Steering clunk

[maritimesbob]

I`ve noticed a clunk developing in my 2001 Sunfire (2.2). It is always when the car is accelerating from a stop, or turning at very low speeds such as a parking lot.

I put the car up in the air and checked the wheels for worn bearings or ball joints, I also checked the tie rod ends - everything was nice and tight. Also the cv joint boots were all in good shape.

Tonight with the car sitting idle, I moved the steering wheel back and forth and noticed a dull "thunk" when turning it left and back to straight. With no motion this would rule out worn cv joints, worn strut mounts I imagine.

I don`t know a whole lot about Sunfires. Is there a history with worn rack and pinions and is there something in the steering mechanism I can check? Perhaps something needs greasing up hopefully and not a dreaded rack replacement.

Thank you.

 

[melsg5]

how about the front stabilizer bar bushings, both on the ends and in the middle?

 

[maritimesbob]

It doesn`t make clunking sounds when going over bumps which is usually indicative of worns sway bar links or bushings, but I will check tomorrow to be sure. I couldn`t even see the stabilizer bar, was thinking the car didn`t have one!

 

[maritimesbob]

Seems this clunk in the steering is getting a little more pronounced. There is also a creaking sound behind the dash or in the column area when turning at slow speeds like in a parking lot. The clunk is felt in the steering although it isn`t particularly loud.

I had the car on a hoist at work. Inspected the ball joint and cv boots, they all look in good shape. I tried moving the tie rod ends and ball joints with a pry bar to see if there was any movement, but they all nice and tight. The CV boots are also in good shape, no sign of grease escape, the boots look almost new.

This is my first GM, I had never heard of the this so called imfamous intermediate steering shaft problem until yesterday when googling around. I wonder if this problem could be relating to a shaft problem where the grease has gotten out and left the shaft dry? Creaking steering, clunking from what feels like the column all sound like intermediate shaft problems?

It`s driving me nuts and for the time it take to take out the shaft and check it over I might as well do it. I work in a body shop so we have lithium grease and pretty much everything in stock. I can just poke rag to plug the shaft while I grease it up.

On related note, do these cars not have sway bars. When I lifted my car up there was no sway/stabilizer bar. I know not every car has a sway bar or some people simply remove them for whatever reason.

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[Zimgxp]

I would guess the intermediate steering shaft.

 

[maritimesbob]

That`s what it was. Instead of taking it out, I wanted to see if it was the shaft first and not a cv joint or something. I pulled down the boot and sprayed lithium grease up and down the shaft and inside too, enough so it just started dripping out the other end.

No more clunking and no more creaking. If the noise keeps away I`ll leave it as is, if not then I`ll remove the shaft and lube it up properly.

Looks as though I have to replace the cv joint boot too. I notice a small cut or tear on the outer boot drivers side. Just for now I cleaned up the boot with brake cleaner and put a rubber tube patch glued with rubber cement (bicycle repair kit!). I know it won`t last, but hopefully enough until I get another boot and find some time to fix it up.

 

[Zimgxp]

They used to make a split boot that could be put on without removing the axle.

 

[maritimesbob]

Yeah I used those once many years ago. I try to avoid them if possible. Anyways, I changed the boot this morning. Took little over an hour to remove the axle, pop off the cv joint, replace boot and put everything back together. Of course it helps having a hoist, tools and a nice warm shop to work in!! I think I may need an alignment as I remove the lower strut mount (easier than the ball joint), but I forgot I think this is where the camber is adjusted. I should have marked up the strut mount before removing the bolts. Oh well, we have an alignment machine at work, just another matter of being able to use it when the boss is away!!!

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