"loose" Front End

scottmoyer · August 17, 2009

I've noticed over the past few months that the front end doesn't feel tight when going over bumps. I replaced the shocks with Bilstein shocks months ago hoping that would fix the problem. It didn't. I also found a few loose bolts on my bumper. The bumper was replaced in 2007 due to someone hitting it. The body shop didn't tighten all the bolts correctly, so I was hopeful. That didn't work either. The intermediate steering shaft was replaced at 35k miles with the new one and I haven't had any issues since and I'm now at 80k miles. Could the slight "loose" feel be the steering shaft again or do I need some suspension work at 80k miles? It doesn't feel sloppy when driving or cornering, it just feels like a bad strut would feel going over pot hole patched roads. I can really feel the road! Just wondering if it may be the hub assembly or a bushing, etc. Thanks

txab · August 17, 2009

Check tie rods, inner and outer. Check ball joints and wheel bearings. I know of two people with '06 models that have already replaced their tie rods.

Edit: Also check upper and lower control arm bushings

bigdogxx · August 17, 2009

Looks to me like you have cranked the heck out of your torsion bars, not saying that is the reason but it sure does not help the problem when you change suspension angles as it will wear out parts faster then intended.

Also you need to face the facts that your truck is no longer new, at almost a hundred thousand you have alot of miles on the bushings and everything else, not to mention interior rattles which contribute to the loose feeling.

NTXdealerServices · August 17, 2009

I've noticed over the past few months that the front end doesn't feel tight when going over bumps. I replaced the shocks with Bilstein shocks months ago hoping that would fix the problem. It didn't. I also found a few loose bolts on my bumper. The bumper was replaced in 2007 due to someone hitting it. The body shop didn't tighten all the bolts correctly, so I was hopeful. That didn't work either. The intermediate steering shaft was replaced at 35k miles with the new one and I haven't had any issues since and I'm now at 80k miles. Could the slight "loose" feel be the steering shaft again or do I need some suspension work at 80k miles? It doesn't feel sloppy when driving or cornering, it just feels like a bad strut would feel going over pot hole patched roads. I can really feel the road! Just wondering if it may be the hub assembly or a bushing, etc. Thanks

I believe that I may have the same problem in my Avalanche, it turns out the loose feel ( On rough roads, bumps) and rattling is cause by my brake pedal assembly rattling which can be felt thru the steering column. I had planned out checking to see if there is anything that can be tightened on the brake pedal but I just haven’t had the chance yet. For now I just put a little pressure on the brake pedal with my foot when driving over rough spots in the road.

scottmoyer · August 17, 2009

Looks to me like you have cranked the heck out of your torsion bars, not saying that is the reason but it sure does not help the problem when you change suspension angles as it will wear out parts faster then intended.

Also you need to face the facts that your truck is no longer new, at almost a hundred thousand you have alot of miles on the bushings and everything else, not to mention interior rattles which contribute to the loose feeling.

I'm not asking for input because I think my truck is a piece of manufacturing garbage. I'm asking because I know I have 80k miles and figured someone might know what I should look at first. I've never had a truck with more than 40k miles so I thought I'd ask those more familiar with the product than I am. I am also aware that cranking the T-bars can cause parts to wear out faster. Again, that's why I'm asking those more knowledgeable than me. So if anyone has suggestions as to what they have experienced or know to be an issue at 80k miles, I'd appreciate any valuable input.

txab · August 17, 2009

Looks to me like you have cranked the heck out of your torsion bars, not saying that is the reason but it sure does not help the problem when you change suspension angles as it will wear out parts faster then intended.

Also you need to face the facts that your truck is no longer new, at almost a hundred thousand you have alot of miles on the bushings and everything else, not to mention interior rattles which contribute to the loose feeling.

