Today I brought my car to my mechanic to grease the intermidiate shaft because I was getting that crunchy steering wheel feel. The I.*. was greased about a year ago with no issues till now. When the mechanic removed the I.*. he showed me that it had plenty of grease in it and looked to be in good shape. He reinstalled the I.*. and when I drove the car the crunching noise dissapeared. The mechanic'* theory is that the bolts that hold the shaft get loose after a certain amount of time and that'* what causes the noise we hear. I've been driving the car all day and the steering is as smooth as silk. Is this a possible cause and or solution?

It'* hard to say for sure in your case. However, I've had the shafts out of a couple of cars a few times to take care of the clunking and each time the bolts were plenty tight. If I had to make a guess, it was more likely the longer movement of the shaft while it was out that dispersed the grease along the shaft, and that is what has made it quieter.

hmmm.. I would think that he would know for sure if the bolts were loose being that HE took them off to remove the shaft :?

Did he say that the bolts were loose, or did he say he thinks the bolts were loose. Also, is he talking about the noise everyone hears, or just your car?

He said he has serviced two other 2001 bonnevilles with the same problem and he remembers the bolts not being as tight as they should be. Archon'* theory makes a lot more sense. I will let everyone know if or when the crunching sound comes back. Thanks for your input.

Guaranteed, your noise will be back shortly. Save yourself the grief and get the recently revised shaft. Made worlds differently.

Loose steering shaft bolts?..........naw.

GM has released a revised steering shaft with a rubber joint in it to absorbe the vibration.

I'ts been a month already and no problem yet from the shaft. I don't understad it!! Why did'nt the "crunching" return?

Hard to say for sure, but at this point...."don't look the gift horse....."

Well it'* been almost six months and I'm glad to report that the crunching sound has not returned. Is this normal or will it come back when the weather gets hot again.

My experience has been that it is the colder weather that seems to start it up again, so I'd expect next fall at the earliest. Generally, it takes a year or two before the clunking starts again. Keep your fingers crossed that you beat the odds.