Shake or Vibration Issues

LongrangeLauber · January 18, 2016

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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All the fluids, but that's a given. Idk what's wrong with these trucks. I'm about to get new tires on my truck to get me through the winter and if that doesn't solve it I'll probably be going with either a gmt900 HD truck or a F250, both in diesel most likely

FogDucker · January 18, 2016

I could whip up an online form that could help us paint a picture. A quick online survey where the link could be shared and everyone could see the results. The next question then is, what information would be relevant/useful? What do y'all think of this:

Model Year [2015 or 2016]

Model [silverado or Silverado HD or Sierra or Sierra HD or Tahoe or Yukon or Escalade or Suburban or Yukon XL or Escalade ESV]

Pickup Wheelbase [regular or extended or crew]

Engine [4.3L or 5.3L or 6.2L or 6.0L or 6.6L]

Drivetrain [2wd or 4wd]

Wheel Size [18" or 20" or 22" or other]

Last 6 characters of VIN [textbox]

problem [vibration and/or buffeting and/or booming or none]

has reported to GM dealership [yes or no]

note [free form text box]

Done! Visit link below.

LongrangeLauber · January 18, 2016

Done! Visit link below.

Should probably include 2014's as well, plus bed length. And I'm not sure what link you're talking about, unless it's in your signature (I'm on tapatalk)

14silverado4.3 · January 18, 2016

Done! Visit link below.

Am I the first to complete the survey?

FogDucker · January 18, 2016

Should probably include 2014's as well, plus bed length. And I'm not sure what link you're talking about, unless it's in your signature (I'm on tapatalk)

2014's are included. The survey is mobile friendly. I didn't include bed length because it doesn't appear to be a factor. If consensus is that it's a factor, I can add it.

@14silverado4.3: You're the first pickup truck entry. Congratulations! ;)

The purpose of this survey is to put some better numbers around the percentage of trucks that have issues. The survey is open to *everyone*, including those with no vibration issues. It's 2 minutes of your time and can only help size up the issue(s) at hand.

LongrangeLauber · January 18, 2016

I believe I can add a new first post to this thread and I'll put the link and info about it in it. Thanks for the link!

southern_sierra · January 18, 2016

"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.

I said nothing about tightening lug nuts. I torque my lug nuts at 140 lbs as the manual states. Most all vehicles have different torque specs for wheels, my expedition is 150lbs and 4 Runner 83lbs. The factory torque on the axle u-bolts is not tight enough in my opinion. I have been pulling wrenches all my life, but thats just how I feel not to say you or anybody here should do that. As far as the cab mounts they will only tighten down to a point and thats it you can't move them any more, there is no give to them they are either tight or loose if you try it you will see what i'am talking about. One of the two has stopped my Vibration.

I also carry about 350 to 400lbs all the time with tool boxes so my vibration could have been affected different from a truck with no weight in the bed.

Edited January 18, 2016 by southern_sierra

southern_sierra · January 18, 2016

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)

Good luck

southern_sierra · January 18, 2016

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).

Its just the stock shocks, they are very bouncy on the highway at speed where the road has dips and stiff off road.

Edited January 18, 2016 by southern_sierra

Snoringbear · January 18, 2016

"I said nothing about tightening lug nuts"

You're right. You did not say anything about lug nuts. So, you got that correct. My comment was meant only as a point of reference.

Homer650 · January 18, 2016

Well so far so good! Picked it up today after they put a new drive shaft on it. Took it down the highway and out on the interstate. About a 50 mile round trip and so far so good!! Got it up to 85 and smooth as glass. No shaking anywhere. Had a bottle of water in the cupholder and it didn't bounce around anymore (had the same bottle at the same level in there since this started). Nothing in the seats, nothing in the floorboard and nothing in the steering wheel. My wife said she couldn't feel anything on the passenger side and she held the steering wheel as well and didn't feel it.

