I have a brand new (6000 miles) 04 GMC ecsb 1500. Recently I have been noticing that there is a 'knock' that I can feel in the steering wheel especially when I am making either a right or left hand turn where there are bumps. This knock is hard to describe but if you imagined someone striking the end of your steering shaft with a hammer lightly I suppose this is what it might feel like.
I have a friend who says his 02 Chevy 3/4 ton was doing something similar to this which resulted in the dealership having to replace the steering shaft.
Have any of you, especially those of you who work in dealerships or what not, hear of any genetic problems that these trucks have been experiencing? I am just trying to arm myself for when I go to try to have the problem solved under waranty. Seems like dealerships always try to squirm out from under having to do warranty work, at least in my experience.

 

I had the same problem. The dealer replaced the steering shaft which eliminated the knocking noise felt in the steering column but now my truck wanders. Before the steering column was replaced the steering was nice and tight but not anymore. If I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have had it replaced.
00 Sierra ECSB

 

The dealer can pack your steering box with grease and it will stop your knocking noise.

 

I greased mine also (the steering shaft), there's a kit that you can get from the dealer for about $12. There's supposed to be a redesigned shaft that solves the problem, the dealer shouldn't have a problem replacing it for you under warranty, it's a really common issue.

 

Thanks alot ya'll. Everyone has just confirmed what I had already been told by some of my wrench friends.
Thanks again for the good info.

 

I have the EXACT same problem in my relatively low mileage '04 Silverado. It's not a huge issue, but I will definitely get it fixed before my warranty expires. It almost feels like a mild 'popping' feel under tight turning with maybe a small bump or two.

 

Yea thats a pretty good way of describing it. I notice mine is getting slightly worse. I hope the dealership doesn't try to pin it on my 20" wheels. God knows they look for every excuse to get out of fixing stuff under warranty.

 

Yeah My parents have an avalanche and my buddy has a silverado SS... they oth had to be greased...... That ook care of it...