Shake or Vibration Issues

Enforcer · January 1, 2016

Stiffer is not always better with truck frames, some degree of frame flexing is actually desirable - maybe they should go back to more flexible C channel (not fully boxed) frames and softer body mounts.

Exactly !

Like my, '69 C-20, '73 C-20, '80 C-10, 97 K-1500, '04 K-2500 & My '14 Ram 1500

rshad · January 1, 2016

Apparently many still believe that only a few people have this vibration problem with their vehicles and that vast majority of these trucks are trouble free.

I think one of the main problems with some not saying anything is wrong might be because they don't reach the speeds needed to feel the vibrations so they don't even know if they have it or not. As for me I also get them at 46mph but they are definitely worse at 65mph.

Badass69 · January 1, 2016

Stiffer is not always better with truck frames, some degree of frame flexing is actually desirable - maybe they should go back to more flexible C channel (not fully boxed) frames and softer body mounts.

My 2013 F150s had fully boxed chassis's.... they don't vibrate... but then neither does my 2015 Silverado that I have really noticed. All Ford half tons are boxed frames so I really don't see that as an issue... if they don't vibrate then these shouldn't be either.

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Edited January 1, 2016 by 1994Vmax

20L8TSierra24 · January 1, 2016

anyone else here notice the rear axle isn't lined up with the body 100%? I noticed when putting on my mudflaps the right rear tire sits farther towards the rear by about a fingers width. Wonder if that has anything to do with alignment issues with the rear end?

I was behind another CC truck and axle wasn't square with the truck today.. It was an LTZ z71 and the RR tire was sticking out past the fender on the right side and the LR was way underneath. It also looked like there was a wobble or side to side movement from the LR from behind.

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SDH3BLK · January 1, 2016

Update on my end. Just drove around on a couple different freeways at speeds ranging from 60-80mph in San Diego. For me it depended on the freeways I drove on, up to 80mph smooth as glass and others a slight shake but nothing terrible (no free way was extremely smooth either). I tried taking a video focused on a water bottle to try and gauge the vibration at different speeds and different freeways, not sure if it communicates it as well as I wanted.

This probably is not a popular opinion here, but I see this as a none issue (to me), some of the shaking I experienced is something I can live with and does not catch my attention unless I'm looking out for it. I personally believe it is caused by certain road conditions and the fact that the back end is light with no payload or anything being towed. At the end of the day it is a truck, and this is expected to me, I'm actually very impressed with the how smooth it actually is. Now maybe some of you do truly have a very big issue where it is truly shaking more than normal based on the explanations I've read, maybe I was just lucky. Who knows? Defiantly seems some people have something off on their trucks, whatever it is, I just hope you guys get some answers.

I talked to a couple of my friends that both have 14' F-150's and asked them if they experience any shaking/vibration and they quickly responded 'yes' and even called out a freeway that I experience the slight shaking as well. so it's deifiently not just GM trucks. If anyone has questions on my experience let me know, happy to answer.

jeffziss · January 1, 2016

I calculated that I should have been offered roughly 45-46k at a minimum, and I would have accepted that just to get out of this thing. I came to that by taking the MSRP, deducting the incentives, then deducting a full year of depreciation even though the truck was less than a month old with about 700 miles on it..... there was no chance in h*ll I would ever accept 32-35k for it. Now I'm suing GM instead of dealing with this bullsh*t, I have the 3 required repair attempts I need, I have documentation of fraud, I have documentation of deceptive practices, among other things. I am NOT letting them screw me on this.

The first dealer I went to clearly stated "we don't want your truck". The second dealer started at $32,000 for my 2016 with 600 miles on it. They (Toyota dealer) called over to an affiliate Chevy dealer to see what they would write a check for. After that phone call, they came back to me with a price of $38k. Keep in mind that my truck had a sticker of just under $53k and it was a 16 so they weren't offering 25% off, I paid $49k. I finally got the dealer to $42k and I took it. Take this $7k hit + the hit i took on the '15 they took back (GM gave a $5k trade in allowance via some special code).

