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After replacing the ISS my steering was virtually like a new car, no noises or clunks. I have noticed over extrememly uneven and bumpy roads there was some excessive jarring sounds originating in the steering column. I found the problem was the collapsible steering rods in the steering column(another fooey design from GM). The column jacket with bearing insert is over $150 at gm direct and $250 at a dealer.

The best way is to remove the column and address the issue. But a good quick fix that will eliminate this noise completely is to modify a strut bumper stop, slice it open lengthwise. Remove the dashcover to get to the black plastic sleeve covering the steering column just above the iss bolt and remove the black sleeve(slice it open lengthwise if it is virgin). Slip the modified bumper stop around the steering shaft and slide it up the exposed steering column as high and tight as possible against the bearing (this is important to remove all the excess play in the steering rod). Tie wrap the bumper in place. the take a 2in. long piece of rubber hose, also slice it lengthwise and place it behind the bumper. Slide the piece of rubber hose up as high and tight as possible behind the bumper and tie wrap it in place. This is to keep the bumper from sliding down at all (otherwise it will allow the play in the column to re-surface) So far not a peep form the steering column...over some very uneven, cracked rough roads, that caused me noise before.

If I remove the whole steering column in the future I will still use the bumper stop and rubber hose thingy. but then they can just be slid on instead of sliced. I like this because completely eliminates excess play, safely. The collapsible steering rods will always have a spring action by design, but the play I'm referring to is excess beyond that.

Another modification(borrowed from our off-road friends) could be a grease fitting in the ISS, but unlike a truck ISS, there is limited space and the covers will restrict any access to an added grease fitting-- but covers can be modified .

You took some pictures right?

...but it is still open, I will get some pics over the weekend.

Here are a few, I have alot more but photobucket is taking forever and they now seem to only allow 3 pics per download. One thing I left out in my previous post was to remove the bearing sponge...cut it out, it is not needed after this mod
But this mod is as easy as 1,2, 3...enjoy.

will any bump stop work?

Where do I get the strut bumper?

I'm interested in your 'quick fix' however, how did you determine, except for the noisethat there was escessive play in the steering column? I seem to have the same complaint you had but if I grab the steering rod above the ISS and shake it, there is no play in it all all.

I took your advice Carl and used your quick fix on my 05 SLE that appears to have the same problem. It seemed to work at first but it's back to the jarring noises again. I ordered a whole column from a junkyard in South Dakota. It only has 6000 miles on it so it should solve the problem but I do have reservations that that is the problem. If it doesn't work, then I figure it could either be strut mounts, the rack (oh no!!) or the rear trans mount telegraphing sounds through the subframe. I love this car but it really wants to join so many of it's mates inthe junkyard.