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Need Help Diagnosing My Front-end Troubles...

Silverado_Monkey

By Silverado_Monkey
in Ask A GM Technician

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Silverado_Monkey Enthusiast

Silverado_Monkey

Posted
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Hey Guys -

 

I need help diagnosing what the problem is with my front-end. The ride on my truck has gotten worse and worse over the last year, until now when I've found that it's super crappy. Any little bump, pot hole or imperfection in the road makes the truck shake and jump all over the road. The truck has just shy of 50K miles on it. I don't use the truck as a trade truck, but do load it up from time to time. I also don;t drive like Grandma Moses, but I don;t beat on it either. The truck is a 2006 1500 4x4 Z71.

 

Here's what I'm thinking:

 

Tie rod ends?

Shocks? (visibly rusty and nasty looking but no leaks)

Wheel bearings/hubs?

Anything else it could be?

 

Here's a little back story. Last year I was having issues with my ABS kicking on a slow speeds and it finally threw an ABS light. For good measure I replaced both ABS wheel sensors, and while I was in there, brake pads and rotors.

 

Now about a week ago I'm starting to get the ABS engaging again in reverse at slow speeds over uneven terrain.

 

The truck is great at highway speeds, no shimmy or shake at all unless I hit a bump or pot hole.

 

Question is, how do I pinpoint the problem?

 

Anybody have an insight, experience, or diagnostic test I can do?

 

Money is tight right now, (got another kid coming early next month) I'd rather not throw money out the window on parts I might not need...

 

Thanks!

B

Carder09 Senior Enthusiast

Carder09

Posted
Posted

You could go to a good tire shop that does front end alignment checks for free and ask if your tie rods are worn beyond adjustment, and could check the shocks and what not,

Silverado_Monkey Enthusiast

Silverado_Monkey

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You could go to a good tire shop that does front end alignment checks for free and ask if your tie rods are worn beyond adjustment, and could check the shocks and what not,

 

Thanks! Unfortunately, I'm yet to be impressed by any local tire shop/repair center in my area... I always leave thinking "Geez.... What an A-hole!" :-\

 

But that may be the ticket...

 

Anybody living in Fairfield county, CT or Northern Westchester County , NY know of a good, reputable place you can recommend? :cheers:

Silverado_Monkey Enthusiast

Silverado_Monkey

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You haven't altered the torching bars? Is the a-arm touching the min or max limiter(bumpstop)?

 

Nope, I haven't touched the T-bars, and nothing is sagging under there that I can see. Really the only nasty looking parts under there (appearance wise) seem to be the shocks. They're totally pitted with rust all over them, but when I do the "bumper stand" test, it doesn;t look like the body does any excessive roll... :cheers: Also, like I said in my first post the shocks are not leaking (yet).

 

Thanks for the responses guys... I appreciate it!

txab Senior Enthusiast

txab

Posted
Posted

Just because your shocks aren't leaking doesn't mean they might not be part of the problem. I know several people with '06 models that had the tie rods replaced under warranty due to excessive wear.

Silverado_Monkey Enthusiast

Silverado_Monkey

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Just because your shocks aren't leaking doesn't mean they might not be part of the problem. I know several people with '06 models that had the tie rods replaced under warranty due to excessive wear.

 

So are you saying it's probably both? :lol: I'm sure I'm out of warranty at this point...

 

Maybe I should replace the shocks first, and see where I am? Is there any particulatr test I can do other then jacking the truck up and looking for play when you "push/pull" at 12 & 6'oclock postitions? And if so, how/what?

 

Also, How do I rule out the wheel hubs? Are they noisy when they need to be replaced? Anything I can look for there?

 

Thanks again guys! I appreciate your time and expertise/experience! :cheers:

KMGZ400 Senior Enthusiast

KMGZ400

Posted
Posted

i would replace the tie rods. all 3 of my GMT800's have had the rods replaced around 100k, and when even just one is worn the steering becomes very sloppy

Beer Belly Enthusiast

Beer Belly

Posted
Posted
You could go to a good tire shop that does front end alignment checks for free and ask if your tie rods are worn beyond adjustment, and could check the shocks and what not,

 

Thanks! Unfortunately, I'm yet to be impressed by any local tire shop/repair center in my area... I always leave thinking "Geez.... What an A-hole!" :-\

 

But that may be the ticket...

 

Anybody living in Fairfield county, CT or Northern Westchester County , NY know of a good, reputable place you can recommend? :dunno:

 

I live in Fairfield County....moved from Westchester County. There is not one tire shop that I could find, that I would trust. However, I take my truck to Ingersoll Auto Group in Danbury Ct. and have been treated well. They were originally a Saturn Dealer, and bought out Danbury Chevrolet. I always thought the service we got from the Saturn line was great, and that has not changed since they changed to Chevrolet/Buick/Caddilac. When you pull in for even an oil change, the valet drives over a set of ramps, that give a quick look at alignment.