I will be traveling in it the next two days on the interstate and will put another couple hundred on it during that time. Keeping my fingers crossed they fixed it! I told them I'll call them back in a week and let them know either way.

hogfan72 · January 18, 2016

Took my 2015 Silverado in today for the 3rd attempt. First all they did was balance tires and state that was probably as good as it was going to get. Second time they replaced the drive shaft as it was out of balance. Again they stated that was probably as good as it was going to get. Now they are thinking the ring and pinion are out of variance. I did however get the service manager to admit that it does a distinct vibration that should not be there.......so I got that going for me.

DPetry94 · January 18, 2016

How bad is the vibration from most people? I don't think my truck vibrates bad, I can sometimes feel a little something, but it seems like it is just when I hit and incline in V4 mode before it kicks into V8. I don't know if it is just me or because it was -4 this morning, but it seemed to vibrate more.

hotrodz37 · January 19, 2016

Test drove an f150 today. Felt weird stepping onto a ford lot lol. Looks wise I think the gmc's/Chevys win. Interiors in the gm vehicles are nice but I was pretty impressed with the lariat and would say that takes the cake. Push button start is nice. The seats to me are far more comfortable in the ford. I drove a crew cab with the 5.0 and 3.55 rear end and the throttle tip in is 10x better than the Chevy and that thing flat out goes. The tailgate locks when you lock the truck which is also nice and the field of view is much less obstructed in the Ford. I never thought I would say this after being a die hard gm fan all of my life (28 years old now - all of my family drove gm vehicles and I have had 3) but the ford to me is a better vehicle. If I can get past the looks and the alum body there might be one in my driveway soon. I would love it if gm could figure this out but after this being my second vibrator for my sanity I might need to just get out of it and move on with my life.

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Edited January 19, 2016 by hotrodz37

tonygxp · January 19, 2016

Test drove an f150 today. Felt weird stepping onto a ford lot lol. Looks wise I think the gmc's/Chevys win. Interiors in the gm vehicles are nice but I was pretty impressed with the lariat and would say that takes the cake. Push button start is nice. The seats to me are far more comfortable in the ford. I drove a crew cab with the 5.0 and 3.55 rear end and the throttle tip in is 10x better than the Chevy and that thing flat out goes. The tailgate locks when you lock the truck which is also nice and the field of view is much less obstructed in the Ford. I never thought I would say this after being a die hard gm fan all of my life (28 years old now - all of my family drove gm vehicles and I have had 3) but the ford to me is a better vehicle. If I can get past the looks and the alum body there might be one in my driveway soon. I would love it if gm could figure this out but after this being my second vibrator for my sanity I might need to just get out of it and move on with my life.

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my tailgate locks... the 2016's do that now.

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.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

me too. and my friend's 15 Denali CC 6.2 as well. also my other friend's 15 LTZ CC 6.2 short bed with max trailer.. they all do it.. i'm convinced every last one.. and if your's doesn't? come on by, i'll take you on the hwy and point it out to you.. (only kidding if you don't notice it enjoy, you're the lucky one lol)

Well so far so good! Picked it up today after they put a new drive shaft on it. Took it down the highway and out on the interstate. About a 50 mile round trip and so far so good!! Got it up to 85 and smooth as glass. No shaking anywhere. Had a bottle of water in the cupholder and it didn't bounce around anymore (had the same bottle at the same level in there since this started). Nothing in the seats, nothing in the floorboard and nothing in the steering wheel. My wife said she couldn't feel anything on the passenger side and she held the steering wheel as well and didn't feel it.

I will be traveling in it the next two days on the interstate and will put another couple hundred on it during that time. Keeping my fingers crossed they fixed it! I told them I'll call them back in a week and let them know either way.

Glad to hear that please keep reporting back after each week or whenever you come back from an extended hwy drive..

I started a thread called "how to handle this" regarding my "shimmy" vibration whatever at 75mph or so...

I will say retightening the U bolts, the truck is nowhere near as bouncy as it was with the ranchos.. they were loose.. cab mount bolts were already tight as anything so doubt that helped... maybe next trick will be attaching another clamp 5" inches in front of the U bolts on the spring, read somewhere in here guys did it and it quelled much of the vibration/shimmy.