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Leaf spring noise

RussW

By RussW
in Troubleshooting & Recalls

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RussW Enthusiast

RussW

Posted
Posted

I see lots of complaints of leaf spring noise on 2014 & newer Silverado’s. Mine seem to be popping when in reverse. Of course the dealer can’t/won’t hear it. I’ve re-torqued all bolts & cleaned/lubed the leafs. Anybody ever try leaf spring clamps to keep the leafs aligned?

bpmdube Enthusiast

bpmdube

Posted
Posted

My Sierra (2016) has about 21000 on it and it has made a similar noise sounding like its the springs shifting at very low speed from day one. Dealer never found anything either (but they haven't done so good on couple of electronic error fails either..)

Can't tell you how many times I've checked the rear spare to see if it was loose... :-0) and looked around under there.

Several weeks ago, while rotating tires and under truck, I noticed passenger side shock housing being scraped by the upper shock boot, to the point of cutting into the lower tube metal from the single rivet (about 1.5 inch by 4 inch long, outside facing). Dealer ordered me new shock and when it gets replaced, I will report if its the "source". Check yours around the fill rivet (I assume  that's what it is) and see if there is any scrap marks?

RussW Enthusiast

RussW

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Mine has 25,000, I bought it with 19,000 on it. I only seem to hear it when backing out of my driveway and crossing the curb. Noise seems to come from right rear but leaf spring on left rear seems to be making the noise. Sounds like something loose underneath. Right rear Rancho shock had grease all over the bottom tube but dealer said it was ok. I see lots of complaints about the Rancho shocks & was thinking about ordering Bilsteins but don’t want to spend the $ only to still have the problem. Let me know how you make out. Thanks 

bpmdube Enthusiast

bpmdube

Posted
Posted

BTW-My noise is also more notable in reverse.

Is what you call "grease" just oil mixed with road grime? I ask because pickup shocks (i) are not "greased", and (ii)  are not supposed to leak ANY oil, so that is a sign that the shocks are failing. Doesn't matter if it was defect, wear, or abuse, it is a SEALED system.  Sealed means nothing goes in, nothing goes out... Just like a house's air conditioner is a sealed system, so it is NOT supposed to loose refrigerant-if it does, you have a leak and you will pay the repairman every year until they fix the leak.. Why compare to air conditioner? Well, most modern shocks are also gas filled, so if oil is leaking, the gas definitely beat it out...

Two things: Visit http://www.gorancho.com/warranty-guarantee/

First, some Rancho shocks have lifetime or extended warranties. See if yours are still covered independent of the dealership's biased word.

Second, if it was my truck, I'd try hard to make them replace under warranty as latent defect since a due diligence inspection on their part WOULD have caught that grime, and they know better, as shocks leaking are on the State Police's checklist for many states that do vehicle inspections (for a reason). From living in northern Maine and time on dirt logging roads, I have found front tires as more susceptible to wear from bad shocks, but rears will show uneven wear as well, especially if soft tire. I am guessing it is because lots of off road/dirt roads makes the length of travel of shock tube get maxed out a lot.  Doesn't' need to be off road, even, as I had GM installed Rancho shocks on Silverado that did only a bit of woods work and ended up with couple of shocks and tires getting replaced by dealer, at their nickel, for causing improper tire wear/damage. Good luck!

barry G Senior Enthusiast

barry G

Posted
Posted

leafs need to slide.. since 1492. :)

I added strong u-bolts to my 21  yr old truck, with hellwig helpers.

it needs to make a seat every morning with a clack.

 

cab mounts start next for you young ones.. just needs time and a new day.

RussW Enthusiast

RussW

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks. It is probably road dirt sticking to leaking oil. I’ve wiped it off twice in 3 weeks just to see if it comes back. My son-in-law has a 2015 also & installed Rancho Quicklift struts on the front & within a week had to replace one as it was leaking. I may have a bad shock but I can hold onto the leaf spring & rock the truck & can feel it popping. I’m going to replace the rear shocks one way or another & I’m going to take it to a suspension/specialty shop & see what they have to say, and then MAYBE go back to the dealer & see what they’ll do. I’m the 3rd owner of a 2015 so there maybe something there that somebody else was unhappy with. Good thing it’s still under factory warranty. The saga continues....

  • 2 weeks later...
RussW Enthusiast

RussW

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Took it to a specialty suspension shop who said they “couldn’t duplicate the problem”, and suggested I haggle it out with the dealer since it’s still under warranty. Guess I’ll have to wait until something obvious breaks or fails. I’m gonna try new shocks and see what happens.

bpmdube Enthusiast

bpmdube

Posted
Posted

update on the rear noise and rear shock rubbing on boot... passenger rear shock came in, they replaced it, and so far, a bit over a week & about 1100 miles into the replacement, I have not heard the low speed/backup noise that I've complained about since mile 1... and the new shock, so far, does not have any wear marks on it.

BTW-Dealer groused that they were doing me a favor to replace the unit under warranty since it was not "leaking" and the shock tube metal being worn about 10% through "did not constitute a defect".  So I just told them thanks and chalk it up to good customer relations, especially since they still didn't have a fix for my constant "service rear vision system" issues.

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