clunk noise when decelerating in low gears .

acerone · December 20, 2015

I recently purchased a 2015 chevy silverado 5.3 LT. I can't believe with only 5k miles on it I'm already having issues. When I'm driving from 20-40mph and am decelerating it clunks when getting in and out of gears. Sometimes louder when I'm slowing down and than suddenly step on the gas. It makes a solid clunking noise, sometimes worse than others. Almost can feel like I'm getting lightly rear-ended at times. Anyways I'm extremely pissed off and wondering if anyone had similar issues and if it's a simple fix. Thanks!

Coppertone · December 20, 2015

This is a very common problem, with lots of threads here already. Search "clunk".

rocknfire · December 20, 2015

I recently purchased a 2015 chevy silverado 5.3 LT. I can't believe with only 5k miles on it I'm already having issues. When I'm driving from 20-40mph and am decelerating it clunks when getting in and out of gears. Sometimes louder when I'm slowing down and than suddenly step on the gas. It makes a solid clunking noise, sometimes worse than others. Almost can feel like I'm getting lightly rear-ended at times. Anyways I'm extremely pissed off and wondering if anyone had similar issues and if it's a simple fix. Thanks!

Re torque the ubolts on your leaf springs to 78 ft/lbs. More than likely they aren't even close to that.

pm26 · December 20, 2015

I recently purchased a 2015 chevy silverado 5.3 LT. I can't believe with only 5k miles on it I'm already having issues. When I'm driving from 20-40mph and am decelerating it clunks when getting in and out of gears. Sometimes louder when I'm slowing down and than suddenly step on the gas. It makes a solid clunking noise, sometimes worse than others. Almost can feel like I'm getting lightly rear-ended at times. Anyways I'm extremely pissed off and wondering if anyone had similar issues and if it's a simple fix. Thanks!

That's actually not bad. Some are having issues at 5 miles. Yes 5, not 5k.

zert100 · December 20, 2015

I have a very pronounced decel clunk most noticeable in 2nd and 3rd gear. GM says its normal for your new truck to clunk like it has a bad U-joint. I believe its related to the TCM program. I think that it could be tuned out but could adversely affect fuel mileage. Because of this we will most likely not see an update from GM no matter how much we complain!

I seems that plenty of the 8 speeds have this same characteristic. Sad, very sad!

patjuan · April 9, 2017

Hello All,

Interesting information being posted here, I have a 2016 Silverado Z71 LTZ Crew Cab Midnight Edition, Totally love how it looks, rides... BUT! What I'm really bothered with is 2 things that I have noticed. Clunking sounds out of transmission when in low gear, mainly when I'm in stop and go traffic, the second thing when I accelerate I hear a whistling sound, like if the truck had a cold air intake or like the sound of a turbo discharge but my truck is stock no mods. Is anyone experiencing these I mentioned? I've tried to get used to these sounds and clunking but just can't, My truck just hit 10500 miles. If you have these issues, can you let me know how you resolved them? Besides bumping the stereo louder.. lol

Thank you

Edited April 10, 2017 by patjuan

ChevyRoofer · April 10, 2017

Hello All,

Interesting information being posted here, I have a 2016 Silverado Z71 LTZ Crew Cab Midnight Edition, Totally love how it looks, rides... BUT! What I'm really bothered with is 2 things that I have noticed. Clunking sounds out of transmission when in low gear, mainly when I'm in stop and go traffic, the second thing when I accelerate I hear a whistling sound, like if the truck had a cold air intake or like the sound of a turbo discharge but my truck is stock no mods. Is anyone experiencing these I mentioned? I've tried to get used to these sounds and clunking but just can't, My truck just hit 10500 miles. If you have these issues, can you let me know how you resolved them? Besides bumping the stereo louder.. lol

Thank you

Same truck w/ a BBP tune and I still have some clunk in low gears in stop & go.

If in stop & go I change to tow/haul mode now, it keeps me in 1st gear and doesn't get caught up clunking.

Don't forget to turn off grade braking if up and down hills.

f8l vnm · April 10, 2017

clunking is 110% normal . just learn to live with it .

Paul Hinsman · July 15, 2020

On 12/20/2015 at 12:08 AM, acerone said:

I recently purchased a 2015 chevy silverado 5.3 LT. I can't believe with only 5k miles on it I'm already having issues. When I'm driving from 20-40mph and am decelerating it clunks when getting in and out of gears. Sometimes louder when I'm slowing down and than suddenly step on the gas. It makes a solid clunking noise, sometimes worse than others. Almost can feel like I'm getting lightly rear-ended at times. Anyways I'm extremely pissed off and wondering if anyone had similar issues and if it's a simple fix. Thanks!

I have been having the same issues for the past three years and dealer keeps saying they find nothing wrong.

Rukus · July 17, 2020

My clinking got worse and GM found shavings in trans fluid. Bad Torque Converter and a bad "jet"... replaced whole trans. Clunking there with new trans... until it "learned " my driving style. All good after 1000 miles with new trans.

MartinoRaydo · September 2, 2022

On 12/19/2015 at 9:08 PM, acerone said:

I recently purchased a 2015 chevy silverado 5.3 LT. I can't believe with only 5k miles on it I'm already having issues. When I'm driving from 20-40mph and am decelerating it clunks when getting in and out of gears. Sometimes louder when I'm slowing down and than suddenly step on the gas. It makes a solid clunking noise, sometimes worse than others. Almost can feel like I'm getting lightly rear-ended at times. Anyways I'm extremely pissed off and wondering if anyone had similar issues and if it's a simple fix. Thanks!