Shake or Vibration Issues

Leevon · February 19, 2018

Well, my truck went in for the first round with 1500 miles on it, vibration since new. Vibration from 70-80 (worse at 75) and a "washboard" vibration slowing from 30 to stop. They road force balanced and said both concerns were fixed...yeah...okaaay. Round 2!

Houston · February 22, 2018

Well I'm a new owner of a 2014 sierra slt crew cab with 67k miles. I also am experiencing vibrations like most of you are. I am planning on swapping the shocks on this truck with some bilstein 4600s to see if that'll help or fix the problem. Could any of you lead me to the right part number so I don't order the wrong set. Thanks in advance and glad to be a part of the group.

keysgmc · February 22, 2018

My 2016 SLT Crew Cab started the shudder at 20,000 miles. Before that, no issues at all. Took it to the dealer who told me in plain English that it was an issue with the original fluid used in the torque converter breaking down. Explained that they would have to flush the torque converter 3 times, replace the fluid with a new hi performance type and do some computer re-programming. Drove 400 interstate miles the next day and the truck is like new again. It was handled under warranty and here is the actual wording from my service invoice: "Torque converter shudder, check as per DOC 4526930 RN PICO found 28 HZ shudder. As per DOC perform ECM/TCM update and fluid exchange and setup. Trans operating as designed. Trans in learn mode next 2-500 miles" From all the horror stories about this issue that I had read I thought I was going to be starting the process for a Lemon Law claim. I seem to have come across a dealer that knew exactly what to do. May not be the fix for everybody but it sure worked for me.

Houston · February 22, 2018

Also looking at my leafs it appears that they aren't exactly straight. I'm new to vehicles with leaf springs so I'm not sure if that could cause the slight vibration I'm seeing at different speeds.

kthomas72 · February 22, 2018

17 minutes ago, keysgmc said:

My 2016 SLT Crew Cab started the shudder at 20,000 miles. Before that, no issues at all. Took it to the dealer who told me in plain English that it was an issue with the original fluid used in the torque converter breaking down. Explained that they would have to flush the torque converter 3 times, replace the fluid with a new hi performance type and do some computer re-programming. Drove 400 interstate miles the next day and the truck is like new again. It was handled under warranty and here is the actual wording from my service invoice: "Torque converter shudder, check as per DOC 4526930 RN PICO found 28 HZ shudder. As per DOC perform ECM/TCM update and fluid exchange and setup. Trans operating as designed. Trans in learn mode next 2-500 miles" From all the horror stories about this issue that I had read I thought I was going to be starting the process for a Lemon Law claim. I seem to have come across a dealer that knew exactly what to do. May not be the fix for everybody but it sure worked for me.

Is your truck a 5.3 6 speed or a 6.2 8 speed?

keysgmc · February 22, 2018

6 minutes ago, kthomas72 said:

Is your truck a 5.3 6 speed or a 6.2 8 speed?

5.3, 6 speed

kthomas72 · February 22, 2018

4 minutes ago, keysgmc said:

5.3, 6 speed

That's good news for me. I only saw the TSB for the 6.2 8 speed. Been to the shop 5 times, built a new driveshaft, replaced rear axles, 3 sets of shocks, 3 sets of wheels and tires etc. You just gave me a little hope.

Bart’s Silverado · February 23, 2018

Was there actually anything wrong with the rear differential? I seem to have all the vibrations cured except for one I think is coming from the rear diff or axle shafts.

Snoringbear · February 23, 2018

20 hours ago, Houston said:

Well I'm a new owner of a 2014 sierra slt crew cab with 67k miles. I also am experiencing vibrations like most of you are. I am planning on swapping the shocks on this truck with some bilstein 4600s to see if that'll help or fix the problem. Could any of you lead me to the right part number so I don't order the wrong set. Thanks in advance and glad to be a part of the group.

Thinking about this shock too. I’m on 4 Wheel Parts mailing list so receive their catalog periodically. I talked to their local shop recently and was informed this is the correct shock for my truck considering want I want to achieve (smoother ride) and being it is stock and has no lift. Price quoted was $96.99 front, $79.99 rear ea. Total drive-away price, parts, labor, taxes, extended warranty was $864.33. Seemed kinda pricey to me. But, it’s been a looong time since I did a DIY shock replacement. How do these prices seem to you.

Houston · February 23, 2018

8 hours ago, Snoringbear said:

Thinking about this shock too. I’m on 4 Wheel Parts mailing list so receive their catalog periodically. I talked to their local shop recently and was informed this is the correct shock for my truck considering want I want to achieve (smoother ride) and being it is stock and has no lift. Price quoted was $96.99 front, $79.99 rear ea. Total drive-away price, parts, labor, taxes, extended warranty was $864.33. Seemed kinda pricey to me. But, it’s been a looong time since I did a DIY shock replacement. How do these prices seem to you.

