Well I'm glad it was a mistake that didn't produce glitter! Can't wait to find out what I've goofed up. I've had a lot of late nights lately...
No glitter thankfully!
Well I'm glad it was a mistake that didn't produce glitter! Can't wait to find out what I've goofed up. I've had a lot of late nights lately...
Crown Automotive steering column lower bearing, OEM Part Number 4487696KOne annoying 'feature' of my GMC is a rattle, for lack of better description, emanating from the cowl area which is very noticeable while traveling over bumps/potholes but also noticeable while I had an out of balance / out of round tire on my front left. That was my breaking point, at 67 mph a vibration would start and rattle whatever it was, which drove me crazy. I kept it under 65mph all the way to the MI rally due to this, and vowed to attempt to resolve the issue.
Step one, I swapped my front left tire to the rear. Even though it was a brand new, freshly balance wheel, expert attendees at the rally informed me that steel wheels are probably the culprit. After 50 years they are no longer running true, even though the tire store will balance them. On my drive home, this was confirmed. No more vibration at 67mph in the front, but I think I could feel it from the rear where I had moved that wheel.
Step two, where is that 'rattle' ? My theory that it's my lower steering shaft bearing. The frame is moving differently from the body and there's enough drag on my telescoping borgeson shaft that it's pushing the lower end of the steering shaft up and down in the lower column bearing. Sirum didn't have the bearing at their table at the rally, Mike recommended any auto parts store. I noodled around on Amazon and couldn't find one specific to any vehicle remotely related to the GMC (trucks of the era, the 73 transmode, 76 toronado, etc) but did see one that looked suspiciously similar even though it's for Jeeps. It did have several reviews from people that tried it on their Chevy pickup from 90s on up and it fit perfect, so I rolled the dice and ordered it for $30.
It fits perfect and is much tighter than the original bearing. Fingers crossed, my cowl rattle days are over.
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