Shake or Vibration Issues

[PMurray]

'14 Sierra dble cab 5.3 Texas Edition (3.42 rear). 40 - 50 mph vibe fixed when new by replacing the rear end (r8ng gear way out of specs).

18 months, 22,000 miles mostly Midwest (max.70 mph) driving, no issues. Now feeling variable 70 - 80 smooth road vibe traveling in S.W. U.S. If I hadn't gone outside of MN I wouldn't have found this! Welcome me to the miserable...!

[jmckeone]

Unless you are in a Ram Laramie the interiors are a not great. Really hasnt been updated in quite a while. SLT/Big Horn isnt bad but the Express trucks are horribly cheap inside. If it had the dual exhaust, I thnk all hemi trucks have them now, they are pretty loud inside. Some do complain of the gas pedal/floor vibrations but that never bothered me.

 

Nothing is perfect.

Yea it was a Big Horn package with dual exhaust, laramie was out of my price range. It sounds mean and you def know there is a hemi in there but a bit too much for daily driving.

[southern_sierra]

and what size bed with the CC? the 6.5ft bed with a CC appears to NOT be mentioned often in this thread from my observation. at least for the 75 mph and up vibration.

 

just drive back to NJ from poconos and this time with a 225lbs passenger and 100lbs rear passenger (both sat on right side of truck, front and rear) maybe 30lbs of cargo in bed and gas less than 1/2 tank and at first on route 33 traveling at 75-80 was non existent then out of the blue maybe 15 minutes into ride it just started up and this time didn't change anywhere over 75 until 90 and change (down big hill no traffic and wanted to see IF it would go away).. i just don't get it... other times during the trip didn't matter new pavement, uphill downhill just comes and goes.

 

when i got home i was able to check my left rear wheel and the two marks are still in the same spot so that tire isn't slipping on rim, the others i couldn't find the darn mark on the ground i'll check tomorrow... I did notice that the right front wheel (which was the only one they changed weights on even though the repair order says ALL were rebalanced??) weights are all over the rim? like one 1/4oz inside then a foot or so another 1/4oz on the outside then a strip of over an ounce inside then another strip outside... what the heck is that? HAS TO BE INCORRECT. i've not noticed it since i brought it in on 12/31..

 

the repair order is in this thread but not on this computer so i cannot link it.

 

scratch that.. found it.. zoom in on it and read... i'll post a pic of the inside of the wheel they rebalanced i would love to hear from someone who specializes in road force balancing to let me know if the weights all over wheel signals a problem.

Ever since I tightened my rear axle u-bolts which where not very tight to begin with and loosened all the cab mount bolts and re-tighten them, my Vibration is gone that I had between 75 and 85. I have put about 700 miles on the truck since. When I tightened the u-bolts I did so until they felt like they were starting to twist or feel resistance, that way you know their tight. Just thought I would share this maybe it would help yours.

Edited January 18, 2016 by southern_sierra

[polarys425]

Ever since I tightened my rear axle u-bolts which where not very tight to begin with and loosened all the cab mount bolts and re-tighten them, my Vibration is gone that I had between 75 and 85. I have put about 700 miles on the truck since. When I tightened the u-bolts I did so until they felt like they were starting to twist or feel resistance, that way you know their tight. Just thought I would share this maybe it would help yours.

Did you use a torque wrench on the cab bolts? If not, how tight did you go with those?

[southern_sierra]

Did you use a torque wrench on the cab bolts? If not, how tight did you go with those?

Did not use my torque wrench. Used a 1/2 pull handle and tightened as tight as i could.

[Snoringbear]

"15 w/5.8 SB, spray in liner and hard tonneau cover, 5.3 Z71 LTZ. Been shaking since day 1 at 72+"

 

Sorry to hear that. Didn't mention it above but mine is a 4x4 as well but not a Z71. So, guess the only difference is with the Z's stiffer suspension, differentials, and your tonneau?

 

I just happened to wander into this site while searching for other information a couple months or so ago. And, being a new owner kinda became interested in what the root cause(s) may be. The problems and their subsequent solutions are so varied it's impossible to focus on one problem as "the problem". But, I do see some possibilities; some appear just normal new vehicle problems of a wide variety of causes which is why nobody has come across a primary issue to go after. Some problems appear to be on vehicles that have been tinkered with such as lifts, oversize wheels and tires, etc. lastly, I'm wondering if road surfaces are causing some of the vibrations? I know that here in the Dallas Metroplex road surfaces, especially those fairly new, are concrete and thereby have expansion strips about every eight feet and have horizontal or squiggly traction grooves in the surface. The traction grooves are not very deep but they appear only about an inch apart and thereby transmitt a small amount of hormonic vibration into a vehicle. I've felt it in virtually every vehicle I've ever rode in. Could some of these problems be cause by road surface? Just wondering....

[Snoringbear]

"If it had the dual exhaust, I thnk all hemi trucks have them now, they are pretty loud inside"

 

Yeah, that's by design. I live in Dallas/Fort Worth area and have noticed that the primary demographic driving these hemi's seem to be kids, urban Cowboys you might say. And, usually the first thing they do is work over their exhausts to make them louder which is ok, I was young once too, lol! And just a side note that has nothing to do with vibration; the current version hemi is a hemi in name only. It's no more a hemi than the current GM 5.3 or 6.2 engines. In fact, both the Ram Hemi and GM new V-8's are more akin to the old sixties/seventies Ford 429 semi-hemi and Chevy porcupine 396/427 engines. Not saying there's anything bad about the current hemi as its a strong engine for sure. But, it's not the ground shaking twin rocker arm per head beast that made Richard Petty the King. That engine was discontinued sometime during late seventies early eighties I think. Just saying

[Snoringbear]

"Ever since I tightened my rear axle u-bolts which where not very tight to begin with and loosened all the cab mount bolts and re-tighten them, my Vibration is gone that I had between 75 and 85. I have put about 700 miles on the truck since."

