Ben Goodspeed

The bad part about it is i am pretty sure i have a fix for the noise, but GM did not listen... so i traded and got a break even deal with the dealership. Request to see the build sheet, ask if the new truck has the SU5 Front differential. That is what I had to do when my 2020 Silverado had the noise. I got lucky and found a truck that was almost identical to the 2020, the differences between the two were the front differential and a Sun roof.

Search this forum... front-differential-su4-diagram

On the right side, there is a longer shaft that comes from the right side CV joint. The force from the CV joint is not direct like on the stub shaft. It is not directly attached like on the stub shaft. If you look at a diagram of the assembly, you will see what I am talking about. On an SU5, the stub shaft is made differently.

This is totally in my opinion, I've been working on, engineering fixes, making modifications... etc on vehicles, trucks equipment for over 45 years, I'm not a back yard mechanic, I am very educated. So I think I know at least a little something about what is causing this issue. In reference to the PIP5653G... I think GM is missing the actual cause of what is making the stub shaft hit the cross pin. The clip and o-ring will help, short term, not permanently. The CV shaft is pushing the stub shaft inward toward the cross pin. Even with putting the o-ring in place, the new snap ring will hold the pin in place for a short time, but eventually, the snap ring will give way to the force of the CV joint, forcing the stub shaft to continue hitting the cross pin. The reason the noise stops when in 4WD is because of the force applied to the spider gears in the differential, holding the stub shaft in place. In my truck, when in Auto 4WD, if you listen carefully, the noise will come and go, depending on the road conditions, like hitting bumps, turning etc. I have a pretty good idea of a more permanent fix, but getting GM and their engineers to listen will be difficult. It only requires a slight machining of the stub shaft and the cross pin, and installing a spring loaded pin on the end of the stub shaft to exert a little pressure on the cross pin, reducing the movement of the stub shaft. I'm not saying this is the total fix, but if they never tried it, it could work, plus but it makes more sense than a 25 cent o-ring. My idea, believe it or not, comes from a problem and fix that Ford was having in their mid "80s V6 Camshaft issue. Where the Camshaft was moving forward and hitting the Gear cover and causing excessive wear on the cover, chain and making a similar noise to what we are hearing in our trucks. It is very possibly a fix with a few modifications that could possibly work on our trucks. I love my truck, and if GM wants to use my truck as the proverbial ginny pig, just give me something else to drive while this experiment is being performed. Hell, I will even help if they want me to.

Curious... why can't they just replace the SU4 with the SU5?? I've owned nothing but Chevrolet Silverado's, for over 40 years. I purchased a 2019 and it had the 8 speed transmission shifting issues. The dealer traded me into the 2020. It has the infamous jingle jingle. The dealer has done the repairs according to the PIP. And it still makes the noise.