Spring Clamps Reduce Rear Vibration

rocknfire · April 2, 2016

Sorry it took so long to get posted. 2015 Silverado rear view at highway speeds

. It was a rough week at work. I did get my truck back and the vibration is gone at highway speeds. I am cautiously optimistic about the repairs being permanent. The dealer performed the transfer case update, replaced ring/pinion and bearings, replaced two rear shocks - one had completely failed and had oil leaking out of the top. This is a non-Z82 truck.

I will get another video at the same view with the repairs made.

Your spare is loose. That'll make some noise and vibes.

ic3man5 · April 2, 2016

Sorry it took so long to get posted. 2015 Silverado rear view at highway speeds

. It was a rough week at work. I did get my truck back and the vibration is gone at highway speeds. I am cautiously optimistic about the repairs being permanent. The dealer performed the transfer case update, replaced ring/pinion and bearings, replaced two rear shocks - one had completely failed and had oil leaking out of the top. This is a non-Z82 truck.

I will get another video at the same view with the repairs made.

I was hoping the video was attached to the axle and not the frame/body so it would show just body vibration but it looks like there is a lot of front to back vibration compared to left right which I feel is a side effect of the front coil spring being stiff and its causing the truck to teeter totter over certain terrain. When you clamp the rear leafs it stiffens the rear essentially making the front and rear "jump" together providing a rough but "better" ride. This is all just an idea I came up with in my head so its 100% possible I'm wrong.

KLRV6 · April 2, 2016

what exactly did you do?

Dealer replaced ring and pinion plus shocks... the usual RFB. I just got back from lunch and found the vibration had just moved to the 80-90 mph range. It was 70-80.

Edited April 2, 2016 by KLRV6

KLRV6 · April 3, 2016

Your spare is loose. That'll make some noise and vibes.

I checked the spare is tight using the tire hoist and has plenty of air in it. I think they just bounce around. I may stick it in the bed and see if it helps,, or take it out during testing.

rocknfire · April 3, 2016

I checked the spare is tight using the tire hoist and has plenty of air in it. I think they just bounce around. I may stick it in the bed and see if it helps,, or take it out during testing.

It shouldn't move.

650h1 · April 3, 2016

Hopefully going to try this tonight when I get home from work - will update everyone after.

hotrodz37 · April 4, 2016

Sorry it took so long to get posted. 2015 Silverado rear view at highway speeds

. It was a rough week at work. I did get my truck back and the vibration is gone at highway speeds. I am cautiously optimistic about the repairs being permanent. The dealer performed the transfer case update, replaced ring/pinion and bearings, replaced two rear shocks - one had completely failed and had oil leaking out of the top. This is a non-Z82 truck.

I will get another video at the same view with the repairs made.

Glad your issue is tentatively resolved! Was really hoping to get some feedback on the shims though

I am moving to Austin, TX from Florida in 2 weeks and not looking forward to driving my truck at highway speeds for 1100 miles. I either have to find a fix (doubtful) in the next 2 weeks, trade it in, or suck it up and shake my teeth loose for 16 hrs.

650h1 · April 5, 2016

Glad your issue is tentatively resolved! Was really hoping to get some feedback on the shims though

I am moving to Austin, TX from Florida in 2 weeks and not looking forward to driving my truck at highway speeds for 1100 miles. I either have to find a fix (doubtful) in the next 2 weeks, trade it in, or suck it up and shake my teeth loose for 16 hrs.

So none of this worked for you? Wondering if you tried a set of 18s, if your issue would be gone. I've wondered that about my truck...

650h1 · April 6, 2016

After it snowed I was able to get out and torque my U-bolts to 100 ft/lbs. Vibration is pretty much gone...

Edited April 6, 2016 by 650h1

southern_sierra · April 7, 2016

After it snowed I was able to get out and torque my U-bolts to 100 ft/lbs. Vibration is pretty much gone...

Dnt · April 10, 2016

Man those under truck videos are awesome. I have no way of doing those videos but would love to see some more posted.

Since weather has warmed I am going to torque the leaf spring to axle ubolts today and add the shackles approx 5in forward of the rear axle and see if I can tell any difference. I will post back in a few days and let you guys know if I notice any changes. I have a slight vibration at all speeds mainly at around 70mph. it was mostly resolved by a set of michelin tires back 30k miles ago (now have 57k) but would love to get even smoother if possible.

Edited April 10, 2016 by MyFavTruck

KLRV6 · April 11, 2016

Man those under truck videos are awesome. I have no way of doing those videos but would love to see some more posted.

Since weather has warmed I am going to torque the leaf spring to axle ubolts today and add the shackles approx 5in forward of the rear axle and see if I can tell any difference. I will post back in a few days and let you guys know if I notice any changes. I have a slight vibration at all speeds mainly at around 70mph. it was mostly resolved by a set of michelin tires back 30k miles ago (now have 57k) but would love to get even smoother if possible.

This is another with the Bilstein 4600 and Michelin LTX MS2 275/65/18 installed on stock wheels. I will post a few that I took from the front crossmember which show the driveshaft rotation. I will be contacting a driveline specialist to get opinions as to what a reasonable amount of runout should be. Once I have those numbers, I will contact the dealer again, but not wasting any time with them until I have enough info and measurements.

I asked them to check runout when I first took my truck in for the vibration issue. You can guess now much they cared to look at it... "Normal" and "They all do it" means they have a horrible product and they accept those as reasons not to fix this serious of a problem.

KLRV6 · April 11, 2016

Any chance you can attach your camera to the rear axle facing forward? Its hard to tell in the video but it almost looks like there isn't any vibration going on in the drive-line and its all in the body. I'm curious if the same shake will happen in the video if you have it on the axle. I wonder if clamping the springs making them stiffer is helping restrain the vibration;

edit: I've had a suspicion for a while a lot of the roughness and vibration is happening from the front and the stiff frame is transferring it to the rear of the truck since it has the least amount of mass.

Just got around to this today. This is front facing back. I will work on a way to mount to the axle, right above the pinion. But for now..

southern_sierra · April 11, 2016

Just got around to this today. This is front facing back. I will work on a way to mount to the axle, right above the pinion. But for now..

How do you like to ride with the 4600. I saw in your vid you had the stock black shocks, did you replace the front too. Just curious how the 4600 rides. I have the stock black shocks and the overall ride is pretty good, just a little to bouncy at interstate speeds.

KLRV6 · April 11, 2016

How do you like to ride with the 4600. I saw in your vid you had the stock black shocks, did you replace the front too. Just curious how the 4600 rides. I have the stock black shocks and the overall ride is pretty good, just a little to bouncy at interstate speeds.

I did the rear for now as there is still a slight vibration in the truck. Once the dealer gets that taken care of, I will do the fronts. The stockers are going back before the dealer visit.

I think it is still a firm ride for the rear, but not as harsh going over bumps and even the paint marks in the road that the truck seems to respond to.