2001 Tahoe Steering column problem

[tnsbss]

I have an '01 Tahoe and the steering wheel starting making odd noises when turning the wheel. It turned very easily, just made noise. My mechanic said the bearing in the steering column was out and replaced it. When he was done, it turned smoothly and no more noise; however, the wheel was much stiffer than ever before. I don't know how steering wheels & columns worked, but for a lay person, it would seem the nut holding the steering wheel on was just tightened too tight. (btw, the power steering pump is fine) It's so stiff, that when going down the road, if you adjust the steering a tad, as to change lanes, you can take your hands off and it'll stay there. Going slow in town, if you make a 90 degree right OR left turn, the wheel will stay in place unless you take the steering out. It's as though the caster mechanism (whatever it's called that makes the wheels straighten on their own) in the front end suspension isn't allowed to work because the steering wheel is too tight. In short, you can pull into a parking lot, feed in steering and go in a 360 degree circle hand's-free. Mechanic said he checked and everything looks okay. Said he even disconnected it from the steering gearbox and it still felt stiff. I thought maybe wrong bearing installed but he said it was confirmed correct. Anyone have ideas? (I've never felt a vehicle do this and it would be annoying--if not dangerous--to drive.) Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[rockenthebowtie]

I dont know what he did exactly but he screwed something up that is definitely not right and for him to turn it ovet to you like that is wrong in the sense of s safety issue I would go back and ask him that you want to know in detail what he did because he definitely screwed something up

 

[rockenthebowtie]

Was it like a rattle type noise it was making and you could also feel it in the steering wheel ? If so most likely all you needed was the intermediate shaft that connects at the bottom of the steering column goes thru the firewall into the engine compartment and is connected to lower end of the shaft that goes to the steering gear

 

[tnsbss]

Needless to say, it's hard to describe. Probably most like how an old hinge will sound when it's creaking and needs oil. Drags a little and makes noise. I'm familiar with the fairly common "loose/rattly" feeling of the Chevy intermediate shafts...had to deal with one on an 02 Suburban...nothing like that at all. Before it was "fixed" it just felt like the whatever bearing the steering wheel rides on was worn out...kind-of a creaky, noise, but not feeling loose. I could feel a bit of "drag" when I turned the wheel that was consistent with the noise I was hearing. Sorry...can't figure out a good way to describe it... (surprise, huh?)

 

[tnsbss]

He took it back in today, pulled it apart and told me everything looked fine. I've known the guy for a long time and go to church together...I certainly don't think he's purposely shafting me (no pun intended) I just think it's something he has never run up against (he told me that) and is at a loss as to what the cause is...whatever it is, it's certainly not right.

 

[rockenthebowtie]

Oh ok. Have him remove the intermediate shaft and put some silicone grease on the outside of the I-shaft that goes thru the firewalls black rubber boot when ithat gets dried up its the rubber on metal that can be causing that and the sound will travel up thru the column making it sound like its in the column or even just behind the steering wheel area