Shake or Vibration Issues

Jesse Davidson · October 3, 2015

Well I stopped into my local dealer today to thank the service manager for the assistance in battling with district manager and GM with me and to also get my 30 day check-up for the new truck.

Service manager states he has told GM and been advised the same, that the body and engine mounts need to be changed in order to quell most vibration problems. GM states they won't do so because then they have to redo crash testing and whatever else...I was shocked! I guess not really but to hear that come from his mouth and think of the 6 months / 1 year of WAR I went thru with my truck just floored me. I ran, they'd rather HOPE the issue doesn't arise than fix it properly. He also said since I've been in there, he has has a lot more trucks coming in for the same issue....

Sent from my iPhone

2016's aren't changed at all; aside from cosmetics.

Sent from my iPhone

I was told that they were "quietly" redoing the from end to repair/ mask the problems

guess I may as well file the lemon law now and push for a cash buyback, considering it will NEVER get fixed.

Edited October 3, 2015 by Jesse D

Aaron1085 · October 4, 2015

In my humble opinion....id battle it out and then wait until stuff is actually changed. Hopefully 2017

Sent from my iPhone

abominable z71 · October 4, 2015

They will probably just keep selling them heavily discounted until they redesign the whole truck which is supposedly 2018/19. GM has known about the issue since the summer of 13 when they released the 14 models and instead of fixing the issue with the frame being a tuning fork for vibrations, they just set the trucks up from the factory to minimize the vibrations, When I was checking the hubs and other things for run out I noticed they already had paint marks on them from the factory marking the maximum run out. My guess is they set up the tolerances to cancel one another and minimize vibrations. I think this would explain why the vibrations don't show up til after the truck has some miles on it, or the tires get rotated. In the pic, you can see a red line that was already on the hub that matches the max run out I measured. The whole bolt circle is offset from the center by .010". The frames just transmit any slight imperfection into the cab. Tolerances that would typically not be felt in the previous model trucks are felt in the K2XX platform. They need to figure out the correct place to add some dampers to the frame and mitigate the vibrations that way they don't have to mess with the body mounts themselves and worry about the crash test qualifications.

longhorn_cop · October 5, 2015

So, an update. Since my'15 GMC CC SLT was road forced 2 weeks ago by GM for the vibration, ive had minimal vibration. Its there but much lighter. Still enough to piss me off. I have a question though do the guys who have added lifts and aftermarket tires/wheels have the vibration also, or just us with stock tires/wheels? I have the 22" stock ck163s.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OmahaBen · October 5, 2015

Update on the process. The second dealer that has had my truck checked the axles for runout on the axle ends, the backlash in rearend and the driveshaft for runout. None have any issues. They did check the backlash on every single tooth of the ring gear.

However I did hear from the service advisor today.

They did find that that preload on the pinion bearings is not correct. They said that they will probably end up rebuilding the rearend because there was almost no preload on the pinion bearings.

Also both of my rear shocks are completely dead.

We will see what happens from here...

To be continued....

Talked to my buddy that works at this dealer at today. Later Friday evening he got the update.

The rear shocks have been replaced. They are going to put in new bearings and a ring and pinion in the rear differential.

The GM engineer that has been overlooking my case has ordered 4 new tires for the my truck.

We will see if any of these solve the issue.

I really hope to get to the bottom of this because I have always been a GM guy and want to help others get their vibrations worked out too.

I knew that buying the first year out of a new model could have issues but I did not expect this.

Plus if I get a buy back I really don't want to go

OmahaBen · October 5, 2015

In my humble opinion....id battle it out and then wait until stuff is actually changed. Hopefully 2017

Sent from my iPhone

I am a GM guy and all of my vehicles have been GM. If they can't get my issue fixed and they do a buy back. Unless the deal on a new truck is beyond good I probably would not buy another GM 1500 truck at this time. I am looking at doing an ecoboost ford if I get a buy back. This is a very sad time.

