2015 Silverado LT Vibration

[MA-Silverado]

I just purchased a new 2015 (8 miles) Silverado LT (4x4, 4.3L v6). During the test drive all seemed great with the truck so I purchased it. Driving it for the past 2 weeks has been great, love it! That was until 800miles or so I started to notice a slight vibration through the steering wheel and cabin. The issue is not consistent as it comes and goes so I started to do a little research and see this is a problem with past models. I noticed in other threads that people believe the issue to be a drive shaft, ball joints or out of balance parts. Dealers have replaced multiple parts but it seems to be ongoing issues for others.

 

Clearly GM has not resolved this issue but here is the troubleshooting I did. I noticed my tire pressure was low 35psi. I kept changing the pressure to see what would happen with the vibration. Below are my results.

 

To keep the vibration to a minimum, I increased the pressure on all wheels to 45-46 PSI and have found that it vibrates the least at this pressure. It's NOT completely gone but it's a start I guess. I will be contact the dealer tomorrow but wanted to know if anyone else has noticed the vibration with tire pressure changes. I assume tires are the problem. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

17inch wheels, Bridgestone Duler A/T P265/70R17 113S M+S

 

Driver side front 35
Driver side rear 36
Passenger side front 37
Passenger side rear 37
Vibration between 58-63

 

Driver side front 41
Driver side rear 41
Passenger side front 41
Passenger side rear 41
Vibration between 63-68

 

Driver side front 45
Driver side rear 46
Passenger side front 45
Passenger side rear 45
Vibration (a lot less) 63-65

 

Driver side front 42
Driver side rear 46
Passenger side front 44
Passenger side rear 45
Vibration 65-70

 

Driver side front 44
Driver side rear 41
Passenger side front 44
Passenger side read 41
Vibration 63-68

 

Driver side front 43
Driver side rear 43
Passenger side front 43
Passenger side read 43

Vibration 64-66

 

Driver side front 43
Driver side rear 43
Passenger side front 43
Passenger side read 43
Vibration 64-66 - with out tonneau cover

 

Driver side front 39
Driver side rear 39
Passenger side front 45
Passenger side read 45
Vibration 66-69

 

Driver side front 46
Driver side rear 45
Passenger side front 45
Passenger side read 45
Vibration (a lot less) 63-65

[SMiller]

A mod should move this thread to the 1500 section, the HD trucks are a totally different animal.

[MA-Silverado]

I opened a forum under 1500 section. Question though, how can you have the same issue between two different models? Clearly GM has a design flaw but something has to be a common factor between models to experience the same vibration/shaking.

[Cowpie]

There was something put out a while back that the way the railroads were securing crewcabs was causing some slight twisting of the frame that was a primary cause of the vibration issues. Not sure it that has anything to do with OP point. I never experienced it with my 2013 1500 LT or my 2015 2500HD LT.

[wandern]

I opened a forum under 1500 section. Question though, how can you have the same issue between two different models? Clearly GM has a design flaw but something has to be a common factor between models to experience the same vibration/shaking.

 

Although vibration issues come up regularly on the 1500 forum, I have yet to see one on the HD forum.... You'll probably get a lot more responses over there on the extensive thread(s) on the subject. Resolutions are all over the place. Many 1500s don't vibrate at all, so it seems to be a case of getting multiple components on the same edge of spec, if it isn't bad tires or a poor balance.

[Stevens03]

My trucks developed a vibration above 65mph in the rear. I put new wheels and tires on my truck and prior was smooth as butter. After the installation I had some balancing issues. Once I was comfortable with those, determined I had 1 bad tire.. That tire was replaced and I still have a vibration above 65mph. Tires have been looked at, rims have been checked, tires have been rotated but the vibration is always from the rear. I'm not sure how the dealers going to react but I'm going to schedule a service soon and see what they say.

[MA-Silverado]

Update,

 

Had the truck at the dealers yesterday afternoon and they did not fix the issue but here is what they did. Re-balanced all four tires, fixed weight issue on a few and they wanted to check the rims but their machine was out of service so I have to go back for another service call for that. Dealer could not guarantee that this would fix the issue because they could not drive the truck due to rain. They advised to call back if the issue continued. After the service call it seemed to be worse so I headed to my father in-law's to try his rims and tires from his GMC Sierra. His tires (Goodyear) and rims (steel) were the same size but different brand with almost 14k miles on them. After placing his tires on my truck I really noticed the vibration/shaking. So it seems, the more miles on a tire and lower PSI I notice the issue, the newer the tire with more PSI the less I notice the issue. I may be wrong in thinking it's the tires that's causing the issue. If it was the tires the vibration should have stopped with his.

