Rear leaf springs noise

CounterMeasure · May 5, 2015

My biggest issue was an intermittent clunk/pop accelerating from a stop and when decelerating with brakes. Originally, it was thought it was transmission, and GM replaced the tranny. I finally traced it to something in the rear driver's wheel area. I finally got GM reps involved, and their tech figured out it was the bolts that hold the axle to the leaf spring not torqued to spec. It allowed play in the axle. They torque the shit out of the bolts and problem is *almost* non-existent. Occasionally I get a slight thump, but it might be something else entirely.

enroberts · June 9, 2015

Here are two videos I took of the nose in my truck. I know this movement is excessive BUT the noise is there when moving especially when going over bumps while turning at slower speeds (like every time I pull into my driveway). I had the truck in after I shot these two videos and they "lubed my springs." The sound was gone for about a week and is now back more than ever...VERY annoying. I've owned countless trucks and GM vehicles and have never had to "lubricate the springs" nor does the manual indicate "spring lube" anywhere.

Tuscani922 · June 11, 2015

The video above is Exactly like my truck. At least I am not alone. I figured after reading this thread that lateral spring movement was the cause, based on how I was getting the noise, but I am not sure how to show them moving. Anyone able to recreate the noise and show or video the movement? I really noticed this issue after a crown treatment.

Silverado-Hareek · June 11, 2015

For what it's worth my truck used to do this and then it stopped. I have no idea why. I dunno if the shocks are bad maybe and it's changed the way the truck behaves but this noise used to occur anytime it was wet outside and now I can say it's been almost a year without a problem. Maybe the leafs just break in after a while? I dunno.

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BuiltFlintTough · June 11, 2015

Read the bottom of the springs " made in Mexico " I have the same problem.

enroberts · June 16, 2015

@ GM CUSTOMER SERVICE where are you?? I have an appointment (my 2nd trip for this issue) with my dealer (Turner Buick, GMC in New Holland, PA) again on Thursday. I will drop the truck off Wednesday night. It's VERY clear that there is a problem. greasing the springs doesn't cut it for me at all. I've owned literally COUNTLESS GM vehicles and trucks (in fact I have a 2012 2500 in my driveway next to my 2014) and NOT ONE of them have made a noise like this before over bumps or my shaking the truck! I can't even put down my tailgate or walk in the bed without the truck grinding, creaking, and groaning from the springs! This is ridiculous! My biggest problem? I have to go back to the dealer AGAIN for an issue that should've been resolved correctly during the first visit! If you can show me in the manual where regular maintenance of lubricating the spring pack is required I'll gladly do it every two weeks (that's how long the dealer "fix" lasted). I've read that manual front to back and trust me, it's not there! I'm happy to take more video of the issue if it helps but I'm pretty sure it's not required. Please help me by reaching out to Turner GMC and have them order new springs (and shocks if they think it would keep me from coming back for this issue or posting about it here again) BEFORE I drop my truck off Wednesday night. I've been down this road before...step 1: call dealer and have them tell you a tech needs to look at it (I get it, that's how it works, not blaming anyone here). Step 2: take truck to dealer and leave it to be looked at. Step 3: dealer calls and says (a)we greased the springs again and re-torqued the u-bolts (which I understand to be the wrong thing to do with u-bolts anyway) OR (b) we will replace the springs (and shocks?) BUT we don't have them in stock so we ordered them and they'll be in by Monday. Step 4: the parts don't arrive until Thursday of the following week and in the mean time, you've gone back to pick the truck up because, well, you spent almost $40,000 on it and you'd like to drive YOUR truck SOOOOO you have now made 3 trips to the dealer and back for this problem PLUS the 2 or 3 from the last visit for the same problem and now we are at around 6 total back and forth trips.... Step 5: drop the truck back off Friday after the dealer called Thursday to say the parts finally arrived (trip 7). Step 6: go BACK again and pick up the truck (trip 8) after the parts are installed. Step 7: pray the problem doesn't return! Let's work together, GM, to get this done in only 2 more trips!

