So yeah, I just opened the box and checked out my new IS. Well lubed with a hopefully improved design. I will be making this repair myself since GM doesn't take responsibility for there mistakes. International Class Action lawsuit might make GM think a little harder about SAFETY and QUALITY. I am surprised that all those cops who crashed there impala's due to bad shafts didn't cause a recall.
Save your money for the recession bro and change out that Intermediate Shaft yourself. I would post the pics if I knew how.
It is simple if you have a jack stand and jack to take off the drivers wheel. The bolts turn so easy I used a 3/8 drive ratchet and an 11mm deep socket on a long extension to loosen the bottom shaft bolt. Which is easily accessed when the tire is off. Did the bottom bolt first so I could push the shaft up and off the pin easily while still connected above. Then take a 7mm driver inside and unscrew the two small screws holding the plastic cover under the steering wheel. Under there you will see a clear pvc boot connected to the steering column. Push it back off the black plastic flange just enough to use a 13mm and a short extension to unbolt the intermediate shaft from the steering rack. The only thing you need to be careful of is to start the job with the steering wheel centred and don't turn it any farther then the little bit it might take to line up the bolt hole when reinstalling the shaft. This car does not seem to lock up the wheel when the key is off. Torque to 35lbs and say good bye to the clunking. I went with the GM pt26068295 it is definitely re engineered and looks completely different from the original.This job took 20 minutes after the wheel came off.
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Is the 2001 different from the 98? While troubleshooting mine I could NOT get at the boot with the wheel off for the bolt...unless I was going after the wrong part but I am pretty sure I was looking at the right part, and my small hands could not reach it easily at all.
Lay on your back and shine a light just above the tie rod boot on the drivers side. Look for a roundish plasticy boot, angled back towards the firewall. It pushed up enough to get the socket in and guide the shaft back onto the bolt. I was surprised that there wasn't any apparent means to seal it to the steering box when I reinstalled it. I just assumed that someone may have done a grease job before and didn't replace it. Which is another reason I don't take rigs to the dealer anymore unless absolutely necessary. They always seem to leave shit like that incomplete on me. Like the time I had tie rods replaced in my 84 Camaro Berlinetta and they forgot the passenger side cotter pin and I lost my steering half a tank of gas later luckily on a country road and no oncoming traffic at the time.
This is the new style designed with a flatbar style shaft instead of the faulty splined shaft original. I can't seem to find the pictures I took of the upper and lower bolt removal and installation.