 

Also, my father in-law drove his truck with my rims and tires and felt no vibration or shaking, smooth ride!

 

I will be calling the dealer back today to schedule another service call. I’ll update the post from my next visit.

[HIWY]

Just received my 2015 GMC 1500 SLT double cab. Traded in 18 " factory tires immediately for Goodyear Duratracs of the same size. When I took it out onto the expressway, I felt a vibration, especially in the 55 to 70 mph range. Hopefully the tire balance was off, as I am returning to the tire dealer tomorrow, if not that, than it's back to the GMC dealer for them to find the problem.

[MA-Silverado]

@HIWY - How many miles do you have on the trunk when you noticed the vibration? Seems to me the standard tires that come on these new trucks mask the vibration up to a point. Hopefully you’re just out of balance/weight and you get back to enjoying the truck!

[15dmax978]

Insane!!!! I have a 2015 chevy silverado 2500 crew duramax 9000 miles truck has been having vibration problems since abt 4000 miles they balanced tires all 4 new tires they have tryed everything i just picked it up after 15 days of not having it and the same vibration at 70 75 mph they can not figure it out . Gm corporate has been contacted waiting for the next step.. what ashame!!!

[SMiller]

Vibration is nothing new in both the 1500 and 2500/3500 line since the switch to fully boxed frames. Some vibrate and some don't.

[bigdeano]

I am new to the forum, but want to share this info on the Silverados based on personal experience. I have owned at least 4 Silverados over the past ten years with no issues. I came to the site to see if others were experiencing issues with the 2014 or 2015 Silverados. There appears to be much more than I thought.

In August 2014, I bought a 2014 Z71, trading in my 2011 model. While I was driving it home from the dealership and reaching about 40mph, I noticed a significant vibration. It felt like I was driving on a road full of pebbles. I called the dealership and they thought it was flat spots on the tires. Two weeks later same problem.

Had the truck into the shop 4 different times, once for two straight weeks, over a 6 month period. Four technicians noticed the vibration but could not diagnose it. The rearend was replaced, the shocks were replaced, the tires were replaced, etc., etc. I finally got to the point where I filed a claim with GM. they COULD NOT fix the problem and GM gave me a new 2015 Z71. I had to pay the difference of MSRP which was $800.00, but all my pmts up to this date were applied to the new truck.

I was quite pleased with the 2015 until I reached about 500 miles on the new truck. I noticed a vibration, same as the 2014 but only after I reached highway speeds, 60mph and up. I thought I was being paranoid and tried to convince myself that it was not there. Well, my wife and I took a 400 mile trip by highway, and about an hour into the trip, she asked me what was wrong with the truck. She was feeling vibration in her seat and floorboard. Now I am back where I started with the 2014 issues.

During this same trip, I ran into a friend who had bought the 2015 Silverado 2500HD. He said his truck vibrates to the point where his outside mirrors are shaking. Granted completely different truck but seems all too common among the GM trucks. He was bringing it back to the dealership.

As frustrated as I am at this point, I want to note that GM was very good to deal with on the issue with the 2014. Now I am either going to let the dealership try to fix the 2015, or I am going to visit Ford.

There is an attorney firm in New Jersey that handles the Lemon Law cases for free. You can find them on the web under Lemon Law for GM or similar. I did not have to use them but they did give me a free consultation.

Hope this is somewhat helpful to those with issues.

[MA-Silverado]

Update,

 

Truck has been at the dealership today and they found two problems. The right rear tire is bad and driveshaft is 23 degrees out of spec. They have ordered a replacement tire and drive shaft. Hopefully parts will arrive Monday/Tuesday depending on shipping because of the holiday weekend. I am not holding my breath but I sure hope this fixes the issue. Will update once parts are replaced, have a great holiday!!!

[Kent2500]

 

During this same trip, I ran into a friend who had bought the 2015 Silverado 2500HD. He said his truck vibrates to the point where his outside mirrors are shaking. Granted completely different truck but seems all too common among the GM trucks. He was bringing it back to the dealership.

 

 

My 2015 2500HD 4x4 Z71 (18" rims) is glass smooth from 0 to 86mph (haven't tried faster). Thus not an issue they all have, but I feel for those with the problem.

[Cowpie]

I must have dodged this bullet. My 2015 2500HD is vibration free. Have almost 8000 miles on it and nary a problem. Hasn't been back to the dealer since the day I drove off with it new.