GMCustomerService · June 16, 2015

@ GM CUSTOMER SERVICE where are you?? I have an appointment (my 2nd trip for this issue) with my dealer (Turner Buick, GMC in New Holland, PA) again on Thursday. I will drop the truck off Wednesday night. It's VERY clear that there is a problem. greasing the springs doesn't cut it for me at all. I've owned literally COUNTLESS GM vehicles and trucks (in fact I have a 2012 2500 in my driveway next to my 2014) and NOT ONE of them have made a noise like this before over bumps or my shaking the truck! I can't even put down my tailgate or walk in the bed without the truck grinding, creaking, and groaning from the springs! This is ridiculous! My biggest problem? I have to go back to the dealer AGAIN for an issue that should've been resolved correctly during the first visit! If you can show me in the manual where regular maintenance of lubricating the spring pack is required I'll gladly do it every two weeks (that's how long the dealer "fix" lasted). I've read that manual front to back and trust me, it's not there! I'm happy to take more video of the issue if it helps but I'm pretty sure it's not required. Please help me by reaching out to Turner GMC and have them order new springs (and shocks if they think it would keep me from coming back for this issue or posting about it here again) BEFORE I drop my truck off Wednesday night. I've been down this road before...step 1: call dealer and have them tell you a tech needs to look at it (I get it, that's how it works, not blaming anyone here). Step 2: take truck to dealer and leave it to be looked at. Step 3: dealer calls and says (a)we greased the springs again and re-torqued the u-bolts (which I understand to be the wrong thing to do with u-bolts anyway) OR (b) we will replace the springs (and shocks?) BUT we don't have them in stock so we ordered them and they'll be in by Monday. Step 4: the parts don't arrive until Thursday of the following week and in the mean time, you've gone back to pick the truck up because, well, you spent almost $40,000 on it and you'd like to drive YOUR truck SOOOOO you have now made 3 trips to the dealer and back for this problem PLUS the 2 or 3 from the last visit for the same problem and now we are at around 6 total back and forth trips.... Step 5: drop the truck back off Friday after the dealer called Thursday to say the parts finally arrived (trip 7). Step 6: go BACK again and pick up the truck (trip 8) after the parts are installed. Step 7: pray the problem doesn't return! Let's work together, GM, to get this done in only 2 more trips!

Hello enroberts,

I am sorry that you are having issues with the springs on your Sierra and understand how this can be frustrating. If you send me a private message with your VIN, current mileage, and contact information, I would be happy to reach out to the dealership on your behalf.

Kindest Regards,

Blair E.

GM Customer Service

enroberts · June 16, 2015

Hello enroberts,

I am sorry that you are having issues with the springs on your Sierra and understand how this can be frustrating. If you send me a private message with your VIN, current mileage, and contact information, I would be happy to reach out to the dealership on your behalf.

Kindest Regards,

Blair E.

GM Customer Service

Sending now! Thank you.

enroberts · June 17, 2015

Sending now! Thank you.

@GM Customer Service, I just dropped the truck off at the dealer and they gave me a 2015 Z71 Sierra just like my '14...let me tell ya, that 15 handles MUCh different from my 14. I will be calling the dealer tomorrow to let them know they need to take my truck for a drive then take a newer '15 out. The difference is substantial. That said, I also heard no sound like my truck makes from the springs/shocks, it rebounds much quicker over bumps, and feels overall tighter and not sloppy like mine did. I honestly wouldn't have said mine felt sloppy until they gave me this '15! I'm far from pleased at the difference ~20,000 miles makes for sure...please do what you can to encourage the dealer to replace the springs and shocks. I also noticed that the bottom leaf on the spring pack was not as close to the middle leaf on the '15 as it is on my '14. Seems like the springs are worn and lazy on my truck. Thanks in advance for your help. By the way, were you able to get in touch with my dealer? I never heard back from anyone after I provided my information via private message. Thank you.

enroberts · June 24, 2015

GM Customer Service. You just left me a private message but I'm done with PMs. This needs to be in a public forum for all to read. Your response this morning was:

"Good morning Neal,

I just got off of the phone with Kim Weis and she provided me with an update regarding your Sierra. I was informed that they ran a full diagnostic of your vehicle and were not able to find anything out of the ordinary. However, she did tell me that the sound was able to be replicated, but only when the truck bed was shaken side to side. A representative from Turner will be reaching out to you shortly to go over the diagnosis in more detail as well as the next steps in this process.

Kindest Regards,

Blair E.

