Play in steering wheel and a clunk when breaking
 

I have a noise and clunk I can feel in the steering column. It is mostly when I brake. New brakes all around and still there. When I drive down the road I can take the steering wheel and turn it about one to two inches either way and its like floating in air. What can this be besides the intermediate shaft? Thanks for the help

Is there any reason to rule out the intermediate shaft?

Well it isn't clunking when I make turns and it doesn't always make noise. I thought the shaft made noise all the time.

If the brakes were recently done. I'd have the place that did the work check it out, assuming the clunk began after the brake job.

Your description is exactly what I have been having. No clunking in the steering shaft at all while turning, but when slowing down to a stop I "feel" something loose between me and the firewall, and can feel a slight movement and hear a soft "clunk" as you describe when braking.

I have thought it could be the beginnings of the intermediate shaft going. But IDK for sure, it's been happening for a while. And at 108,000 miles I'm sure it has already been replaced in my car before I bought it.

Even when not turning the ISS can give a strange feel while driving. It will usually still exhibit the clunking while turning, however. As Bill mentioned, start where the most recent work was done. Also, check the bolts for the steering rack. There have been a couple of reports of those bolts working loose.

OK it was a bad ISS had it replaced with the new improved model (no splines)
Dealer did it parts and labor out the door was $259.16 This got rid of the clunk but the play is still there. Also found a bad front wheel hub up and down play going to change that my self as the dealer wanted over $450.00 parts and labor :shock: I got the hub for $86.00 :D I will have a alignment after I get that done and see what happens.

Looks like I may need a new ISS. :? I don't feel much play in the wheel, no clunking while turning, and the car drives fine. I'll go with it until I have other symptoms.

I recently replaced both hub assemblies, rotors, brakes and one outer tie rod. I still have the infamous clunking noise that apparently ONLY I can feel. Shops have told me that I'm crazy. My car has 125K on it. How can I really tell if it's the ISS or maybe stabilizer link bushings or even lower ball joints? There is absolutely no up/down or side/side wobble in the tires when on a lift.

Other than this problem, the car is solid as a rock.

Thanks,

Martin

This TSB shows the diagnostic procedures for the dealer. The only real way to tell for sure is by replacement, or lubing. Lubing it will be more successful if it is the shaft, instead of the upper U-joint on the shaft. Procedure is in techinfo.
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...=article&k=111

From your description, and things you've already checked, the ISS is the most likely cause.