At around 16,000 miles I started to feel a clunk in the steering wheel when in a gradual turn either left or right and when hitting any small bump in the road. I called the local dealer's service department and was told I probably just needed the steering shaft repacked. When I took the truck in for service I quizzed the service writer. He told me all the GM trucks did this and that I should have the shaft repacked every 20K. When I told him I had just traded in another GMC that I ran for 75,000 miles and it never required this service he replied it was just the new trucks that required the service. I've never owned a four wheel drive vehicle before so I don't know if this is something common to 4WD's. 16,000 miles seems awfully soon for things like this to start cropping up. A co-worker who has a 2002 Sierra said he had experienced the same problem.
Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know the 'real' cause this?
thanks,