2011 Sierra Only 900 Miles With Driveline Clunk

[Zeke]

OK this sucks new truck with only 900 miles on it 2011 Sierra 4x4 5.3. I have a driveline clunk when I slow down then accelerate again. It does not happen when I start from a stand still after stopping. It's a pretty good (bad) clunk that sounds and feels horrible driver and passengers both hear and feel it and does it everytime I have to slow then give it gas to get going again. If I am super (and I mean very lightly) easy on the gas sometimes it won't do it or not as bad, but doing that is dangerous when you need to get through an intersection or something like that to have to almost idle through it to not have it happen. Any ideas? I had my local mechanic ( alot closer than going to the dealer right now) check it out on his lift because it sounded like a bad u joint but everything looked good, he even lubed the output shaft spline/yoke for me with Dexron VI as per the updated GM bulletin about the bump/clunk occuring after stopping etc. I asked him to do this because I had an older GM truck that needed this done from time to time but the lube did nothing for this truck. Any ideas would be much appreciated until I get it to the dealer I bought it from.

[05GMCZ71]

No ideas at this point. If you had a trusted mechanic look at it and he could not find anything I am going to have to say GM is gonna probably have a hard time figuring it out as well. Sounds like the typical slip yoke clunk of the early GMT-800 years where greasing the yoke or simply replacing it with the updated nickle plated yoke (which is what has been put on the trucks since 04 I believe) was the fix.

 

 

OK this sucks new truck with only 900 miles on it 2011 Sierra 4x4 5.3. I have a driveline clunk when I slow down then accelerate again. It does not happen when I start from a stand still after stopping. It's a pretty good (bad) clunk that sounds and feels horrible driver and passengers both hear and feel it and does it everytime I have to slow then give it gas to get going again. If I am super (and I mean very lightly) easy on the gas sometimes it won't do it or not as bad, but doing that is dangerous when you need to get through an intersection or something like that to have to almost idle through it to not have it happen. Any ideas? I had my local mechanic ( alot closer than going to the dealer right now) check it out on his lift because it sounded like a bad u joint but everything looked good, he even lubed the output shaft spline/yoke for me with Dexron VI as per the updated GM bulletin about the bump/clunk occuring after stopping etc. I asked him to do this because I had an older GM truck that needed this done from time to time but the lube did nothing for this truck. Any ideas would be much appreciated until I get it to the dealer I bought it from.

[Stevens03]

I test drove a truck that had it. Simple fix. Just pack the slip yoke splines with grease and the noise will go away. Better yet, take it to the dealership and let them fix it.

[Zeke]

I test drove a truck that had it. Simple fix. Just pack the slip yoke splines with grease and the noise will go away. Better yet, take it to the dealership and let them fix it.

You can't use grease on the 4x4 slip/spline joint anymore GM says the grease is not compatible with the fluid in tranny transfer case. We lubed it with Dex VI just as the latest released GM bulletin advises and it did not help so it's probably not the same problem. I just drove my friends 2011 he bought his a week after mine same engine 4x4 etc and his is fine. just looking to get a few ideas before I head off to the dealer

[Stevens03]

Well, I don't understand how putting grease on the spline would cause any harm, but if thats what GM says,.... well I guess you go with that. Hopefully the dealership can fix you up.

[Doug_Scott]

Could this possibly be just the trans downshifting to low gear, and the engine is "flaring" up to match speeds? When in low gear the trans free wheels on deceleration (as opposed to how it behaves when you select 1 with the shifter) and the engine will be at idle speed as you slow, when you step on the gas, the engine will ramp up in speed to match the speed the vehicle is going, and will do this with little to no load to slow it down. The end result is a jerky feeling as the engine speed matches vehicle speed. In my truck with the blackbear tune it is really noticable when I make the slow speed turn at the bottom of my street.

[Zeke]

Could this possibly be just the trans downshifting to low gear, and the engine is "flaring" up to match speeds? When in low gear the trans free wheels on deceleration (as opposed to how it behaves when you select 1 with the shifter) and the engine will be at idle speed as you slow, when you step on the gas, the engine will ramp up in speed to match the speed the vehicle is going, and will do this with little to no load to slow it down. The end result is a jerky feeling as the engine speed matches vehicle speed. In my truck with the blackbear tune it is really noticable when I make the slow speed turn at the bottom of my street.

I don't think so but that is possible I guess, this 6 speed sure feels strange compared to my 07 4 speed. but I don't know why my friends 2011 does not do this . I know the dealer will mostly likely check it for any codes and if none are found they will most likely say that's just how it is, I'm definitely bringing in to have it looked at though.

[mfennema]

Its the slip yoke issue that others have stated. I have it on my truck and if you put grease on it, it goes away. I know that GM tells you to not do it anymore, but they just started saying that the grease wasn't compatible about a year ago or so. The problem with the Dexron is its not viscous enough to stay on the splines and gets slung off right away after you put it on. Sorry I don't have any idea how to fix it other than the grease.

[c0boy]

I recommend calling GM customer service. They have been really helpful with my problem on my new truck. They also speak directly to the dealer. Its good to have a case number on file for anything in the future.

[BigScitesMoney]

my 2011 silverado 1500 does the same thing and it has 1100 miles on it!! i was really starting to think my tranny was going out already! Im a little partial as my 06 avalanche fully went out at 62000 miles and i traded it in because of it getting this truck that now feels the same way! AND i DO mean feels the EXACT same! i was told that is just what it does dropping from v8 to v4, but i dont believe that because i can see on the dash its still in v8 mode.

[Zeke]

my 2011 silverado 1500 does the same thing and it has 1100 miles on it!! i was really starting to think my tranny was going out already! Im a little partial as my 06 avalanche fully went out at 62000 miles and i traded it in because of it getting this truck that now feels the same way! AND i DO mean feels the EXACT same! i was told that is just what it does dropping from v8 to v4, but i dont believe that because i can see on the dash its still in v8 mode.

