Chevy Shake Observation

EspoMan · October 31, 2016

Hello guys. As some of you may know by my other posts, I have a really bad shaking issue. Drove from Vegas to Cali yesterday and I had to pull over because I thought my rear left tire was lose and about it fall off. Felt like I was sitting ontop of a clothes dryer the entire time.

Here's one observation I've made. When I got to California, I picked up my wife and we drove around for a few hours. While she was a passenger, the vibrations and shaking was reduced about 80%. Interesting note I will have to inform my service man on Saturday when I take it in.

Any thoughts?

Silverado Steve · October 31, 2016

You're asking us what can be done when you haven't taken it to the dealer yet? It sucks you're having this issue, but there's not much you can do unless you want to fix it on your dime. I know you said you were between moving, but I know plenty of people in the military who deal with this, so if it's as bad as you said, I would of called my local dealer, dropped off the truck and had them give me a loaner already. Chances are they are going to need to keep your truck for a few days anyways.

qwank · October 31, 2016

It's all in your head

rawalters117 · October 31, 2016

It's all in your head

Seeing as this is a reoccuring issue with hundreds of GM trucks and SUVs, I dont think it is in his head.

OP, I had the shake as well. It would get progressively worse at high speeds and with wind resistance. Led me to believe it had something to do with the aerodynamics of the truck. Long story short, I went to the dealer for my first rotation, and the whole way there it shook at any speed above 70mph. I chose to not bring the issue to their attention just yet because I was on a tight schedule, and had to get back to work. Upon leaving the dealer, there wasnt any shaking...at any speed. Ive now driven from Virginia to Alabama, and from Virginia to Arkansas since, and the shake has not returned. Unfortunately, GM has still not remedied the issue, or they have and are avoiding a massive costly recall. For me, the solution was simply a rotation. Hopefully after my next one it wont return (guess it could be weight and balance issue). For most owners though, they are either dealing with it or dropping there vehicle off for weeks at a time while GM makes up a grocery list of fake issues.

qwank · October 31, 2016

I meant the part about it going away with someone In the seat, not the actual shake itself

MO GMC · October 31, 2016

Hi Eveyone,

This is my first post and thanks for accepting me.

I purchased a 2016 GMC Denali Sierra has 1,000 miles and its vibrating bad. The dealer has first re-balanced the tires (road force). Round 2 they replaced the rear tires. Guess what!!!!! The vibration is still there. It has gotten better but still there. I was reading a lot of posts and it sounds like the next step is replace all 4 tires with michelins? I read up on the goodyear eagle ls-2 The reviews come up that they are junk.

Thoughts?

Any help?

EspoMan · October 31, 2016

You're asking us what can be done when you haven't taken it to the dealer yet? It sucks you're having this issue, but there's not much you can do unless you want to fix it on your dime. I know you said you were between moving, but I know plenty of people in the military who deal with this, so if it's as bad as you said, I would of called my local dealer, dropped off the truck and had them give me a loaner already. Chances are they are going to need to keep your truck for a few days anyways.

Not asking what can be done. That's up to the dealership to figure out. I'm asking what your thoughts are on the fact that when I have a passenger the issue is a lot less.

EspoMan · October 31, 2016

Seeing as this is a reoccuring issue with hundreds of GM trucks and SUVs, I dont think it is in his head.

OP, I had the shake as well. It would get progressively worse at high speeds and with wind resistance. Led me to believe it had something to do with the aerodynamics of the truck. Long story short, I went to the dealer for my first rotation, and the whole way there it shook at any speed above 70mph. I chose to not bring the issue to their attention just yet because I was on a tight schedule, and had to get back to work. Upon leaving the dealer, there wasnt any shaking...at any speed. Ive now driven from Virginia to Alabama, and from Virginia to Arkansas since, and the shake has not returned. Unfortunately, GM has still not remedied the issue, or they have and are avoiding a massive costly recall. For me, the solution was simply a rotation. Hopefully after my next one it wont return (guess it could be weight and balance issue). For most owners though, they are either dealing with it or dropping there vehicle off for weeks at a time while GM makes up a grocery list of fake issues.

That makes some sense. My drive was pretty windy. With that being said, the truck shouldn't have behaved the way it did. It was downright scary shit**. Felt like wheel was falling out.

Silverado Steve · October 31, 2016

Do you have a bench seat? If so check the mounting bolts. If not, i put it on placebo effect.

Not asking what can be done. That's up to the dealership to figure out. I'm asking what your thoughts are on the fact that when I have a passenger the issue is a lot less.

rawalters117 · October 31, 2016

From what ive read and seen on multiple forums, most guys have found that after replacing the shitbox goodyear sra's, they havent had any shake.

EspoMan · October 31, 2016

Do you have a bench seat? If so check the mounting bolts. If not, i put it on placebo effect.

It's not just center console, entire truck shakes. I can feel it on my seat and passenger seat. Saturday she's going in.

Silverado Steve · October 31, 2016

Im not doubting that. I doubt because you had a passenger in the truck, that your vibrations "went away".

It's not just center console, entire truck shakes. I can feel it on my seat and passenger seat. Saturday she's going in.

Steveman · October 31, 2016

Could it possibly be the road itself? I know with my 2007 Sierra that supposedly doesn't have this problem, I'll get different vibrations transferred though the pedals or into the empty seats next to me when driving on different roads, such as new asphalt vs old asphalt, or new concrete vs old concrete, etc. Just one thing to possibly pay attention to when noticing the vibrations or not.

EspoMan · October 31, 2016

Im not doubting that. I doubt because you had a passenger in the truck, that your vibrations "went away".

Never said went away. Was just less. In my mind it makes sense especially if it's a driveshaft issue which needs balancing or tire issues. Added weight of a human being might somewhat balance it out. That's my theory

RivieraGS · October 31, 2016

Long time observer but this is my first time posting. My 2014 Sierra SLT CC has been a really good truck. No vibration issues but I really did not like the Goodyear SRA's. At almost 15,000 miles I replaced them with a set of Michelin Defenders from Costco. The truck rode better but I noticed after a few miles a vibration that started at about 46 mph and went away at about 53 mph. Then on a road trip I felt a vibration at about 75 mph. I took it to the dealer and they did a road force balance and found the new Michelin on the left front was at 27 pounds during the balancing. I went back to Costco and they replaced the tire. Smooth as silk at 80 mph but still a small vibration between 46 and 53 mph. Back to Costco and they rechecked the three that had the road force and said they were ok but they broke the new tire down and rotated it on the rim and rebalanced it and installed it on the right rear. Better but still a slight vibration at 46 to 53 mph. I even tried driving it in manual mode to eliminate the AFM, Thanks to all the good people on this forum I torqued the rear axle U bolts to 59 pound feet of torque plus 130 degrees. Would really like to know what that amounts to. Doing that got rid of 98% of the vibration and the little bit that is left is only noticeable once in a while. I thought about tightening the U bolts a little more.

Also thanks to this forum I now have the remote lock on my tailgate that works with the key fob and also installed the wireless charging pad under the arm rest and it works great. I have a Samsung Galaxy S6 but had to switch from the Otter Box case to a Unicorn Beetle so it would fit in the recessed area of the arm rest to work.