Shake or Vibration Issues

AgDoctor · October 15, 2017

I’ve just fixed my vibration issue by unloading my shaking squeakerado. I wish all of you still suffering with these issues the best of luck. It’s clear to me that GM has zero desire to rectify this issue and they have lost a customer for life.

I love the Jeep. I have never seen those wheels on one but they are really nice!

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lloydsmale · October 15, 2017

13 hours ago, gbdweller said:

I’ve just fixed my vibration issue by unloading my shaking squeakerado. I wish all of you still suffering with these issues the best of luck. It’s clear to me that GM has zero desire to rectify this issue and they have lost a customer for life.

ive got a 2015 jk 2 door willys. Had many jeeps in the past but this new one is light years ahead of the older ones. If chev improved the silveado as much since 2006 as jeep has the wrangler they would be the only truck sold in the country! Only saving grace to all this bs and all the time my truck has sat at the shop is I still have the jk to drive. Its got 36k on it and hasn't been in for anything but oil changes.

Dmf10e · October 15, 2017

On 10/13/2017 at 9:48 AM, 6sigma said:

I agree with this. If every post on every page of this thread was a new, distinct person with a vibration problem, it would only represent something like .003% of trucks sold. And we know much of this thread is information, not actual new people with the problem. There clearly is a problem but it is not as prevalent as this focused problem discussion may make it seem.

My 15 double cab had the vibration which was resolved with tightening the stock leaf U bolts and a good RFB. My 17 is smooth as glass and the best truck I've owned so far.

I wonder if GM made some small changes, or perhaps improvements in quality control for key parts like axles, diffs, gears, wheels, etc to reduce the likelihood of a vibration in the 17s. It is possible that earlier years parts were not being manufactured to meet all required specs (small deviations that may have passed QC or testing, but still enough to cause a vibration). GM may have smacked their vendors and tightened up QC and/or actual tolerances/specs. Who knows - purely speculation, but the problem seems to be less on the 17s. In fact, this thread has slowed down quite a bit recently and there are relatively few 17s reporting in here versus earlier years.

Did you tighten the bolts to a specific spec number? And what does RFB stand for?

wsk3 · October 15, 2017

Truck axle production moving back to the expensive US from cheaper Mexico. Been wondering since these posts if product quality was the reason for this change.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20170116/OEM01/170119817/gm-to-invest-%241-billion-in-u.s.-manufacturing-move-axle-work-from

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2017/01/450_new_gm_jobs_coming_to_mich.html

BC87 · October 15, 2017

I'm sure it has to be more than 1%. What about the guys who say they test drove several vehicles on a lot and they all do it to some extent. I happen to have some weird shuddering and tranny shifting thing going on and I find out this problem exists, sure enough first time I get up to those speeds it has major vibration. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't closer to 5-10%

lloydsmale · October 16, 2017

probably even more then that. Keep in mind that the people on here on mostly enthusiasts. Probably a higher percentage have some mechanical knowledge then joe blow off the street. I wonder how many shake and its wrote off to bad roads or some mechanic has said it was normal or people riding around with it thinking its there tires and they will live with it a bit longer till there wore enough to replace. Keep in mind too that my truck really only did it past 65 and a good many truck drivers don't drive there trucks that fast. Lots of work trucks farm trucks and grandpa trucks that don't even see a highway often and when they do there driven 55. Even at 65 you had to pay attention with mine to feel it and it seemed to almost come and go. Now drive it 70-75 and it was real noticeable. Id bet half the shaker that chev made are in the hands of soccer moms and other people that don't even pay attention to there vehicle when they drive it. My neighbor just told me of a typical mom. His daughter bought a new jeep grand Cherokee two years ago and it has 27k on it. He asked her when she last changed oil and she said its never been changed. She said the check oil light came on so she checked the oil and it looked good so she reset it. do you think she noticed a slight vibration or a slight noise. To busy texting. years ago truck were mostly bought by men who needed them. Up here now theres one it about every driveway be it a farmers or a doctors.

6sigma · October 16, 2017

21 hours ago, Dmf10e said:

Did you tighten the bolts to a specific spec number? And what does RFB stand for?

The torque number was posted in this thread somewhere, I think it was 90 ft-lbs but you should check that first. RFB = road force balance. My tires were not badly out of balance but enough to contribute to the problem. Like I said, on that 15 those two things cleared it up and it was 99% smooth. My 17 has not had any vibrations at all.

As has been discussed here at length, the likely scenario is that the frame is so stiff that certain vibrations resonate in the frame, at certain frequencies. Apparently, there are many things that can setup the 'frame beaming' resonance. Wheels out of balance, axles, driveshafts, transmission components, basically any rotating element that is out of balance/round enough to create an energy wave that then begins to resonate in the frame. That's why RFB works for some people and not others, or new tires, or new axles, etc. Also explains why there is no fix from GM - there isn't a single thing they can do to fix it. They can and do troubleshoot common triggers but the source may be different from one truck to the next. Many trucks don't have the problem at all.