It's not because of it going into 4 cylinder mode, here is a test you can do to prove that... Put the truck in manual mode and put it into "5 th gear" and it will not go out of 8 cylinder mode my friend told me he tried it and it works. I tried it and sure enough it will only go up to 5th gear and will stay in 8 cylinder mode and it STILL clunks in 8 cylinder mode when slowing then accelerating. The only thing I noticed that will stop it is when it's above 40 mph it will not clunk when slowing and braking as long as you don't go below 40. Not normal that's for sure I don't care what GM says or what my dealer might say I'm not going to put up with it, really makes a new truck feel cheap and takes away that feeling of owning a solid vehicle. I'm calling my dealer on Monday.

[Zeke]

Its the slip yoke issue that others have stated. I have it on my truck and if you put grease on it, it goes away. I know that GM tells you to not do it anymore, but they just started saying that the grease wasn't compatible about a year ago or so. The problem with the Dexron is its not viscous enough to stay on the splines and gets slung off right away after you put it on. Sorry I don't have any idea how to fix it other than the grease.

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I understand the viscosity of the Dexron being way too thin to make much of a difference. The only thing is that when I had this similar problem on older GM trucks there was a clunk on takeoff and a bump that was almost felt from behind after coming to a complete stop and this 2011 does not do that, that's why I am thinking it's related to something else on this 2011. Also right after I lubed with Dexron VI it was absolutely no different, I would think it would take care of it even partially for at least a few hundred feet or so but there was no change at all. The grease would be a last resort, I see some folks that had the spline greased on some 2010s before the updated bulletin from GM came out, not sure what will happen if it's not compatible.

[Z45]

Well, I don't understand how putting grease on the spline would cause any harm, but if thats what GM says,.... well I guess you go with that. Hopefully the dealership can fix you up.

Subject: Do Not use Slip Yoke Grease from Bulletin #09-04-17-002C on 4WD Vehicles

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GM Customer Care and Aftersales

 

 

*URGENT - DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY*

 

 

DATE: November 4, 2010

SUBJECT: Do Not use Slip Yoke Grease from Bulletin #09-04-17-002C on 4WD Vehicles.

MODELS: 2007 – 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Series

 

2008 – 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban, Tahoe 1500 Series

 

2007 – 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 Series

 

2008 – 2009 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL 1500 Series

 

Equipped with 4WD (RPO NQG, NQH)

 

TO: Chevrolet/GMC Dealers

ATTN: Service Manager and Parts Manager

 

A new grease, part # 19257121 (in Canada, 19257122), was recently released for lubrication of slip yoke splines to repair a condition of a bump feel or clunk noise at stop or from launch on the vehicles equipped with 4L60 Automatic Transmission (RPO M30) and 2WD. Please see Bulletin # 09-04-17-002C for details.

 

Do not use the new grease for lubrication of slip yoke splines on 4WD vehicles. The output shaft in a 4WD transfer case does not have a grease retainer to keep the grease from migrating into the transfer case and mixing with the fluid inside. The new grease is not compatible with the Automatic Transmission fluid used in the transfer case and can cause damage if mixed. Lubricate the splines on 4WD vehicles with Automatic Transmission Fluid, P/N 88861003 (in Canada, 88861004). Please refer to Bulletin # 09-04-21-003B for repairing the bump feel or clunk noise condition on 4WD vehicles.

[Z45]

I found this

 

 

Note: The clunk noise may also be due to fuel movement in the fuel tank when not completely full. If the condition is eliminated after filling the fuel tank, the noise is isolated to the fuel movement in the tank. Please make no repair attempts, as this noise is considered an operating characteristic.

[Zeke]

Well, I don't understand how putting grease on the spline would cause any harm, but if thats what GM says,.... well I guess you go with that. Hopefully the dealership can fix you up.

Subject: Do Not use Slip Yoke Grease from Bulletin #09-04-17-002C on 4WD Vehicles

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GM Customer Care and Aftersales

 

 

*URGENT - DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY*

 

 

DATE: November 4, 2010

SUBJECT: Do Not use Slip Yoke Grease from Bulletin #09-04-17-002C on 4WD Vehicles.

MODELS: 2007 – 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Series

 

2008 – 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban, Tahoe 1500 Series

 

2007 – 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 Series

 

2008 – 2009 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL 1500 Series

 

Equipped with 4WD (RPO NQG, NQH)

 

TO: Chevrolet/GMC Dealers

ATTN: Service Manager and Parts Manager

 

A new grease, part # 19257121 (in Canada, 19257122), was recently released for lubrication of slip yoke splines to repair a condition of a bump feel or clunk noise at stop or from launch on the vehicles equipped with 4L60 Automatic Transmission (RPO M30) and 2WD. Please see Bulletin # 09-04-17-002C for details.

 

Do not use the new grease for lubrication of slip yoke splines on 4WD vehicles. The output shaft in a 4WD transfer case does not have a grease retainer to keep the grease from migrating into the transfer case and mixing with the fluid inside. The new grease is not compatible with the Automatic Transmission fluid used in the transfer case and can cause damage if mixed. Lubricate the splines on 4WD vehicles with Automatic Transmission Fluid, P/N 88861003 (in Canada, 88861004). Please refer to Bulletin # 09-04-21-003B for repairing the bump feel or clunk noise condition on 4WD vehicles.

 

Thanks ...This is the Bulletin I saw a while back and I see it's dated NOV 2010 and that's why I my trusted mechanic used Dexron VI and NOT grease I don't want to wipe out or damage my transfer case on top of this clunk.. I'm sure GM did not release this new update for the fun of it.