I get an annoying clicking sound ONLY when turning right. Only heard inside the cabin, in drive or in park same thing. Doesn't happen turning left. I can turn the wheel round 3 or 4 times to the right and every turn (at the same spots) there's a click.

I've been told by the dealer and 1 other mechanic its likely the steering shaft/ column and recommended replacing the lower and upper shafts + 2/3 hours labour....all in $650-800.

I keep thinking there must be something behind the wheel that's clicking...plastic on plastic, or something that can be lubed.

I've stuck a long PowerLube straw behind the wheel into the U-Joint up there, and also same for the u-joint under the hood. I've also tried white lithium grease and then just regular auto grease from a grease gun. None of that has made a difference...though I do have very well lubed u-joints now.

Anybody else have any ideas? At this point I'm inclined to just spend the $600 and get it done right....its a really annoying click. But, the service manager at GM told me there is no guarantee that that's the fix...but that its just an annoyance thing and not a safety issue.

2008 Hummer H3 Alpha, 5.3L V8

 

Year and Model, if you expect any suggestions with a degree of accuracy.

 

My apologies. Forgot that on this one. I've uploaded it into the original posting.

 

could it be the clock spring connecting the airbag

 

The same thing happened with my h2 whenever I adjusted the tilt on the steering wheel. The noise went away after a week.

 

Thank you for the year and model, it can now be confirmed your vehicle was not part of the intermediary steering shaft TSB advisory that became a recall and warranty extender.

Likely you have already addressed it, being the steering shaft U-joints for the tilt wheel/behind the dash shaft. Mine has clicks occasionally for 10 years, mostly when cold. It was pretty rusty corroded, so I lubed it. No big deal, for sure not a $600 deal.

 

So after 2+ years of farting around with this, I FINALLY figured it out.

I took off the housing behind the steering wheel, and went to lube the upper u-joint (behind the steering wheel) again. Problem is, you can't "see" or get to the whole thing because a steel housing covers it.

So, I bought a bottle of 3-in-1 lube (think TriFlow) with a telescopic nozzle. I put that at the shaft and BENT IT BACKWARDS slightly (so it was facing the driver's seat direction), squirted some lube, and presto---problem solved. Not a click at all anymore.

I was literally about to order the whole steering column parts and go ahead with a $1000+ repair before trying this. Total cose: $4...and a few headaches.