On my '15, I tried two sets of tires and a set of aftermarket wheels. This is my own fault, so I don't even count that $3,500 as I was just stubborn and thought maybe I could solve it on my own as the answer from the installer was "it's within GM spec" was just frustrating the heck out of me.

Now, in my free time, I update my very basic website of dontbuyasilverado.com I can proudly say, with the help of this forum, we have stopped almost 20 people from purchasing '15 or '16 Silverados. I know that these couple of dozen deals are peanuts for GM but I can account for them losing more money than I have. I will continue to update the website with forums, online articles and videos of what the vibration looks like. At some point, I will either move on or GM Customer Service will offer me a reimbursement of what I lost and I will sell them the domain

Happy New Year!

Homer650 · January 1, 2016

I think one of the main problems with some not saying anything is wrong might be because they don't reach the speeds needed to feel the vibrations so they don't even know if they have it or not. As for me I also get them at 46mph but they are definitely worse at 65mph.

Funny you say this! When I started having this problem, I called my dad and asked him to call his dealer who is a small dealership in farm country to ask him if he's had any problems. He was told by his dealer that he sells a lot of Silverado's due to it being cattle country and he's never had a customer complaint. The very next day the dealer received a phone call from a customer who drove to the "city" and was on interstate and his truck shook him to death. My dad's dealer called my dad right away who in return called me. I think there are many more of these trucks out there with the problem but people don't live in areas that allow them to get to the interstate speeds of 70+.

Front Runner · January 1, 2016

I think one of the main problems with some not saying anything is wrong might be because they don't reach the speeds needed to feel the vibrations so they don't even know if they have it or not. As for me I also get them at 46mph but they are definitely worse at 65mph.

I think there are many more of these trucks out there with the problem but people don't live in areas that allow them to get to the interstate speeds of 70+.

I just got back from a 1300+ mile trip with 99% driven at interstate speeds. No issues. 10K miles on my truck.

The first dealer I went to clearly stated "we don't want your truck". The second dealer started at $32,000 for my 2016 with 600 miles on it. They (Toyota dealer) called over to an affiliate Chevy dealer to see what they would write a check for. After that phone call, they came back to me with a price of $38k. Keep in mind that my truck had a sticker of just under $53k and it was a 16 so they weren't offering 25% off, I paid $49k. I finally got the dealer to $42k and I took it. Take this $7k hit + the hit i took on the '15 they took back (GM gave a $5k trade in allowance via some special code).

That's what all dealers do in regards to late model trade-in's. Especially those less than a year old. They simply don't want them in most cases, except for rare cars. They low ball on trade-in's because they wanna make money on them by selling them higher.

Update on my end. Just drove around on a couple different freeways at speeds ranging from 60-80mph in San Diego. For me it depended on the freeways I drove on, up to 80mph smooth as glass and others a slight shake but nothing terrible (no free way was extremely smooth either). I tried taking a video focused on a water bottle to try and gauge the vibration at different speeds and different freeways, not sure if it communicates it as well as I wanted.

This probably is not a popular opinion here, but I see this as a none issue (to me), some of the shaking I experienced is something I can live with and does not catch my attention unless I'm looking out for it. I personally believe it is caused by certain road conditions and the fact that the back end is light with no payload or anything being towed. At the end of the day it is a truck, and this is expected to me, I'm actually very impressed with the how smooth it actually is. Now maybe some of you do truly have a very big issue where it is truly shaking more than normal based on the explanations I've read, maybe I was just lucky. Who knows? Defiantly seems some people have something off on their trucks, whatever it is, I just hope you guys get some answers.

I talked to a couple of my friends that both have 14' F-150's and asked them if they experience any shaking/vibration and they quickly responded 'yes' and even called out a freeway that I experience the slight shaking as well. so it's deifiently not just GM trucks. If anyone has questions on my experience let me know, happy to answer.

Great points. This.....

pm26 · January 1, 2016

My 2013 F150s had fully boxed chassis's.... they don't vibrate... but then neither does my 2015 Silverado that I have really noticed. All Ford half tons are boxed frames so I really don't see that as an issue... if they don't vibrate then these shouldn't be either.

