% of bumps at non highway speeds.

All of the following has been replaced within the last year

New upper strut mounts
Inner and outer tie rods
Wheel bearing
Lower control arms
Steering rack bushings
Diff mount bushings
Both lower and upper steering shafts
Energy suspension poly sway bar bushings and end links

I’m on fairly new leveled suspension eibach pro trucks on the first notch with moog HD springs.

Jack up both sides and everything is tight. Has tires balanced with 0 issues (18” wheels on 34” tires) and had 2 alignments with 0 issues

I do notice the shaft still has play? When you grab where the upper steering shaft meets the lower steering shaft and wiggle it up and down it does have some play but I’m not sure how to combat this? It seems like the play is coming form where it connects to the actual steering column?

Either way I digress. At this point I’m not sure what it could be and I’m done just throwing money at it any help would be greatly appreciate it

 

[Dirty looks]

Are your upper control arms topping out on the stops over bumps?

 

[mikez71]

Maybe steering column lower bearing?
Seems to be an issue on the GMT800's, haven't heard much about them on 07-14..
(Looks like it might be more work to replace than on the GMT800..)

GM one is $30..

Amazon.com: GM Genuine Parts 15775851 Lower Steering Shaft Bearing Adapter : Automotive

Buy GM Genuine Parts 15775851 Lower Steering Shaft Bearing Adapter: Steering Columns - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Aftermarket nice one is $95...

GM209SS Lower Steering Column Bearing (2007.5- 2014) — Wolff Engineering

***4 - Business Day Lead Time on All Orders*** ***** Please READ before ordering ***** Does your vehicle have a steering position sensor? The steering position sensor is nested inside the plastic OEM column bearing and has a wiring harness attached to it. The column bearing is located un

www.wolffeng.com

 

[KevOLTZ]

I’m leaning toward that due to if you crawl under the dash and put your hand on where the steering shaft connects to the column you can move it up slightly and that exact movement goes straight into the steering wheel but I’m also more sure if it’s possible to change on gmt900?

Maybe steering column lower bearing?
Seems to be an issue on the GMT800's, haven't heard much about them on 07-14..
(Looks like it might be more work to replace than on the GMT800..)

GM one is $30..

Amazon.com: GM Genuine Parts 15775851 Lower Steering Shaft Bearing Adapter : Automotive

Buy GM Genuine Parts 15775851 Lower Steering Shaft Bearing Adapter: Steering Columns - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Aftermarket nice one is $95...

GM209SS Lower Steering Column Bearing (2007.5- 2014) — Wolff Engineering

***4 - Business Day Lead Time on All Orders*** ***** Please READ before ordering ***** Does your vehicle have a steering position sensor? The steering position sensor is nested inside the plastic OEM column bearing and has a wiring harness attached to it. The column bearing is located un

www.wolffeng.com

 

[KevOLTZ]

Are your upper control arms topping out on the stops over bumps?

Are your upper control arms topping out on the stops over bumps?

I don’t believe so no because at ride height there is plenty of room and when the trucks jacked up and the suspension down it’s not hitting

 

[KevOLTZ]

Maybe steering column lower bearing?
Seems to be an issue on the GMT800's, haven't heard much about them on 07-14..
(Looks like it might be more work to replace than on the GMT800..)

GM one is $30..

Amazon.com: GM Genuine Parts 15775851 Lower Steering Shaft Bearing Adapter : Automotive

Buy GM Genuine Parts 15775851 Lower Steering Shaft Bearing Adapter: Steering Columns - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Aftermarket nice one is $95...

GM209SS Lower Steering Column Bearing (2007.5- 2014) — Wolff Engineering

***4 - Business Day Lead Time on All Orders*** ***** Please READ before ordering ***** Does your vehicle have a steering position sensor? The steering position sensor is nested inside the plastic OEM column bearing and has a wiring harness attached to it. The column bearing is located un

www.wolffeng.com

Disregard my last comment I see you posted the links now. I mean it could be worth a shot?

 

[Dirty looks]

How much can you jack it up before the wheel comes off the ground? I ask because with the strut spacers and stronger springs it can't be much. Upper camber correction arms would give you more down travel.

I don’t believe so no because at ride height there is plenty of room and when the trucks jacked up and the suspension down it’s not hitting.

 

[mikez71]

Sorry I have no idea what is required to change that bearing in the 07-14.
Wolf engineering site has links to the '00-'07 videos, but not for '07-'14.

Looking at pictures of the '07-'14 steering column, there seems to be a bracket that might get in the way, and it's bolted above the column from the top.. So hopefully the column doesn't need removal, but it might?

 

[Dirty looks]

This i

How much can you jack it up before the wheel comes off the ground? I ask because with the strut spacers and stronger springs it can't be much. Upper camber correction arms would give you more down travel.

This the stop for down travel. Jacked off the ground it has to be contacting it.

 

[KevOLTZ]

This i

This the stop for down travel. Jacked off the ground it has to be contacting it.

Yeah I’ve seen videos of people chopping that right off when it’s a big lift but there’s no way I’m more than 2”? It’s basically the 5100s just eibach brand not bilstein. While I could be wrong I don’t think I need different uppers I currently have the mevo ttx ones

 

[Dirty looks]

The only way to know is look. These trucks don't have aa lot of down travel to begin with.

Yeah I’ve seen videos of people chopping that right off when it’s a big lift but there’s no way I’m more than 2”? It’s basically the 5100s just eibach brand not bilstein. While I could be wrong I don’t think I need different uppers I currently have the mevo

 

[Dirty looks]

Two very different control arms. That bend on the front of the arm makes a big difference.

 

[KevOLTZ]

Two very different control arms. That bend on the front of the arm makes a big difference.

Yeah that’s a good point, maybe I’ll swap them just for *****. I was going to go KSP but too many bad reviews. Do you have them?

 

[Dirty looks]

Yeah that’s a good point, maybe I’ll swap them just for *****. I was going to go KSP but too many bad reviews. Do you have them?

I have a set from Rough Country. I'm not real impressed with the quality of the rubber compound of the ball joint boots. Bad weathering after only two years.
In the near future I'm installing a Dirt King long travel kit. We'll see how they do.

 

[KevOLTZ]

I have a set from Rough Country. I'm not real impressed with the quality of the rubber compound of the ball joint boots. Bad weathering after only two years.
In the near future I'm installing a Dirt King long travel kit. We'll see how they do.

Just wanted to say thank you for your input. My truck is coming back from The Shop for a diagnostic. They went through the whole truck and everything‘s tight and everything‘s fine what they found was the steering rack has slight play, and the steering column has a vertical play up and down, and it does not move when you pin it in place. My thoughts are exactly what you said. It has to be that plastic bearing and I’m probably going to go with the aftermarket version and just pull the whole column.

They recommended replacing the entirety of the column itself, and I really don’t think that’s needed

 

[KevOLTZ]

Wolf engineering on order, will report back once installed