Ones that were real bad, did it also give you a lot of play/slop in the wheel too? I have about 1/4 inch of play in the shaft, when I put my hand on it down in the firewall and wiggle the wheel it feels like it is hitting / banging back and fourth.

Making near if not over 300WHP now it is really becomming an issue and is next in line for replacement.

thanks!

WOW -that sounds pretty serious to me Good grief, I have to wonder if maybe one of the shaft clamping bolts is not tight ??? (-were it me, I think I'd be finding out real soon. "Loose steering" would make me WAY TOO NERVOUS to be driving it at all,,,,)

When I compared the old shaft to the new one, I could not tell even one little speck of difference at all. Neither one of them had any slack at all. -AND, I honestly don't think there is any "internal" (ie hidden) difference either.

My honest feeling is that I should not have "wasted" money on the new part, but would have been just as well off to change over to the extra-heavy high temp disc brake grease on the original part.

Sounds like what mine is doing. I have the appointment on Tuesday to get it replaced with the new design.
They tried the fancy lube idea. It worked for 2 years now the problem is worse.

I had the lube kit done about 18 months ago and that lasted about 6 months. Just had the local Buick dealership install the new shaft. (Pontiac dealer kept lieing to me about part being on backorder. Took car to Buick dealer, they ordered part, two days later I had a new shaft...)

I had the slopiness to mine too, but I think mine was really bad by that point.

I have 100,000 miles on my car, bought it with 70 on it.. so I am sure it'* still the original shaft and is much further gone than a normal one would be. New shaft is coming.. just wanted to see if I was in the right area.

On a side note, I put a temporary solid motor mount on the front today, and MY GOD did that make a difference... it only got harry when it found some ruts in the road under WOT, but normaly on a flat surface without the solid mount, it would go wherever it felt like. I'm narrowing it down, thankfully.. and think the motor movement has a large part in it too.. those mounts are SOOO sloppy.

Anyway, cherio, thanks for the thoughts!

Bringing my Bonne into the dealer tomorrow to get the shaft.
He is going to get a good look at the underhood mods now. Hopefully he doesn't give me the literal shaft. :?

Who knows, maybe he'll see the mods and give you a discount because he likes 'em!

Well he must have liked the mods cause all went well in surgery today and the steering is back......sharp as a whip.
Only took them an hour.

How much does it cost to get the shaft replaced? I was going to ask how much it cost to get shafted ... ....but I won't!

Didn't cost me a thing cause it was covered by my extended warranty.
One hour labour here is $75.
The part I can only guess at.......$200.??