Suspension Rattle Over Uneven Surfaces

Shatterz · March 9, 2011

Hopefully you guys can help me diagnose this noise. I have sound that can be compared to rocks rattling around in a tin can coming from underneath the front end of my 09 2500HD (10k on it) when driving over uneven road surfaces ( for example a road area with a lot of small pot holes that have been filled and all bunched together). It is definately related to the suspension movement and is definately a metallic sounding rattle.

I gotten under the truck several times to check things out, everything seems good and tight. I've tried to grab and shake various pieces, and even banged on them with a rubber mallet, I can't find a thing.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

cbxeric · March 9, 2011

Bad shock absorber? missing bushing? let the dealer sort it out (warranty).

Shatterz · March 9, 2011

Bad shock absorber? missing bushing? let the dealer sort it out (warranty).

I don't have time for the idiot dealership monkeys (no offense to anyone who works at a dealership on this board, I am sure you are the exception) to go romping around in my truck just to say we can't find anything.

I am just looking for some thoughts or experience with this issue. Armed with that information I can go into the dealer with a direction and possible cause of the problem

Oh............. can you tell I don't like dealerships?

seasled · March 9, 2011

lug nut (or pebbles,fun joke) in the center cap , plow mount or trailer hitch?

good luck ~sea

ChevyTech77 · March 9, 2011

Any change in the noise with your foot on the brake or with some steering input?

Signed,

One of the monkeys.

Shatterz · March 10, 2011

Any change in the noise with your foot on the brake or with some steering input?

Signed,

One of the monkeys.

To answer your question, the noise is the same regardless of steering input. There is one road that I frequenlt drive where I get this noise almost the whole length of the road (about 1 mile of rough uneven tarmac). It happens driving straight, while turning and I can still hear it coming to a stop at the intersection.

It really seems to be exaggerated when the suspension is doing a lot of quick up and down movement. The noise will not occur over a single bump or pot hole, it needs to be a rough patch of road where the suspension is constantly hitting a rough uneven surface.

And to answer other questions, the truck does not have any plow or front mounted attachments, nor does it carry anything in the bed, nor do I have anything attached to the trailer hitch.

And this is actually 1 of 2 noises that have been going on. I also have a what sounds like a pop/creak noiser going in and out of driveways, which I am thinking might be the body mounts, so that is also on the list

JoJoJim · March 10, 2011

Hopefully you guys can help me diagnose this noise. I have sound that can be compared to rocks rattling around in a tin can coming from underneath the front end of my 09 2500HD (10k on it) when driving over uneven road surfaces ( for example a road area with a lot of small pot holes that have been filled and all bunched together). It is definately related to the suspension movement and is definately a metallic sounding rattle.

I gotten under the truck several times to check things out, everything seems good and tight. I've tried to grab and shake various pieces, and even banged on them with a rubber mallet, I can't find a thing.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

JoJoJim · March 10, 2011

It sounds so much like mine has a couple of times I would check the little cushion spacers between the leafs in the rear springs. They sometimes get bounced out and it sounds like a rattle going down the street. Worth a look.

greezy · March 10, 2011

I had a noise like this on my last truck. Turned out i had some pea gravel trapped in my skid plate bouncing around when i hit bumps.

x3speed · March 10, 2011

I have the same problem, no clue

Shatterz · March 10, 2011

Its funny you mention that about the rocks in the skid plate, I have actually had the skid plates off looking for rocks that might be bouncing around, but I found nothing.

zachary00 · March 11, 2011

I have an '05 that is making the same sound. I don't know if it applies to the '09, but I found a tsb online about a steering linkage. It does just like you say. Rattle on repeated bumps, regardless of steering or brake input. It sounds like a rock in a can around the front left shock. It might be something to consider. I also had a separate noise from the front left wheel. I took it off and the cover on the bearing had fallen off into the hub cover and was rattling. Sounded the same, but didn't stop when I was moving.

Shatterz · March 12, 2011

I have an '05 that is making the same sound. I don't know if it applies to the '09, but I found a tsb online about a steering linkage. It does just like you say. Rattle on repeated bumps, regardless of steering or brake input. It sounds like a rock in a can around the front left shock. It might be something to consider. I also had a separate noise from the front left wheel. I took it off and the cover on the bearing had fallen off into the hub cover and was rattling. Sounded the same, but didn't stop when I was moving.

Could you point me to this TSB or do you know the TSB number? You might be onto something since the 07-10 HD silverados are basically a GMT-800 HD ( 01-07 classic) frame susepnsion etc with a GMT-900 body on top.

Thanks

MustBeNice · September 10, 2015

I know this is an old post...... But.......

Did you ever solve your rattle? I have one too @ 139,000 miles. Next week it goes into the shop for front end work..... idles arm, pitman arm, ball joints (all 4), shocks (all 4), tires (all 4), tranny cooler lines and while I'm at it a set of new aftermarket rims.... heck why not it's already costing me a small mint!! Hoping this work will solve the rattle and tire wear issues I'm starting to experience!!