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Service bulletin PIT5501B

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
TypeService bulletin
NHTSA id10081240
Published by NHTSA2016-10-03
Manufacturer's numberPIT5501B
Manufacturer's date2016-06-17
NHTSA componentEQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL; STEERING

NHTSA's summary

THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ON THE STEPS TO DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR STEERING THAT FEELS LOOSE OR HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY. THIS CONCERN COULD BE CAUSE BY AN INCORRECT PITMAN SHAFT OVER-CENTER PRELOAD ADJUSTMENT. TECHNICIAN WILL PERFORM A STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT OVER-CENTER PRELOAD ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. TECHNICIAN WILL REMOVE THE STEERING GEAR. THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT LASH ADJUSTER NUT WILL NEED TO BE LOOSENED. TURN THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT LASH ADJUSTER SCREW COUNTERCLOCKWISE UNTIL FULLY EXTENDED. TURN THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT LASH ADJUSTER SCREW CLOCKWISE ONE FULL TURN. ROTATE THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT FROM STOP TO STOP USING A SOCKET DESIGNED FOR THE INPUT SHAFT GEOMETRY, OR CROWS FOOT WITH RATCHET WHILE COUNTING THE NUMBER OF TURNS. STARTING AT EITHER STOP, TURN THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT BACK HALF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TURNS COUNTED PREVIOUSLY. THIS IS THE CENTER POSITION OF THE STEERING. ENSURE THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT IS CENTERED. THE FLAT ON THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT SHOULD BE FACING UPWARD AND PARALLEL WITH THE STEERING GEAR SIDE COVER. ALSO THE MASTER SPLINE ON THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT IS IN LINE WITH THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT LASH ADJUSTER SCREW. USE A TORQUE WRENCH ON THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT TO ROTATE THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT 300 DEGREES FROM EACH SIDE OF THE CENTER OF THE INPUT SHAFT. THE INPUT SHAFT MUST ROTATE SMOOTHLY AND MUST NOT STICK OR BIND. RECORD THE AVERAGE TURNING TORQUE FROM -300 TO +300 DEGREE SWEEP.

The document

No address for NHTSA's copy can be built for this communication. Ask the dealer for it by the manufacturer's number.

Components

Equipment and accessories, Steering

Vehicles listed
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 25002016 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 35002016 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
GMC SIERRA 25002016 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
GMC SIERRA 35002016 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

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