2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

MY 2005 SILVERADO BEGAN HAVING A RATTLE IN THE STEERING AT 5,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING KNUCKLE AND SHOWED ME A PILE OF THEM AND SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. AT 9,000 MILES THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A 'NEW CAMPAIGN SOLUTION' WHICH WAS A HEAVY GREASE. THIS WORKED FOR 2000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE TRUCK HAS HAD THIS GREASE JOB SEVERAL TIMES AND GM REFUSES TO REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE AGAIN. ON A SLOW LEFT TURN THE TRUCK RATTLES LOUDLY, AND 'JUMPS'. SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH NEW GM TRUCKS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEMS. *NM

I HAVE TWO CHEVROLET PRODUCTS, A 2002 TAHOE AND A 2005 1500 SERIES WORK TRUCK, BOTH WHICH HAVE A CLUNK IN THE STEERING WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLES. MY WIFE REFUSES TO HAVE THE DEALER WORK ON HER TAHOE SO SHE PUTS UP WITH THE NOISE. I HAD THE DEALER REPAIR THE WORK TRUCK AND THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS IDENTIFIED AS "AN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT". AFTER CHECKING THIS OUT ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT GM HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THE TRUCKS/SUVS FROM THE MODEL RUN 1999 TO THE FINISH OF THE MODEL RUN 2006. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SHAFT THAT CONNECTS THE IN- CAB STEERING ASSEMBLY TO THE STEERING BOX IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT STARTS OFF WITH AN OCCASIONAL ANNOYING CLUNK AND PROGRESSING TO A FULL TIME NOISE THAT CAN BE HEARD AND FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS IN THE COLLAPSIBLE PART OF THE SHAFT AS GM'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO LUBRICATE THE SPLINES IN THE SHAFT AND / OR REPLACE IT. WHETHER THE ORIGINAL SHAFT IS REPAIRED (LUBRICATED) OR A NEW ONE IS INSTALLED, WITHIN 2K TO 15K MILES THE DEFECT IS BACK. FOR GM TO CONTINUE MANUFACTURING TRUCKS AND CARS (YES, THEIR CARS HAVE THE PROBLEM TOO) IS SIMPLY TEMPTING FATE. HOW LONG BEFORE THE SPLINES ON ONE OF THESE SHAFTS FAILS AND MAKES THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE STEERING GEAR BELOW? WHEN THAT HAPPENS THERE WILL BE A CRASH. SO FAR GM IS QUIETLY REPLACING THESE PARTS, SATISFIED WITH JUST GETTING THE CUSTOMER OUT OF WARRANTY. I REALIZE THIS WILL PROBABLY GO NOWHERE, I JUST FEEL THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED AS A POSSIBLE THREAT TO THE VEHICLE OPERATION. *JB