abominable z71 · October 5, 2015

So, an update. Since my'15 GMC CC SLT was road forced 2 weeks ago by GM for the vibration, ive had minimal vibration. Its there but much lighter. Still enough to piss me off. I have a question though do the guys who have added lifts and aftermarket tires/wheels have the vibration also, or just us with stock tires/wheels? I have the 22" stock ck163s.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My vibration is actually worse with aftermarket tires. I think that the problem is runout and the aftermarket 10 ply tires I have are much less forgiving for the runout in the hubs. Les schwab went through 8 tires to find a set of 4 toyo at 2s 285/65r18 on fuel wheels that all road force balanced 9 lbs or less but the vibration is still there. If you get a good quality 4 ply tire you may have better luck, I'm considering trying a set of nitto terra grappler g2's in 4 ply. The load rating on the goodyear SRA's is 2400 lbs per tire and the toyo's is 3300 lbs per tire I think the stiffer construction makes them less forgiving of the runout.

14silverado4.3 · October 5, 2015

If the issue is body mounts, are aftermarkets available?

ziemer · October 5, 2015

Got mine back on Friday with 3 new GY SRA's and drove it into work today and I think it's worse than before. The point in which the vibration is at it's worst has expanded to 70-80 mph and is more evident over the entire speed range.

Will be callin the dealer back this morning for try #3.

EastCoast HD · October 5, 2015

They will probably just keep selling them heavily discounted until they redesign the whole truck which is supposedly 2018/19. GM has known about the issue since the summer of 13 when they released the 14 models and instead of fixing the issue with the frame being a tuning fork for vibrations, they just set the trucks up from the factory to minimize the vibrations, When I was checking the hubs and other things for run out I noticed they already had paint marks on them from the factory marking the maximum run out. My guess is they set up the tolerances to cancel one another and minimize vibrations. I think this would explain why the vibrations don't show up til after the truck has some miles on it, or the tires get rotated. In the pic, you can see a red line that was already on the hub that matches the max run out I measured. The whole bolt circle is offset from the center by .010". The frames just transmit any slight imperfection into the cab. Tolerances that would typically not be felt in the previous model trucks are felt in the K2XX platform. They need to figure out the correct place to add some dampers to the frame and mitigate the vibrations that way they don't have to mess with the body mounts themselves and worry about the crash test qualifications.

So you measured ten thousandths runout (.010").

What is the acceptable range?

Mcarlo24 · October 5, 2015

Got mine back on Friday with 3 new GY SRA's and drove it into work today and I think it's worse than before. The point in which the vibration is at it's worst has expanded to 70-80 mph and is more evident over the entire speed range.

Will be callin the dealer back this morning for try #3.

What is up with the service Departments giving the Truck's back to the customers without curing the issues and in your and many other cases, making them worse... What did they tell you when you picked it up?

Edited October 7, 2015 by Mcarlo24

67ChevyRedneck · October 5, 2015

I am a GM guy and all of my vehicles have been GM. If they can't get my issue fixed and they do a buy back. Unless the deal on a new truck is beyond good I probably would not buy another GM 1500 truck at this time. I am looking at doing an ecoboost ford if I get a buy back. This is a very sad time.

I wouldn't be so quick to jump to Ford either. We bought my wife a brand new 2011 Mustang which has an aluminum hood, it's exploded with rust around the edges. Supposedly Ford has known about it for 10+ years and refuses to fix most cars, there's several class action law suites against them. Google "mustang hood rust" and enjoy hours and hours of reading. I started the thread below, pics are on the last page. Ford refused to fix my car because it wasn't rust through and it was past 3 years, so no way was I going to spend 40K on an ALL aluminum F150.

http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/general-discussion-non-vintage-mustang/880890-not-happy-ford-quality-6.html

So that brings me to my current Piece of Shit.

I've owned GM trucks for 19 years. My first was a 67 C10 (still have it) and most recently a 2000 Z71 I bought used but drove for almost 11 years. Best vehicle I've ever owned.

From what I've read on here, I thought GM had taken care of the issue with the 2015's. Maybe I'm just unlucky.

I bought a 2015 DC 5.3L 3.08 Z71 on July 31st. Was an awesome vibration free truck for about 500 miles (or +/- 3 weeks.)

