I had the misfortune of picking up a 4" nail in a tire yesterday. I had the local tire shop repair it. They left me with a printout that listed all the various things to inspect on my 2013 Sonic at 12,000 miles. Everything said INSPECT except one that said to LUBRICATE the steering. Does anyone know what this service entails?
Steering -lubricate at 12,000?
- Thread starter MartyH
- Start date
sx sonic
New member
Most inspection sheets I've seen are generic, without seeing this checklist I'm going to assume that same list is used on pickups, SUVs, vans, and cars. There's nothing inherently bad with this, but the components very between types of vehicles.
I'm assuming "lubricate the steering" means greasing the tie-rod ends, sway bar links, and ball joints. Your sonic does not have grease zerks so this service is irrelevant.
If you had an older car or a truck there would likely be grease zerks in some or most of the steering and suspension joints that need periodic "lubrication". As time has passed more and more new cars (and followed by new trucks) are rolling off the assembly line with non serviceable components (eg grease-able tie rod ends, ball joints, u-joints, etc).
So a Inspection Check List is usually made to cover many vehicles and uses generic criteria that may or may not pertain to a specific model of car.
-tyler
I'm assuming "lubricate the steering" means greasing the tie-rod ends, sway bar links, and ball joints. Your sonic does not have grease zerks so this service is irrelevant.
If you had an older car or a truck there would likely be grease zerks in some or most of the steering and suspension joints that need periodic "lubrication". As time has passed more and more new cars (and followed by new trucks) are rolling off the assembly line with non serviceable components (eg grease-able tie rod ends, ball joints, u-joints, etc).
So a Inspection Check List is usually made to cover many vehicles and uses generic criteria that may or may not pertain to a specific model of car.
-tyler
ChrisJ
Active member
Maybe to give customers a warm and fuzzy feeling that something was done besides it allegedly being inspected?
I'm with sx sonic. Not aware of any grease fittings or anything GM says to lubricate on the steering system of the Sonic. I think they fixed you're tire, I assume with a plug\patch that gets installed from the inside and then gave you a generic computer printout.
I'm with sx sonic. Not aware of any grease fittings or anything GM says to lubricate on the steering system of the Sonic. I think they fixed you're tire, I assume with a plug\patch that gets installed from the inside and then gave you a generic computer printout.
Ok, you guys are just guessing. I know there is such a thing as a lubrication kit because in an online service complaint I see where one was offered to a customer by Chevrolet who had a steering issue, ironically at 12,000 miles. 
I'll pull my manual out and figure it out for myself.
I'll pull my manual out and figure it out for myself.
ChrisJ
Active member
Ok, you guys are just guessing. I know there is such a thing as a lubrication kit because in an online service complaint I see where one was offered to a customer by Chevrolet who had a steering issue, ironically at 12,000 miles.
sx sonic
New member
Hmmm I'm surprised a local shop had anything remotely specific.. But stranger things have happened.
The only other steering lubrication I've seen as a former tech was a light oiling where the steering column goes thru a rubber boot on the firewall. That was a BMW bulletin for a few early production X models that were exhibiting a squeaking noise when turning the wheel.
At anyrate share your findings with the forum. This is a new one to me.
The only other steering lubrication I've seen as a former tech was a light oiling where the steering column goes thru a rubber boot on the firewall. That was a BMW bulletin for a few early production X models that were exhibiting a squeaking noise when turning the wheel.
At anyrate share your findings with the forum. This is a new one to me.
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
Its a generic list with your car put in the information. The steering lubrication kit is not a normal service item. The point of the lube kit was to correct an issue with the steering intermediate shaft making a clunk or pop noise while turning. Essentially they put a lot of extra grease into the slip fit connection of the intermediate shaft halves and it corrected the noise. Once again, this is NOT a normal service item.
turbotimmy
New member
Checked the service manual, found nothing relating to lubricating the steering, a bunch of stuff towards repair and replacement though.
The lube kit however is well known, GM has been using it for years. They used it on my silverado to fix the clunk that was sometimes heard.
Sounds like a generic statement.
13TurboLTZ
New member
Theres nothing to regularly lube in the steering.
Sonic Matt
New member
i was just checking out my steering column and poked my finger in there and found orange grease all over.
Hartleracing
New member
Has no one looked in their manual at all? They list a pile of dumb and what seems pointless to me list of things that "require" maintaining at various mileage intervals. Steering lube being one of them
Sonic Matt
New member
I figured it was seeing as mine is definitely lubed and seems fresh! haha got the car at 30k miles and almost at 36k almost out of bumper to bumper
almost out of bumper to bumperrodslinger
Member
I used the lube kits in the dealers.
Good to hear. They usually try to give it to you dry.
J T
New member
I used the lube kits in the dealers.
Are these lube kits still available anywhere? I'm looking online for one right now, and here's why. I've had the clunk for a good 25,000 miles (currently at 127,000) and it was diagnosed yesterday by a local auto repair shop as coming from the intermediate shaft. Oddly enough, three weeks ago I had the car at a Chevy dealership and over a span of three days they could not figure out what the clunk was. In fact, their "fix" was to install new struts and hope that would eliminate the sound. WTF? Anyway, five minutes in the auto shop down the street from me and they were able to figure it out.
How do I know they are correct about it being the intermediate shaft? Well, I can slide my foot beyond the pedals and push on the intermediate shaft while the car is in motion and it eliminates the clunking sound I hear over every little bump in the road.
So these guys at the shop told me about those old lube kits, but they had no luck locating any around town at the various auto parts distributors they called. They even called a Chevy dealer (different from the one I've been taking my car to) with no luck. I told them I'd try to locate a lube kit online, but so far I'm not finding any available (lots of topics about it, but no kits I can find to purchase).
Do they still exist, or are they a thing of the past?
I know it's been a couple of years since you posted this, but perhaps you'll see my reply soon and have some suggestions for me.
