Driver's seat removal

[ORVietVet]

Need to replace the lower steering column bearing, because of the slight rattle noise/feeling. At 6'4" tall and 285 lbs., not gonna be enough room for me under there without seat removal.
I know I will be disconnecting battery and am comfortable with the bearing replacement procedure.
Any tips about full seat removal, other than 4 bolts/nuts? Disconnecting any wiring/harnesses under there?

 

[someotherguy]

It's no biggie. You'll have some trim pieces that will need to come off to access the bracket-to-floor bolts. On my '06 these were simply snapped over the top of them; I used a door panel trim tool to gently lift them off. And yes, there will be harnesses to disconnect if your seats are power/heated. Watch your hands on the sheetmetal framework inside the seat bottom as the edges are SHARP.

Hopefully the rattle is just that lower column bearing. These trucks are notorious for a bad lower steering shaft. I replaced both parts in both our trucks. GM redesigned that shaft several times over the years as the first replacements didn't seem to help. The part # I used, GM 19329330 was still quiet at almost 100K miles later in my black '06 SS (now sold) and probably near equal mileage on my wife's truck, still quiet. I used the GM 88963617 bearing too.

I'm sure you're already aware to secure the steering wheel so that it can't turn, to avoid damage to the clockspring. I simply looped a bungie cord around the upper right steering wheel spoke, to the shifter.

Richard

 

[ORVietVet]

It's no biggie. You'll have some trim pieces that will need to come off to access the bracket-to-floor bolts. On my '06 these were simply snapped over the top of them; I used a door panel trim tool to gently lift them off. And yes, there will be harnesses to disconnect if your seats are power/heated. Watch your hands on the sheetmetal framework inside the seat bottom as the edges are SHARP.

Hopefully the rattle is just that lower column bearing. These trucks are notorious for a bad lower steering shaft. I replaced both parts in both our trucks. GM redesigned that shaft several times over the years as the first replacements didn't seem to help. The part # I used, GM 19329330 was still quiet at almost 100K miles later in my black '06 SS (now sold) and probably near equal mileage on my wife's truck, still quiet. I used the GM 88963617 bearing too.

I'm sure you're already aware to secure the steering wheel so that it can't turn, to avoid damage to the clockspring. I simply looped a bungie cord around the upper right steering wheel spoke, to the shifter.

Richard

Yes on the steering wheel tie down. Yes, checked shaft and it is solid and there is no play at the u-joints. I did crawl under and did verify that the only play is at the collar bearing.

I have yet to look at the back but I know the outside trim piece comes off where the seat controls are. There are more trim pieces than that?

Yes, I have the 88963617 bearing/collar and I have snapped the bearing cage out and added more grease and snapped back in.

 

[Cadillacmak]

The seats in this 02 came out really easy, not sure how much they changed by 04 if any.

 

[ORVietVet]

That you know of, is all the access to bolts/nuts to release the seat assembly, from the inside or under the vehicle?

 

[Cadillacmak]

That you know of, is all the access to bolts/nuts to release the seat assembly, from the inside or under the vehicle?

All inside. Two bolts for the rear and two nuts for the front.

 

[ORVietVet]

Is the only trim piece to deal with, the one on the side where the controls are?

 

[Cadillacmak]

Is the only trim piece to deal with, the one on the side where the controls are?

I didn't need to deal with any trim, I just powered the seat forward for rear bolts and powered it all the way back for the front nuts. Maybe it was missing trim or yours has more trim?