Lower steering column link --Klunks

[Huck]

I know this has been a common problem on every 99 and up chevy full size truck---the lower steering column link is supposely filled with some kind of grease that tends to allow for you to feel KLUNKS over time. GM wants like $100.+ for the replacement part that has limited availability do to the stupid design problem. My friend Bill replaced his only to have it start happening within 6 months!
Is anyone familiar with this problem, been successful with a fix, and / or can describe what can be done to resolve this dumb GM design problem????? It is driving me "klunky"!!