2004 Chevrolet Silverado Z71

[8561]

I would absolutely love to own a Max and Allie 3/4 ton. I just can't (won't) give them the additional money for the diesel. The premium they charge to go diesel makes absolutely no sense at all to me.

 

[jsborn]

If you haven't done a steering shaft at 42,000 on an '04, you're one of the very few. You'll hear and feel a clunking in the column. If my memory serves, it has something to do with the routing of the exhaust that causes additional heat and negatively impacts the greasing in the column.

Can you tell me more about this problem my 05 Silverado has the bumping column .. is there a way the owner can lube it or does it have to be replaced?

 

[john_bud]

I used to have a 2000 silverado and it had the column bump. I think that by 2003-4 the issue was corrected. There may even be a grease zerk on the column.

By the way, the 5.3l ext cab auto trans short box with a bed cover and 3.73 gears got 16.08 lifetime mpg, a high of 20.3 mpg going fuel stop to fuel stop at 60.0 mph windows up no A/C or heat and a low of 8.6 mpg towing a loaded 10k trailer (8500# total load). Towing that load was usually in the 9-10 mpg range at 65 mph. 6 of 112 fillups had 19 mpg or better and 28 or 112 had 15 mpg or worse.

I have to say my "skeptical button" has been tripped that a similar truck with more HP, lower gears and higher weight would get better milage. I've traveled in convoy with people who claimed better milage than me and watched as they put in more gallons at every stop....

jb

 

[whodat90]

I'd be thrilled to get 15mpg. I've got a 2k1 GMC Yukon XL 2500 with the 8.1L V8 gasser. 11mpg normal, 8 towing and as high as 14 or 15 once when doing hundreds of miles of 55-65mph interstate on cruise control. Love the engine though.

 

[8561]

Pretty detailed fuel mileage info John. My '03 sounds identical to yours, including the bed cover and the approximate MPG. The issue on the steering shaft was still alive and well in '03 and '04.

My understanding of the issue (and I may be corrected on this) is that the exhaust routing on these vintage GM trucks heats and thins the grease in the intermediate steering shaft area, causing the clunking you hear. GM will provide a lube kit to re-grease the shaft, but some need replacement. I have a good relationship with my dealer, they replaced the shaft, even though the truck was a little past warranty. My clunking wasn't that bad, but I was aware of the issue before mine started from others, and I was prepared for it.

From what I have seen from others on other message boards, the re-lube job isn't too bad if you're a mechanical guy. I've turned a few wrenches in my day, but since my dealer covered it under warranty, I never even bothered to get under to see how big a job it would be.

 

[8561]

By the way Jack, if your Silverado is an '05, I'd run it back to the dealer ASAP. Even if you're over on mileage, this is a known GM problem, and I bet they'll pick up the cost on warranty.

 

[1bush2hog]

If you haven't done a steering shaft at 42,000 on an '04, you're one of the very few. You'll hear and feel a clunking in the column. If my memory serves, it has something to do with the routing of the exhaust that causes additional heat and negatively impacts the greasing in the column.

Can you tell me more about this problem my 05 Silverado has the bumping column .. is there a way the owner can lube it or does it have to be replaced?

The intermediate shaft problem is well known and documented. You should have no problem getting your 04 or 05 trucks fixed for free by the dealer.

Like someone else said the fix initially was relubricating the shaft, but I have heard they are replacing them now. In fact on my 2003 1500HD I have had my truck in 3 times for this issue. Supposedly they replaced the shaft the last time it was in - time will tell.

If you do decide to fix it yourself, the fix is not too difficult. Check out some of the Chevy truck forums and do a search on this subject and you will have plenty to read. Below are a couple of links

FULLSIZEforums - Chevy Truck

www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?http://www.gm-trucks.com/.

 

[dknarnd]

Couple months ago I picked up a 2004 Crew with th 5.3l and only 18,000 miles on it. Now I have about 22,000 miles and the warranty runs out in August, is this a recall or just if you take it in they fix it? Since I won't see 40,000 miles for another year what do you think is the best thing to do?

 

[8561]

To my knowledge, its not a recall. Recalls are expensive and they avoid them if they can. However, it seems as though they are acknowledging the issue and being fairly generous with the repairs. That said, I don't think they'll perform a repair unless there is actually an issue. Depending on your dealer, they've done so many of them, they might either lube or replace it without checking for the noise if you bring it in and say its doing it. Your call.

 

[CDsdad]

I traded an '03 Tahoe for an '05 Tahoe. The '03 had the steering shaft problem, so far none with the '05. Warranty ran out last month on the '05, but I was assured by the local dealer if I had any problem with the steering it would be taken care of. I guess they figure better to acknowledge and fix than recall.

I also have a '97 Z71 with the prior 5.7 L in it. Love it, runs like a top at 107k miles. My highway and towing mileage is better than what the newer trucks are seeing. I get 18-19 highway and a little over 15 towing a 5000# boat. Dealer is dying for me to trade it, he's making a killing on the older body style on his used lot.