I'm not asking for input because I think my truck is a piece of manufacturing garbage. I'm asking because I know I have 80k miles and figured someone might know what I should look at first. I've never had a truck with more than 40k miles so I thought I'd ask those more familiar with the product than I am. I am also aware that cranking the T-bars can cause parts to wear out faster. Again, that's why I'm asking those more knowledgeable than me. So if anyone has suggestions as to what they have experienced or know to be an issue at 80k miles, I'd appreciate any valuable input.

Check post #2 and look over all those parts

bigdogxx · August 17, 2009

Looks to me like you have cranked the heck out of your torsion bars, not saying that is the reason but it sure does not help the problem when you change suspension angles as it will wear out parts faster then intended.

Also you need to face the facts that your truck is no longer new, at almost a hundred thousand you have alot of miles on the bushings and everything else, not to mention interior rattles which contribute to the loose feeling.

I'm not asking for input because I think my truck is a piece of manufacturing garbage. I'm asking because I know I have 80k miles and figured someone might know what I should look at first. I've never had a truck with more than 40k miles so I thought I'd ask those more familiar with the product than I am. I am also aware that cranking the T-bars can cause parts to wear out faster. Again, that's why I'm asking those more knowledgeable than me. So if anyone has suggestions as to what they have experienced or know to be an issue at 80k miles, I'd appreciate any valuable input.

And were did i say it's a piece of manufacturing garbage, i think you need to chill it a bit. You asked a question and i answered it, after owning three previous gm trucks all well past a hundred thousand miles for the last 15 years i think i know a little bit about gm torsion bar suspension setups and how the hold up over time.

First thing i would do is as txab said, check over all suspension items ball joints, idler, pitman arm, tie rods, bushings and steering shaft. Then i would uncrank my torsion bars and set it to factory specs and get it realigned. Also check your tire pressure as some oil change idiots think that all trucks should have a trillion pounds of air in the tire, from my experience the lower around 30-35 atleast with my truck it seems to ride a little softer.

scottmoyer · August 18, 2009

BigDog,

I am relaxed but your post said I need to remember that it's not new. I know that. That's why I mentioned in my original post it has 80k miles. You also said I cranked the heck out my torsion bars. I barely cranked them. I don't remember the turns but it was less than what most people have mentioned back when I did it. You are also assuming that my truck rattles making me think it's not tight anymore. I have only one squeak and that comes from the passenger front body mount. Everything else seems good and tight, except the feeling from the front end. You did not offer any information in your response. Txab did though

txab and NTX,

thanks for the replies. I will check the brake feel tomorrow, but I don't believe that's it in my case as I drive slowly through a rough parking lot every day and it's a little loose. I'll check it though. I am getting the tires rotated and balanced Saturday so I will check the suspension parts while it's on the lift.

Just for an idea, here is my truck before the new tires and torsion bar cranking. This picture is when the truck was 5 months old and the only change was the chrome steps. You can see that the change is minimal.

mtm700 · August 21, 2009

I would say its probably the intermediate shaft again. They are a piss-poor design. Unbolt the shaft at the column. Push it all the way towards the firewall, then reinstall the bolt. Drive it and see if it changed the noise at all. We refer to that as "stroking the shaft", lol. They have lube kits for these, but i think they may have redesigned the shaft again to make them last alittle longer.

Also, crawl under the truck and take a peak at the bushings rivited to the frame that the torsion bar cross member bolts to. Been seeing alot of these separating and causing some noise as well.

gmtech4 · August 22, 2009

good ideas for sure ,however you messed around with your "Z" height when you adjusted your torsion bars ,when you do that ,you mess up your alignment,factory alignment is enough too go down the road fairly straight,my suggestion is to go get an alignment and they will check your front end out first ,pitman and idler arms fail to ,at home ,dangle the frt tires,grab the frt of the tire and push in and out and watch the "tie rod" that has the idler arm and pitman arm mounted to it ,if the "tie rod" twists frt to back on an arc you need new pitman and idler arms ,lower the truck ,and take it in.and i"m spent.let us know