Mine *feels* like it's the transmission (or when it shifts). It started with the 3-4 shift, as a slight buzzing vibration when it shifted between 40-45mph. I figured it was just a quirk and wasn't bad. It stayed like that for about a month until I took the truck on a trip through the smokies in TN and that's when the vibration monster began. It started getting worst on the 3-4 shift and with +/-2600 miles on the truck now and has spread to the 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4 shift. It has also begun doing it going up hills in 4th at certain rpms.

I've been working on classic cars for years. I'm pretty decent at figuring out vibrations.

I am 100% convinced mine has nothing to do with the tires and/or suspension. It's a "buzzing" vibration you feel in the floor and gas pedal (you don't even feel it in the seat, at least not yet). V4 or V8 mode doesn't matter. It seems to be limited to shifts and hills at certain RPMs (around 1500-2000). I was hoping it was the TC or pump some people had issues with, but the shift pressures all came back good on the test drive. If it is harmonics, I hope someone comes out with a softer rubber motor/trans/body mounts.

Took it to the dealer. Went for a test drive. Bastard would not say he felt a vibration (good training) but they wanted to "take a further look, just to be sure everything is OK." They had it for a day, did some 4wd and brake bolt update, said they took it on a test drive and "could not replicate the issue."

I'm considering that strike 1 towards lemon law.

The "good" news? is that it seems to get worse weekly, they can't deny it forever?

It's getting to where I hate driving this truck. I'd be driving my 67 right now if I wasn't in the middle of a suspension drop.

Oh, and take away the vibration, this was the most awesome truck I've ever driven, for 3 weeks.

Edited October 5, 2015 by 67ChevyRedneck

14silverado4.3 · October 5, 2015

I was crawling around the truck this weekend.

I noticed 2 things that I would say contribute to harmonics.

1. The driveshaft is hollow and aluminum.

2. The transmission mount is not soft rubber, it felt like hardened plastic.

67ChevyRedneck · October 5, 2015

I was crawling around the truck this weekend.

I noticed 2 things that I would say contribute to harmonics.

1. The driveshaft is hollow and aluminum.

2. The transmission mount is not soft rubber, it felt like hardened plastic.

Drive shafts have always been hollow and as best I can remember, GM has been using the aluminum shafts since at least the GMT800s (my 2000 Z71 had one.)

That's one of the reasons I never use poly mounts in my classic toys. Old cars shake and vibrate, but it's usually just felt at idle, but if you add stiff poly mounts to the suspension and engine/trans you feel the vibrations even more and could add vibration to the drive, so I keep my old stuff rubber.

I drove my 65 mustang +/-3500 miles on the Hot Rod Power Tour this year... that car has less vibration while driving than my 2015. Sitting at a light is a different story, but driving along is smooth.

Edited October 5, 2015 by 67ChevyRedneck

Jesse Davidson · October 5, 2015

I was crawling around the truck this weekend.

I noticed 2 things that I would say contribute to harmonics.

1. The driveshaft is hollow and aluminum.

2. The transmission mount is not soft rubber, it felt like hardened plastic.

Drive shafts have always been hollow and as best I can remember, GM has been using the aluminum shafts since at least the GMT800s (my 2000 Z71 had one.)

That's one of the reasons I never use poly mounts in my classic toys. Old cars shake and vibrate, but it's usually just felt at idle, but if you add stiff poly mounts to the suspension and engine/trans you feel the vibrations even more and could add vibration to the drive, so I keep my old stuff rubber.

I drove my 65 mustang +/-3500 miles on the Hot Rod Power Tour this year... that car has less vibration while driving than my 2015. Sitting at a light is a different story, but driving along is smooth.

Exactly right, I had attorneys find this as the cause about 2 months ago, now that someone else has said it, I can say it. The issues with these trucks as mentioned a page or 2 ago is all of the mounts, engine, body frame, transmission etc. they will not be fixed, if you are here because you want the vibration fixed, I highly suggest suing or filing lemon law with an attorney or the BBB, because again, they will NEVER be fixed.