New Sierra Rear End Clunk when shifting to "R" to "D"

Raiderse · July 30, 2015

I have a brand new Sierra 5.3L 4x4 Rear end clunks loud enough to hear it over the ac and radio when shifting from "R" to "D" or "D" to "R" took it in to ge t it fixed and after 5 hours was handed a TSB from the Service writer. It appears the Rear Gears are shimmed loose and GM will not fix it. They release a TSB that Covers "ALL GM VEHICLES 2015 an PRIOR" From ANY drive train clunks to be deemed "NORMAL" . What a pile of Crap . I've owned every brand and never had this issue. Who else has the "rear end Clunk" when I asked them which truck they tested to compare the tech said he didn't know the Stock # number. I said what color was the truck, I just purchased and know your inventory. He said ummm ut huh I think Gray. (They don't have a gray tuck in stock). GM is sending me to another dealer, if the dealer says its normal GM says ?"that's it"! VERY disappointed in GM. Now I am thinking of what I will do if the other dealer says its normal. it took the fun right out of a new vehicle. The Service manager at the Dealership tells me they all do it and if they dont, they will. My nephew has a 2014 Silverado that is silent when shifting from "R to D" and "D to R" after 32000 Miles! There is 474 miles on the truck. Should I trade it? Should i take it to an independant shop and have the rear shimmed properly?

tnchevy · July 30, 2015

Common issue on Chevy trucks. My 2002 did it and the two chevy work trucks I had did it. My 2014 is not as bad but still does it.

irish4life8911 · July 30, 2015

It's common for GM's. My '05 Silverado did it about half of the time, and my '15 Sierra has only done it a few times.

master_tsoi · August 1, 2015

My 15 was doing it, turns out it was the tranny, just had it replaced. not even 10k! going on a long drive tomorrow, see how it feels after that.

GsBowtie · August 1, 2015

My 15 does it occasionally going from d to r but not the other way. Slightly annoying but I don't worry about it.

entreri · August 1, 2015

My 1986 van did it, my 1/2 ton 80 something did it my old camaros all did it, my monte carlo did it and so on. Not sure why GM has never addressed this properly. I am happy to say my new truck doesnt do it at least not yet.

Front Runner · August 1, 2015

If mine does clunk, it's not noticeable. I'll listen out for it and report back.

black00ta · August 1, 2015

Mine did it when the miles were low (under 3k) I just rolled over 10k and I don't hear it doing it anymore.

2016 Sierra Owner · August 1, 2015

Mine does it every time and still does. I brought it to my dealers attention when I 1st heard it and they said they could not find anything wrong.

Mdavila2 · August 1, 2015

I had a 2007 Silverado with a 5.3 and had 107,000 when I traded it in, that truck did it.

I had a 2014 Silverado with a 5.3 with 12,000 miles and it did it.

I have my current 2014 Silverado LTZ Z71 with a 5.3 and it does it it, and I'm a little over 16,000 miles and it does it.

It's a Chevy thing.... If it really bugs you keep pushing it until a dealer does something about it.

Raiderse · August 1, 2015

went to the selling Dealer Today we got in two brand new All Terrains they both clunked. The Service Manage told me GM leaves extra play in the Off Roads due to something about off roading. It must be normal. I am relieved and can enjoy my new truck now.

tnchevy · August 3, 2015

Service manager just making stuff up like usual. There is no difference in the "off road" trucks and the normal 4wd trucks, just cheap Rancho shocks and a paper thin skid plate on the transfer case.

pm26 · August 4, 2015

Service manager just making stuff up like usual. There is no difference in the "off road" trucks and the normal 4wd trucks, just cheap Rancho shocks and a paper thin skid plate on the transfer case.

Is it made from paper?

tnchevy · August 4, 2015

No but it is petty thin! It appears to be a high gauge of sheet metal.

Vitamin-E · October 26, 2015

My 340,xxx mile '02 Silverado had "clunked" since I bought it new in '02. It never bothered me but it did get worse over time to the point that it would clunk when I let off the pedal to coast or got back on the gas from coasting... That was kind of bothersome.

Fearing that my differential was thinking of finally shooting craps, I tried to get eke a little more life out of it by changing gear lube brands. Oddly, that inadvertently cured the clunking!!!

I went from Valvoline 80W-90 to Amsoil's 75W-90 Long Life Synthetic Gear Lube. The clunking completely stopped. After about 15,000 miles on the new lube it has started to clunk a little bit here and there when shifting into gear. Supposedly, you can go 500,000 miles on this stuff. No way I'll push it that long. I'll probably change it out after 50,000 to 75,000. Its not that expensive and its not that tough of a job.

...and no, you CANNOT buy amsoil from me!! I am one of the few people left on earth that's NOT a distributor!!