The $864.33 seems steep to me for extended warranty aswell. I'm going to try some spring clamps on the leaf springs and see if it helps any and if not I'll pull the trigger on a set of 4600s

Snoringbear · February 24, 2018

Yeah, agree, appears steep to me too. I think there’s about three or four hours of labor in their calculation which seems excessive for a trained tech working on a vehicle up on a lift. But, like I said, it’s been several decades since I’ve done a DIY on shocks. And, I’m not starting again, lol! About the spring clamps, I guess I don’t understand the theory behind them. It seems to me that clamping the leafs down tight and compressing them against each other would make them even more rigid and thereby cause the truck to ride even rougher. But, I believe I’ve seen in this thread posters who’ve claimed it works. So, what do I know, nada! Let us know how it goes for you. If it improves your ride I might give it a try.

kthomas72 · February 26, 2018

On ‎2‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 4:28 PM, Bart’s Silverado said:

Was there actually anything wrong with the rear differential? I seem to have all the vibrations cured except for one I think is coming from the rear diff or axle shafts.

The rear axle hub flanges were out of round on my truck. You will need to pull of your wheels and brake rotors, spin the driveline and film your rear axles moving out of round and side to side. I took my video to Chevrolet and showed it to them, they started to tell me what a defective vehicle it was until I told them it was one of their trucks. Then they gladly replaced the axles, bearings, etc...

Strubee1 · February 27, 2018

Bought my 2015 Silverado in Aug 2015. From the first day ,my truck had the shaking issue. I was told the tires had flat spots from sitting and that it will go away after I drove it awhile. Never did. I was told the 20" wheels do shake on these. Not true!. Was told it was the Continental tires. Went through Continental's hoops, and they blamed the alignment of the truck.So back to the dealer. They put it on a quick check alignment machine out front,and said its good. After 39000 miles and two and a half years of BS, I had enough. I looked on line and found GM complaint number and filed a case on the shaking.They had a GM consultant that works for the dealership ,work with me all day changing out wheels and tires and taking it for several rides. He put it back on the quick alignment machine out front again,and told me it was out a little but was within GM specs. When he printed out the alignment page I noticed it was barely within specs. In fact the camber in each wheel was at opposite ends of the spec.I had them do an alignment and no more shake. Even with the worn out tires the truck doesn't shake.Be forceful if you have to but make them check the alignment in the shop, NOT OUT FRONT, and ask for the print out of the alignment to see how close it is to spec. After two and a half years, it worked for me, maybe you have the same problem. When I ask why it took so long to find. The GM consultant told me, under warranty work, the technician is only allotted 3/10 of a hour ( about 18 minutes) to trouble shoot a problem. GM only reimburse the dealership the allotted time, unless they find a problem. Then GM will pay for the repairs. If the dealership goes over the allotted time,and doesn't find a problem, the dealership has to eat the bill.Something no dealership wants to do, so they tell you they can't reproduce the problem and give it back to you.The fight over who pays the labor cost is between GM and the dealerships, and the vehicle owner gets screwed.Either by not fixing the vehicle, or trying to make you pay for the bill, even though you have a warranty.

Bill Reinhardt · February 28, 2018

EDIT: Just got off the phone with my local GMC dealership service center. Stated that shaking at speeds in excess of 75+ mph has been found to be the nature of the fully boxed frame unloaded. He told me he drives a 2015 Sierra 1500 with the same symptoms and searched high and low for a solution when he first got the truck. Found out that placing weight in the back resolves the issue. Has anyone tried this?

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

2014 Sierra 1500 5.3L 4x4 3.42 w/ 49,500 miles

Jeeze. Just got my truck a few weeks ago and noticed the shake at speeds in excess of 75mph.

Lots of pages on this topic, lots of reading!

So far, the only solutions I can find are:

Driveshaft balance
Spring clamps
New shocks (Rear only? Seems to only cover the actual problem)
Torque converter (seems to apply to the 8-speed only)

I may be missing a few others, but I would love some sort of sticky that summarizes the solutions that have worked, and which engine/transmission/axle combinations it works for. Feel free to PM me your year, engine, drive train, transmission, and axle because I wouldn't mind compiling this info for everyone.

Almost at 800 pages of information here, there must be a solution.

Edited March 1, 2018 by Bill Reinhardt
Added conversation with GMC dealership

KJS Sullivan · March 2, 2018

Kinda funny to say it effects a small amount of people in the same post as referencing an 800 page thread

Not sure where you guys came up with this small number of people thing

Well you got a point small numbers 800 Pages , yeah lots of problems. However, it seems like each truck has its own issues some other people share some other people don't experience and don't have the time or interest in helping anyone.

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