GM Customer Service"

I am BEYOND angry about this. The dealer has had my truck since last Wednesday. I sent Kim the videos posted here along with this forum thread showing others with the same issues. I also sent her other threads proving others hear the same sounds. The dealer gave me a 2015 Z71 EXACTLY like my 2014 and there is no sound. When Kim calls I will leave work and go to Turner, take someone for a ride, and, provided they haven't greased the springs again, they will hear the noise with me driving. If they did grease the springs again the noise will not be there until that grease wears out again in two weeks forcing me to return to the dealer AGAIN. I will voice my anger with Kim when she calls so hopefully she's ready for that. I've had enough. How is it that the first time I dropped the truck off they heard the sound but now they can't? It happens EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THE TRUCK. How is it that the 2015 I'm driving as a loaner today is noise free but my truck and several others have the same issue and some have had success getting springs/shocks replaced? LOOK AT MY VIDEOs. After you do, I dare you to tell me the sound coming from my almost brand new truck is "normal." When you tell me that, I'll challenge you to go test other trucks (like the 2012 2500 Silverado or the 1997 I traded for the 2014, or ANY NEW TRUCK ON ANY GM LOT) and tell me that you hear the noise there. I will take this right up to Mary T. Barra's office if I need to. this is SO FAR FROM OVER!

timstech · June 24, 2015

Its too bad you have to get fighting mad,I have the same noise in my 2014 GMC,but the fight has gone out of me on this matter. All I can offer is support. GM is stomping fires right now corporate does not have the power over the dealers they use to before the bail out.

I hope you stay with it as with the headlights you can make a differance

enroberts · June 24, 2015

UPDATE: I spoke with Kim at Turner GMC this afternoon. I explained to her that I can understand this isn't her fault but I'm still frustrated. She was VERY nice (as usual) and told me she was very sorry. @GM Customer Support, do you want to know WHY Turner couldn't hear the noise? BECAUSE GM TECH SUPPORT TOLD THE DEALER TO GREASE THE SPRINGS AGAIN! I told Kim she would continue to see me over and over and over again if they didn't fix this correctly. She agreed and said this was unacceptable. Here's the kicker...Kim told me they have another 2014 EXACTLY like mine ("to the T" she said) and why do you think that truck is in the shop? THUMPING AND NOISES FROM THE SPRINGS!!! This topic is 3 pages long with several saying they have had the same issue. Some have had success getting springs and shocks replaced and trust me, so will I, but there are also other threads here and on other boards with the same complaint. What gives GM? As for GM not having the power over dealers? I beg to differ. It seems that they have dealers so afraid that they won't be reimbursed by GM that the dealers will just do whatever corporate tells them to do to shut the customer up, even if it's for a short time. Well GM, this customer isn't going away. Fix it right or there will be a bigger problem. I'll tell ya what, since the 2015 I have as a loaner now is the same truck with the same options as my 2014 (minus the full Katzkin interior and running boards I installed) doesn't make these bowling ball noises when I drive it, just swap titles with me. You can even keep the leather interior and man does that look/feel nice!

So next steps: Kim is going to have her "Recon Techs" power wash the grease out of the springs tomorrow. They'll drive it again and if they can't hear the noise still, I'll either take them out myself or come back again when the noise returns. Kim has made it VERY clear, more than once, that greasing the springs is temporary and a ridiculous "fix" from GM. She also is looking forward to approvals to change my springs/shocks.

mjb4450 · June 25, 2015

Add me to the list. I just got back from the dealership. They told me they "just got" a new TSB for the noisey leaf springs, which can't be true because the TSB numbers are years old and don't even list the 2014's when you pull them up. TSB's were 060309004F & 090309001C. One for packing grease and the other for retourquing the bolts with weight off the spring. That's what they did with mine and the service advisor even admitted that the grease fix does not work but he also said that since they have done the retourque they had not had any returns on the one's they have done. I'm skeptical on that but time will tell. I don't know why the factory would tell techs to do a fix that the techs tell them does not work. Seems counterproductive if you actually want return customers on the showroom floor.

enroberts · June 25, 2015

GM Customer Service just sent me this PM:

"I was able to speak to Kim Weis again on your behalf and I was also able to reach out to our internal resources. They have assured me that your truck is running normal and at this point, have exhausted all of their options. Again, we are very sorry for any ongoing frustration but your truck is operating as designed.

Kindest Regards,

Blair E.

GM Customer Service"

BS GM...BS. If my truck was "designed" to make that sound you need to fire all your truck engineers. If my truck was "designed" to make that sound, what "design changes" occurred in the 2015 models because I can't fine ONE truck that makes that sound in the 2015 lineup. I'm not going away GM. I'll be your worst nightmare. I WILL get this fixed and my efforts will help everyone in this thread and others online with the exact same issue. You're customer service is pathetic. I counted today...I've owned 14 GM vehicles. NOT ONE of those vehicles EVER needed warranty work. I LOVE GM products but this experience has been terrible. Expect a call from my lawyer soon.

enroberts · June 25, 2015

I have just sent an email to Mary Barra, GM's CEO. Let's see where this goes. I had great success by contacting OnStar's CEO when I had troubles there and things were resolved favorably. I'm relentless.