All,
My steering column rattles something fierce. I recently replaced the intermediate shaft and that did not do anything. It appears there is a ton of backlash at the shaft output of the EPS assembly. I checked all online sources and there are no rebuilt columns available. Are there any other solutions? I'm not sure I want to roll the dice with a used column that probably has the same issue.

Its a shame because the rest of the car is fine and perfectly usable but this column rattle is so bad that I may have to just junk the damn thing because of it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
-Nathan

 

You could replace the EPS motor or take it out and check for lubricant on the splines a lite coating is good.

 

Are you sure the rack & pinion is not worn out?
I don't know what could rattle in the steering column other than the intermediate shaft.

 

Positive- the sound can be recreated with the intermediate shaft disconnected and then grabbing the steering column shaft stub and shaking it. Sound is definately backlash in that assembly somewhere. Not sure if at drive motor or somewhere in the column assembly.

 

Eliminate the motor to eliminate that source for the noise.

 

Have you looked for loose stuff under the airbag?
There just is not much involved with the column to make noise. The clock spring, the turn signal cancel tab, the gears on the motor, the lock.
I am guessing this is when turning the steering wheel, Engine on and off?
Backlash means, to me something is moving in the reverse of the way it was moved, like a spring action? The only thing that might do that is the motor, that should be in play with engine on only.

 

I had the same exact noise. I went through several other items that needed to be replaced in the front steering/suspension, but none of those were the source of the rattle noise. It ended up being the steering column lower section which has the gear that engages the assist motor. I could not find a replacement GM new or Cardone refurbished. I called Cardone and they didn't know when any additional stock was going to be available of their refurbished unit. I placed myself on the RockAuto wait/notify list for the Cardone unit. About two months later, I received an email stating one was available. I purchased it and installed it. Noise gone!

Here's the post in my thread showing the replacement of the steering column in my 2007 HHR 2LT.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/brak...e2/#post952776

 

Again , see post #5 , a process of elimination!

 

The past week or so I've been hearing a "squeak" noise while driving my HHR for 10 minutes or longer. At least it was loud enough at that point to be heard while driving at low speeds. It seemed to be related to when I turned the steering wheel just left of center while driving. I thought maybe the brake pads were making noise. I also [rarely] heard the noise while the HHR was not moving, so that eliminates the brake pads. It happened again this morning. I pulled the HHR into my garage to investigate the noise.

Much to my surprise, I was able to replicate the noise within 30-seconds of trying to find it. When I slightly moved the steering wheel left/right [slowly], the noise could be heard. I used my automotive stethoscope and located the noise in the power steering assist motor. This steering assist motor is the one that came with the refurbished steering column I installed several months ago. When I first purchased this HHR [few months before replacing the steering column], I installed a new ACDelco steering assist motor since I was unsure of the history of the steering system and I had just replaced one in a friend's HHR that had failed. When I swapped out the steering column, I removed that "new" motor and kept it as a spare.

I removed the steering assist motor from the refurbished steering column and installed the "new" [spare] motor. The squeak is gone. That should not happen with a refurbished steering column [Cardone], but I'm glad I was able to locate the noise and fix it so easily. I'll take small victories like that any time I work on a car!

 

Sorry to take you a bit off topic...
From your posts I concluded that new steering columns are not available in the US.
If that's true, then it's on Aliexpress.
I know, guys, that you don't trust this resource. But if you see new steering columns in the US, they're still from China. You can pay a middleman, but you can buy them directly.
Please do not consider this an advertisement, please consider it a tip