Silverado_Monkey Enthusiast

Silverado_Monkey

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i would replace the tie rods. all 3 of my GMT800's have had the rods replaced around 100k, and when even just one is worn the steering becomes very sloppy

 

 

Really, ok?! But then again, my truck only has 50K on it right now...I think at this point I have to go with a stage approach, I think I'm going to start with the shocks on all 4 corners, since I see alot of people on here complaining about the Z71 shocks going before 60K, if that doesnt clear it up Ill change the tierod ends, and go from there...

 

What do you think?

 

Thanks for the input!

B

ChevyTech77 Senior Enthusiast

ChevyTech77

Posted
Posted

Go find a friend that has a set of factory wheels and tires for your truck. Install them on yours and go hit the same road. Dollars to dougnuts the shake is way better if not completely gone. If it isn't, check the tie rods for looseness because the shaking probably loosened them up over time and replace the shocks.

Silverado_Monkey Enthusiast

Silverado_Monkey

Posted
  • Author
Posted
You could go to a good tire shop that does front end alignment checks for free and ask if your tie rods are worn beyond adjustment, and could check the shocks and what not,

 

Thanks! Unfortunately, I'm yet to be impressed by any local tire shop/repair center in my area... I always leave thinking "Geez.... What an A-hole!" :-\

 

But that may be the ticket...

 

Anybody living in Fairfield county, CT or Northern Westchester County , NY know of a good, reputable place you can recommend? :dunno:

 

I live in Fairfield County....moved from Westchester County. There is not one tire shop that I could find, that I would trust. However, I take my truck to Ingersoll Auto Group in Danbury Ct. and have been treated well. They were originally a Saturn Dealer, and bought out Danbury Chevrolet. I always thought the service we got from the Saturn line was great, and that has not changed since they changed to Chevrolet/Buick/Caddilac. When you pull in for even an oil change, the valet drives over a set of ramps, that give a quick look at alignment.

 

 

HAHA...

Rick - I'm in the exact same boat. I grew up in Yonkers, NY and moved up here to Danbury a few years back. I actually bought my truck at Danbury Chevy before they moved over to the Saturn building. I wasn't super impressed with them when they were at the old building the few times I had to bring the truck in for under warranty issues, but maybe that's changed since they're Ingersoll now...

 

Thanks for the input! Maybe i'll see you around town.... ;)

 

Bruno

Silverado_Monkey Enthusiast

Silverado_Monkey

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Go find a friend that has a set of factory wheels and tires for your truck. Install them on yours and go hit the same road. Dollars to dougnuts the shake is way better if not completely gone. If it isn't, check the tie rods for looseness because the shaking probably loosened them up over time and replace the shocks.

 

Thanks! I still have my stockers, I run them in the winter months. The truck drives slightly better but not much with them on, For sure stuff is worn out under there... Thanks, I think I can't go wrong by changing the shocks then going from there, I'll jack it up this weekend and check for looseness.

 

I appreciate it guys!

B

scottmoyer Enthusiast

scottmoyer

Posted
Posted

A few things that I found that could be an issue. Check the bumper bolts. I had a loose one on my truck and when I hit bumps, the bumper shook. That was one issue. The other was the shocks. Replace them with some good ones, don't go cheap and they'll last longer. I recently replaced my wheel hub assemblies. They had a slight grinding noise when spun, but the wheel had no up/down play. That helped. I had one replaced at 8k miles under warranty and now both at 100k.

 

I still have something that bounces around when I hit a man hole cover or speed bump that I haven't located. I just replaced the shocks again, so I know it isn't them. I'm going to look at motor mounts and bushings tomorrow. I'll find this if it kills me!!!!

Silverado_Monkey Enthusiast

Silverado_Monkey

Posted
  • Author
Posted
A few things that I found that could be an issue. Check the bumper bolts. I had a loose one on my truck and when I hit bumps, the bumper shook. That was one issue. The other was the shocks. Replace them with some good ones, don't go cheap and they'll last longer. I recently replaced my wheel hub assemblies. They had a slight grinding noise when spun, but the wheel had no up/down play. That helped. I had one replaced at 8k miles under warranty and now both at 100k.

 

I still have something that bounces around when I hit a man hole cover or speed bump that I haven't located. I just replaced the shocks again, so I know it isn't them. I'm going to look at motor mounts and bushings tomorrow. I'll find this if it kills me!!!!

 

Interesting... ok i'll have to get under there and do some more digging around. As for the shocks I was thinking Bilstein 5100s, apparently alot of guys on here had had good luck with them.... What do you think?

 

As for the wheel hubs, I'm wondering if something fishy is going on with them. I replaced the wheel sensors on both wheels last fall, and now ABS is starting to act up again intermittently. But I'll cross the bridge when I get to to. A mechanic friend I have told me to replace the hubs as a when I told him about the ABS acting up, he told me 90% of the time you end up having to do it, of course I didn;t listen and only did the sensors . Oh well... live and learn...

 

So after all your guys suggestions I think I'll get up under there and dig around. Replace the shocks, drive it for a while to see, Then replace the tierods next if necessary, then look at the hubs...

 

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

I appreciate it!

 

Scott - Good luck finding your noise! I feel your pain!

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