6sigma · October 16, 2017

On 10/13/2017 at 10:28 AM, Snoringbear said:

Noticed your handle is 6sigma and your comments refer to small deviations, tolerances, etc.. Just curious if you might work for Motorola (now Freescale)? You seem knowledgeable in statistical process control as am I. My theory about the root cause of the Chevy Shake is not the various individual parts or components are out of tolerance as due to automation, computerization and SPC being used to control these tolerances outgoing quality across the industry continues to improve. I believe the villain is the frame. GM made the decision to make the K2 frame stronger and more rigid so to improve ride quality, quietness, etc, which was a good idea. however, the end result is that under certain conditions when certain parts, sub assemblies, etc, when certain tolerances align just right the Chevy Shake is created. There have been a few other posters on this thread who have I believe correctly labeled the problem as "frame beaming" which I think accurately describes what's happening. What's interesting is that from what I've read the new 2019 platform will be even stronger and more rigid than the current frame. But, it's my guess that GM has done a ton of research and testing on this and my expectation is that the 2019 will be "smooth as a gravy sandwich". But, what do I know. Guess we shall see ...

I don't work for Motorola, but have studied quality a bit. I don't work directly in automotive, but am close to some people that do. I know enough about component build to think that out of spec components could be a big part of this problem. Sometimes, two or three levels into a supply chain, part manufacturing QC isn't the best.

I agree with you that the next gen truck will very likely have this vibration problem resolved. I heard that the new trucks that were shown at some recent dealer conferences look really good and there are apparently some really innovative features. We will see!

8lugCT · October 16, 2017

On 10/14/2017 at 5:05 AM, lloydsmale said:

I talked to him and he said his truck didn't shake. Two days later he came up to me and said it did. He said after I told him about mine he started paying more attention and had never noticed it before. I think that is the case with a lot of them.

LOL if he didn't notice it until you said something, I doubt it's what others are experiencing

Patriot78 · October 16, 2017

Hey guys I have the rumble strip affect when decelerating around 25 mph. If I throw the truck in neutral and slow down the rumble doesn't happen...yo8 think torque converter??

Buckem · October 17, 2017

Had my '16 GMC in for numerous issues. They did the TCM upgrade for the 8 speed and that seems to have helped the searching for gears but they blew off my vibration issue and blamed it on tires or possibly the upgrade may solve the problem. Half mile down the rode felt vibration. Mine occurs on acceleration and the rpm's jump about 200. Steering wheel vibrates but can feel in the seat too. Explained this before I dropped the truck off but apparently the dealer didn't notice this. Totally thinking this is the torque converter but what do I know.

lloydsmale · October 17, 2017

14 hours ago, 8lugmafia said:

LOL if he didn't notice it until you said something, I doubt it's what others are experiencing

If my wife would have bought my truck she would never have said a word. Its shake plain and simple. May not be as severe as some have but NO vibration is expectable in a 45,000 dollar truck. Ive had chevs new since the early 70s and NONE of them had shake unless the tires were out of balance. Don't care how mild the shake is. Eventually its going to cause premature wear of some component in the truck. One of my main points is not everyone is mechanically inclined. Ive seen people drive cars and trucks with rod knocks that didn't even notice. Because your truck doesn't have it or you choose to buy into GMs bs that theres an acceptable limit to the vibration doesn't mean myself or someone else is going to stand for it. Theres something wrong here plain and simple. If there wasn't Gm wouldn't have gave me an extended warrantee. Only thing different between me and some others is I stood up to the dealership and said it was unacceptable at any level. There also wouldn't be a class action suit if it were only a handful of trucks effected. The problem is REAL. Stick your head in the sand or try to belittle others for complaining if you want. that's just what corporate GM and the major stock holders are hoping you will do.

Edited October 17, 2017 by lloydsmale

Severado · October 17, 2017

Eventually we'll all find what makes this situation better. Fix, trade, etc...

lylknutsak · October 17, 2017

19 hours ago, Patriot78 said:

Hey guys I have the rumble strip affect when decelerating around 25 mph. If I throw the truck in neutral and slow down the rumble doesn't happen...yo8 think torque converter??

If its an 8 speed it could be the torque converter. If its the 6 speed probably the AFM. Could be the case with the 8 speed as well.

Patriot78 · October 17, 2017

1 minute ago, lylknutsak said:

If its an 8 speed it could be the torque converter. If its the 6 speed probably the AFM. Could be the case with the 8 speed as well.

Sorry should be specified, it's a 6 speed, I have a range afm module so I can try and see if that makes a difference but I'm pretty sure when I was using it before it made no difference