Brought It In For Slip Yoke Clunk...

[agrats84]

So I've been hearing the clunk for the past few weeks and decided it was time to bring it in. I asked them just to grease it since it is still under warranty and this is the first issue I am having with it. Well... the service guy came into the waiting room after about 35 minutes and said "we couldn't replicate the sound and there is not a grease fitting for the slip yoke so we just greased everything else that we could. Let's hope that fixes it. Oh and by the way we are waiting on a new tire from another dealership that should be here in about 25 minutes because we popped your front passenger side while bringing it down off of the lift."

 

 

So I actually spent earlier all day researching tires because I'm going to need a new pair soon. I told him it sucks for them to replace the tire as I was going to replace them soon anyway (probably in another 5-6K), but hell I got a new tire out of it and they should fix the problem they created. I asked him about all new tires of a different brand and size but they didn't have any and could only get the one I needed immediately. Oh well

 

Is this true about the slip yoke? Do they have to take the whole thing apart to grease it? I'm just waiting for that first clunk and then it will be right back there asking for the nickel-plated one.

[Stevens03]

Most likely you already have the nickel plated slip yoke. What needs greased is the slip yokes spline. You need to drop the drive shaft and the part that slides into the transmission, you pack the inside spline with grease. Grease doesn't compact, so it takes up the slack that causes the "bump" feeling. You can do it yourself in about 10 minutes.

 

Later service bulletins say not to do that but to use transmission fluid on the shaft but thats not going to stop it. The grease does

[Ape0r]

+1. Just undo the four bolts holding the C-clamps to the pinion and slip 'er out. Use green marine grade grease, lasted a few years when I greased mine with that.

 

That was at 40k. Now I have 135k and its clunking away, but now my truck is almost 8 years old and I don't give two shits if it clunks all day! I am too bitter about the taxes on new vehicles in CA to ever replace my 2004. Def not trading it for a smaller vehicle either, too fun to jerk stuck subarus out of snowbanks on the way to tahoe!!

[jimbrown1]

Not to jack the thread but the dealer greased my yoke today, as well as replaced some body mounts and greased the rear springs based on the most recent TSBs. You would think GM would correct this issue but the finance guys are probably saying it's not a safety issue so let's hold out and only correct on a case by case basis.

 

 

I told my service guy that if I had known they were going to perform the other stuff (i.e. body mounts, grease rear springs) I would have had the guy install a body lift kit.

[4wd]

Guys, I had this clunk for sometime, the grease worked for sometime which confirms the slip yoke/drive-shaft assembly is the problem...Now what the heck is going on??? I have replaced the complete camshaft but the clunk is still there and I can feel now more than ever, but not at all as harsh as it used to be!.. it's only a matter of time.

[Z45]

There is a service bulletin out there that states you should only grease splines of 2wd driveshafts. 4x4 models should not be greased because there is no provision to stop the grease from migrating into the ATF fluid in the transfer case, contaminating it and later causing the TC to fail or be damaged by the grease.

 

 

I have had '99, '01, '04, '08 and now a '10 4x4 e.cab truck and never had any drive line clunk what-so-ever. Wonder why some do and some don't?

[4wd]

There is a service bulletin out there that states you should only grease splines of 2wd driveshafts. 4x4 models should not be greased because there is no provision to stop the grease from migrating into the ATF fluid in the transfer case, contaminating it and later causing the TC to fail or be damaged by the grease.

 

 

I have had '99, '01, '04, '08 and now a '10 4x4 e.cab truck and never had any drive line clunk what-so-ever. Wonder why some do and some don't?

 

 

Then it must be something else...

[SparkySparks]

My '08 had the clunk bad, they tried greasing it twice. The third time I took it in they ordered a new slip yoke. They said the old one looked like it the splines were miss shaped and that was the cause. New slip yoke installed around 18k miles, I now have 40k on the truck and so far no clunk.

[canadiantowman]

I took my truck in for this and told the dealer about the slip yoke, they said they would figure it out. first they replaced the u-joints and the noise was still there, they called me and told me to p/u the truck and the parts where on order. took it back the next day and asked them what they where going to do and they told me they where replacing the rear driveshalft . go figure

[ffthornton]

Mine is the same thing, took it in for driveshaft clunk the first time and they greased it. The second time they orderd the part. The guy who works on mine is a friend of mineq and said the part discription was shaft. So he thought they had to replace the whole drive shaft. Well the part came in and it ended up being a output shaft for the transfer case. He said in all the cases he has seen in the last 4 years he has never replaced the output shaft.Who knows.

[4wd]

Mine is the same thing, took it in for driveshaft clunk the first time and they greased it. The second time they orderd the part. The guy who works on mine is a friend of mineq and said the part discription was shaft. So he thought they had to replace the whole drive shaft. Well the part came in and it ended up being a output shaft for the transfer case. He said in all the cases he has seen in the last 4 years he has never replaced the output shaft.Who knows.

 

I replaced the output shaft!..

[dewfpo]

I'm starting to get a sharp jolt on downshifts going up hill and wondering if it's the slip yoke binding or if the center bearing bushing on the 2 piece driveshaft has too much play. Only have 14K miles on my '05 2500HD.

 

DEWFPO

[4wd]

I'm starting to get a start jolt on downshifts going up hill and wondering if it's the slip yoke binding or if the center bearing bushing on the 2 piece driveshaft has too much play. Only have 14K miles on my '05 2500HD.

 

DEWFPO

 

that's about the time when you start to notice something is wrong....

[Z45]

fyi...........

 

 

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.