 

I looked up the torque specs on the cab mount bolts and if I read correctly its 52 lbs. Seems like tightening as tight as one can would run the risk of crushing the cushion mount or bushing. And, doing so would increase the possibility of vibration transfer between cab and frame not reduce it. By the way, most lug nuts are spec'd to be torqued to about 90 lbs +/- a little. If you're tightening "as tight as you can" you're probably achieving 90 lbs or more, depending on leverage used and your strength.

[tonygxp]

Ever since I tightened my rear axle u-bolts which where not very tight to begin with and loosened all the cab mount bolts and re-tighten them, my Vibration is gone that I had between 75 and 85. I have put about 700 miles on the truck since. When I tightened the u-bolts I did so until they felt like they were starting to twist or feel resistance, that way you know their tight. Just thought I would share this maybe it would help yours.

thanks brother. i am actually bringing my truck tp my friend's shop today to do some experimenting and with your experience i am going to attempt to duplicate your success. i want nothing more than to NOT think to myself "is it doing it AGAIN?" will report back.

 

ps i am or was i'll try your resolution first, put my rear axle on his mustang load bearing awd dyno (wb is too long to put whole truck on it)

[14silverado4.3]

Does anyone know GM spec torque for the cab mount hydraulic bushings? I have heard now anything from 90 pounds to 52....

 

I had mine at 90 pounds and felt everything in the road..

 

Backed down to 75 pounds and feels much better

 

But really what are they supposed to be from the factory?

[Homer650]

"15 w/5.8 SB, spray in liner and hard tonneau cover, 5.3 Z71 LTZ. Been shaking since day 1 at 72+"

 

Sorry to hear that. Didn't mention it above but mine is a 4x4 as well but not a Z71. So, guess the only difference is with the Z's stiffer suspension, differentials, and your tonneau?

 

I just happened to wander into this site while searching for other information a couple months or so ago. And, being a new owner kinda became interested in what the root cause(s) may be. The problems and their subsequent solutions are so varied it's impossible to focus on one problem as "the problem". But, I do see some possibilities; some appear just normal new vehicle problems of a wide variety of causes which is why nobody has come across a primary issue to go after. Some problems appear to be on vehicles that have been tinkered with such as lifts, oversize wheels and tires, etc. lastly, I'm wondering if road surfaces are causing some of the vibrations? I know that here in the Dallas Metroplex road surfaces, especially those fairly new, are concrete and thereby have expansion strips about every eight feet and have horizontal or squiggly traction grooves in the surface. The traction grooves are not very deep but they appear only about an inch apart and thereby transmitt a small amount of hormonic vibration into a vehicle. I've felt it in virtually every vehicle I've ever rode in. Could some of these problems be cause by road surface? Just wondering....

 

Where I live the interstate is turnpike so you have to pay to get on which makes for a better surface. It's smooth blacktop which I drive almost daily in my Chevy Traverse and it's smooth as glass. There is a section of interstate going into the city that is concrete and my truck bounces so bad on it my 5 year old thinks the inflection in her voice is funny (which of course I find irritating...not my daughter but the bouncing made by the truck). My F150 I traded for this Silverado never bounced like this truck does. My F-150 was a FX4 so it had the stiffer suspension. Other than the spray-in bed liner and the tonneau cover, my truck is all factory. No lifts, factory tires (2nd set).

[Homer650]

Just hit the "send" button and my dealership called and said my new drive shaft is on and the truck is "smooth" above 70. Headed to pick it up and take it for a drive. I'll report back shortly. Fingers crossed.....

[hotrodz37]

Does anyone know GM spec torque for the cab mount hydraulic bushings? I have heard now anything from 90 pounds to 52....

 

I had mine at 90 pounds and felt everything in the road..

 

Backed down to 75 pounds and feels much better

 

But really what are they supposed to be from the factory?

The hydraulic bushings are 122 ft lbs, from the gm service manual. I actually went out this morning and loosened them and tightened back to 122 and going to see if it helped settle them some. I also torqued the u bolts to 95, I think spec is 78 but that seems too loose to me so I will adjust accordingly.

 

 

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[LongrangeLauber]

The hydraulic bushings are 122 ft lbs, from the gm service manual. I actually went out this morning and loosened them and tightened back to 122 and going to see if it helped settle them some. I also torqued the u bolts to 95, I think spec is 78 but that seems too loose to me so I will adjust accordingly.

 

 

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The way these trucks shake you torque to 95 and it'll vibrate itself loose to 78 in a few weeks lol

[hotrodz37]

The way these trucks shake you torque to 95 and it'll vibrate itself loose to 78 in a few weeks lol

Isn't that the truth lol. My biggest dilemma is, no matter where I drive on the highway, the ride is smooth for the first 5-10 miles, then it starts shaking. Just trying to figure out what would change? I know psi goes up as the tires get hot but no matter what psi I keep them at it still does it. What else could heat up and or change after a bit of driving? So frustrating and puzzling.

 

 

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