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Sedans Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Impala Steering/Suspension
115 messages, Last post on Dec 04, 2008 at 9:48 AM
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| On the now read-only "2005 and earlier" board, someone had posted about spraying their ISS with something called "PB Blaster" and it curing the clunking and looseness. I'd posted that I tried spraying mine with a WD40-type spray I had, but it had no effect. On Friday I was in the auto parts store (which I do much more often now that I've acquired a 1980 El Camino!), and I happened to see this PB Blaster on the shelf. I know this sounds like a commercial, but I bought a can of the stuff, went home, and sprayed it on the ISS universal joint under the dash for about 5 seconds. About 10 minutes later I took the Impala out and drove it for a couple of miles, and it seems as if my problem is cured! I don't know how long it will last, but the clunking was gone, and the steering felt tight and accurate again (it'd begun to feel rather loose, and drifted a good bit - not quite as bad at the El Camino, but close!). Time will tell if this actually fixes the problem; I'll try to post here if/when I have problems again (or if the PB Blaster creates any other problems). | |
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Replying to: txguy (May 17, 2005 10:19 am)
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Replying to: greg3815 (Nov 10, 2006 2:28 pm) http://www.direct.ca/trinity/GM-Steering-Problem-part2.htm |
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I've had the "ISS Clunk" for quiet some time, but I didn't know what it was until I found this forum. It was minor at first and I ignored it. But its gotten worse and worse the last few months. When I recently had my 2000 Impala in for brake work, I had them check it out. They couldn't find anything wrong, but I knew something was up! It felt like something was really loose in the steering. I found this forum and bought a can of PB Blaster in my local Pep Boys (you also can get this online at: www.pbblaster.com). I was skeptical, but this afternoon I pulled off the kick panel under the steering wheel and peeled down the rubber boot around the steering shaft. Its not easy to pull this down, but I managed to push it down with one hand and spray with the other. I managed to spray the stuff so that some of it did go down the hole in the center of the shaft. Some sprayed all over the place and ran down inside the boot, I hope that's OK (It would be a lot easier if the PB Blaster had one of those little red tubes that is usually supplied with a can of WD40). I took it for drive this afternoon, drove to a couple of stores, and lo and behold the ISS Clunk seems to be gone!! The steering still seems a bit loose and occasionally makes a click sound, but the clunk while turning at low speed and the "shifting" feeling while braking is gone!! So thanks to all who posted the info on this forum! |
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Looking to see if anyone else out there is having problems with the front suspension on their '06 or newer Impala SS. I have seen one other post regarding the front struts getting soft and wanted to see if there's a pattern. The symptoms I'm experiencing are a bit subtle but definitely noticeable. It's most apparent when driving at highway speeds over uneven pavement with small bumps or gentle changes in the road surface. Major bumps that cause the suspension to travel significantly are still handled about the same as always but the smaller amounts of suspension travel seem to have less dampening. In other words, during the smaller bumps, the suspension doesn't stop bouncing as quickly as a it should. With a properly functioning suspension, there should be one bounce and an immediate leveling off. Mine now bounces twice in that small travel range. In comparison, my sister's Impala basically absorbs the same bumps with no real bounce, just softening of the road irregularity. Hopefully I've explained it sufficiently. I hope to hear from anyone with similar issues. Thanks! 
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I have a 2005 Impala with just under 36K miles.Last week I started hearing a faint pop when turning right, intermitently.I took it in & they said it was needing the steering gear to be replaced.I googled my car with steering gear & got to these and similar posts.I learned that GM cant seem to get it right.I read that the steering gear replacement does no good or only a temp fix.I mentioned this to the service rep.He said they know it is a common problem and metioned all the TSB's.I believe he said GM plans a permanent fix soon, may have misunderstood.I mentioned lubricating the ISS.He said they dont do that anymore.I got my impala back last night and the popping is worse.It is not louder it but it happens EVERY time I turn, right or left, between 15 & 40mph.I have read that tightening the suspension works.I called an independent mechanic who said GM cant seem to fix it & that his daughter's '01 still pops.He said that he has heard that you can use a injecting needle to inject silicon (i believe he said silicon) into the frame (?) and it expends to tighten things up. Has anyone had a positive outcome from having this popping noise? Or does it ALWAYS come back? THANKS!
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Replying to: fox76 (Dec 15, 2006 10:54 am) |
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Replying to: fox76 (Dec 15, 2006 10:54 am) Secure the steering wheel so that the clock spring connector did not get dammaged. Remove the shaft, extend it, put in the lube, and the rubber stopper, and work the shaft in and out. Remove the stopper. Re-install the shaft. The new lube is a white translucent gel, the old was a clear gel. The shaft compressed and extended much more easily and smoothly in my hands after lubing. The problem disapeared completely. Before lubing the shaft stuck then moved as the u-joints changed overal length of the shaft while flexing. This felt like something was loose or broken. The car had 25 k miles when I did the lube, it will be a while till I know how long it lasts. Harry
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Replying to: oldharry (Dec 17, 2006 8:16 pm)
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Replying to: fox76 (Dec 19, 2006 7:20 am) The car now has 42,000 miles on it and the steering issue has been driving me insane for months. I took it to chevy, and being a little out of warranty, they informed me they charge 100$ per hour to repair it. I put it off. Finally, today I found this forum and saw the PB Blaster recommendation. I left work and went to auto zone, and by chance got the last can of PB Blaster. I took off the panel under the steering columng (very easy, 2 thumb tabs pressed inward and it pops right off). If you do this the boot around the steering axis isnt very hard to push down, in my 2005 model anyways. Once I pushed it down nicely and adjusted the steering wheel a bit, you can see the hole in the shaft, and the joint. I emptied about a quarter can into that bad boy, all over the joint, and down the shaft. Started the car up, and the problem is GONE. The pb blaster WORKS. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. This has been driving me crazy for months, I cant believe it worked. It doesnt not crunch or click when breaking, or steering at low speeds anymore, hell it feels like a sports car now! Thanks guys ! To anyone else with this problem, BUY A CAN OF PB BLASTER AND LUBE IT UP , IT WORKS !
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