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You can make a fully boxed frame less stiff just the same. Using C channel is actually a cheaper way to build a frame.

Edited January 1, 2016 by pm26

Badass69 · January 2, 2016

You can make a fully boxed frame less stiff just the same. Using C channel is actually a cheaper way to build a frame.

Fords big ploy is how stiff the chassis is compared to a competitors c channel frame. They do a comparison by strapping the frame down and hanging weights off the corners and measuring twist... the f150 hardly moves... like less than an inch with x amount of hundred pounds and the Tundra twists like a pretzel as it will being a regular old c channel. Either way.... Unless the frame is significantly thinner, which it isn't, they are a rigid chassis truck and they don't vibrate in any mass amount anyhow. Mind you I have yet to find someone with a 2014+ GM complain of vibration in real life and I work around a fleet of about 50 of them at any given time.... I own a 2015 Tundra that one of my employees drives.... and it's no gods gift to trucks.... personally when i drive it compared to my last 2013 Ford and this new Chev its outdated junk lol. But it doesn't vibrate and unless it costs me a bunch of money in repairs she can continue with it... I have not seen the truck since August and couldn't care less lol.

I just don't think the fact the GM trucks frames are boxed is the root to why they vibrate when other manufacturers can do the same thing and have no issues.

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Edited January 2, 2016 by 1994Vmax

tnchevy · January 2, 2016

Funny you say this! When I started having this problem, I called my dad and asked him to call his dealer who is a small dealership in farm country to ask him if he's had any problems. He was told by his dealer that he sells a lot of Silverado's due to it being cattle country and he's never had a customer complaint. The very next day the dealer received a phone call from a customer who drove to the "city" and was on interstate and his truck shook him to death. My dad's dealer called my dad right away who in return called me. I think there are many more of these trucks out there with the problem but people don't live in areas that allow them to get to the interstate speeds of 70+.

I take it you along with some others have decided to not read this thread from the beginning. It sucks you have the vibration problem but the % of people with the problem in reality is very low. I have talked to dozens and dozens of silverado owners (mainly at gas stations on the interstate) and I have not had one of them say they have a vibration problem on the interstate. There is also been more than one thread on here asking who has the problems with their trucks and the majority responses are positive with no problems. My truck vibrated at 72 mph but after a re-balance of the tires it is now nearly gone and it is about the same as my F150 work truck and my Jeep at the same speeds. If you have a problem then that sucks but don't assume that everybody else does just to make yourself feel better. If you are not happy with your truck the only real solution is to trade/sell it, take the hit, and go with another brand of vehicle.

Front Runner · January 2, 2016

Does anyone have an idea of many owners have the abnormal vibration problem on this site/thread?

This thread is over 2 years old and has 453 pages/6700+ posts but many people have posted numerous times.

591 different members have posted. Top 20 account for 38% of the replies.

Shakes/vibrations definitely a bad problem for those that have them but no one really knows how wide spread keeping in mind that hundreds of thousands have been sold.

LongrangeLauber · January 2, 2016

When I get to my laptop let me add a poll stating if you have these issues or not. You can only reply once to it, so that will give us a better idea of how many members have it, maybe fellow k2 owners who don't have the issue will come in and click no and then we can all compare, based upon our membership on this website, the percentage of us who have the issue or not. Not sure why I didn't think of that in the first place lol

tonygxp · January 2, 2016

When I get to my laptop let me add a poll stating if you have these issues or not. You can only reply once to it, so that will give us a better idea of how many members have it, maybe fellow k2 owners who don't have the issue will come in and click no and then we can all compare, based upon our membership on this website, the percentage of us who have the issue or not. Not sure why I didn't think of that in the first place lol

may i request that you add a sub poll asking speed and location of vibration eg steering wheel or seat cushion etc? and also one of the descriptions should describe "unsettled" at highway speed. i still think many of those vibrations are really just the chassis feeling unsettled between say 70 and 80 or so. that could easily be communicated to us or a tech improperly.

Edited January 2, 2016 by TonyAllTerrain