Header rubbing steering shaft
 

I just got a 03 Sierra with texas speed headers. The po had a lower steering shaft fail in a parking lot from the ribbed part hitting the #1 tube. He replaced it and I ended up trading him for the truck later on. Shaft still was rubbing on header. Last weekend i dented in the header a 1/8-1/4 inch and it was not solid against it any more. If you pushed the steering shaft over with your hand it would hit but didn't rub driving. This week it is hitting more again. I was wondering if this is normal or could my rack and pinion be wrong or something. The truck was at one time in a wreck but the frame in that area looks ok to me. I looked at my 06 Chevy truck and the steering shaft is about 1/4-1/2 inch closer to the frame the the 03. Before I go and whoop on the header some more I would like to see if there could be something else going on possibly. Thanks.

Replace motor mounts

That was my first thought. Is there any way to test them? I tried the old way put it in gear and see how far the motor moves. Is this not a valid test for the new trucks?

I had this same issue with my speed engineering headers. I did replace the motor mounts, but it didn't fix the issue. Hopefully if you go that route it will work for you as it seems that it has for many others.

Replace the mounts and it helped a tiny bit. Loosened rack and slid it over and that put 1/4 inch gap between the rack and shaft. But with my driver side inner tie rod end being crap after a few drives the rack has already moved closer. Only pulling from one end of the rack seems to move it. Trans gave up after the motor/cam swap so after trans is replaced and new tie rods I hope the rack stops moving.

I had the same problem with my LPP long tubes and just dented that specific runner in. I have about an 1/4 of an inch between them I never notice any noise anymore.

I did sent the header. Before I did that it was hitting them so hard it made the truck hard to turn. The po had a steering shaft break cause of it. I dented the tube and got a new shaft and two drives later it was rubbing again. Think it's my wide front tires and only one tie rod pulling initially pulling my rack over. After my motor swap I had a good 1/4-1/2 inch between the shaft and header and now it's less then 1/4 inch. I moved the rack over when I had the truck jacked up. Guess we will see in a few months when I get my new trans.

I have their 1 7/8 headers on an 02 4x4 with 0 contact, not sure that actually helps you with anything however

I would: replace mounts and further dent primary if its still contacting.

I didnt want to dent mine in much until I saw the episode of engine masters where they beat the snot out of a set and had no loss of power