Rear end noise 2017 Silverado

Logroller · September 29, 2018

Tube pics

Baytrucker · May 16, 2019

I've have this issue as well.

First time I took it back to the dealer and they acknowledged the noise. They said they tightened the U-bolts and put grease on and the noise was gone. As I was driving it out of the lot, the noise was still there, so I immediately drove it back with the same problem.

Later that day I got a call back. I went in to get the truck and the same guy (who apparently didn't remember me) gave me the EXACT same line about tightening U-bolts and putting on grease. It was surreal. It was almost like he was reading from a script. It was verbatim word-for-word exactly what he had told me earlier. When I drove the truck away, the noise was gone, but it came back a few months later.

I took the truck back to the dealer for the third time. They had it for half a day before they called me and said the noise was corrected. So when I arrived at the dealership to pick it up, they said that they couldn't reproduce the noise and that I should "keep an eye on it". I asked them why they said they had corrected the noise on the telephone, and he said he had no knowledge of that.

The noise was apparent as soon as I left the parking lot.

I drove it around the block and then immediately back into the dealer, when I chose to wait for a service rep to do a ride along. He refused to ride with me and said that GM wouldn't warranty the noise because it wasn't a safety issue and because the noise was within normal tolerance.

Unfortunately the next closest dealer is a bit of a drive.

So there you have it folks. Apparently my dealer is populated by morons, but GM won't warranty strange noises from the suspension. The frustrating thing is this is going to effect sales or trade-in prospects. I guess I'm off tot he bicycle shop for an inner-tube. Can someone post pictures of exactly what they did to make this go away?

Will Brownlie · May 16, 2019

I finally switched dealerships. 2 weeks ago they opened my rear differential and said it is missing a spacer. It scheduled to be installed in 2 weeks. Hopefully this fixes the noise

Logroller · May 17, 2019

3 hours ago, Will Brownlie said:

I finally switched dealerships. 2 weeks ago they opened my rear differential and said it is missing a spacer. It scheduled to be installed in 2 weeks. Hopefully this fixes the noise

Hmm for the thumpitdy thump suspension sound or the clunkitdy clunk driveshaft/torque conventor/trans/computer shift issue? Curious to see what happens.

Baytrucker · May 30, 2019

I contacted GM directly and asked them to contact my dealership. Not sure what will come from that.

Does GM even know how to fix this issue, assuming they even acknowledge it?

PVwoohoo · August 15, 2019

I just dropped off my 2018 silverado crew cab with 6100 miles for the same thing, the service writer told me it was probably because of the oil based rust proofing i had applied to my truck. If the springs just need to be lubed i would thing this would help the problem not cause it. I left it there overnight hopefully i hear some good news tomorrow but is sounds like i wont.

Baytrucker · August 16, 2019

3 hours ago, PVwoohoo said:

I just dropped off my 2018 silverado crew cab with 6100 miles for the same thing, the service writer told me it was probably because of the oil based rust proofing i had applied to my truck. If the springs just need to be lubed i would thing this would help the problem not cause it. I left it there overnight hopefully i hear some good news tomorrow but is sounds like i wont.

The oil didn't cause the issue, but it may have exacerbated it. The noise is caused by dirt between the leaf springs. Depending on what kind of oil was used, it can actually attract dirt, which will cause the noise. Only GM would design a leaf spring that you can't get dirty. Only GM would keep those leaf springs for over a decade before fixing it.

The lubrication they use at the dealer is silicone based, and shouldn't attract dirt. The problem is that it washes away easy, so the noise comes back fairly quickly.

I've heard that the issue is fixed in the 2019's. They moved the padding around or something. I don't know this for sure, but someone on one of the other threads has talked about it. I've also not heard of this happening on aftermarket leafs.

PVwoohoo · August 16, 2019

17 hours ago, Baytrucker said:

The oil didn't cause the issue, but it may have exacerbated it. The noise is caused by dirt between the leaf springs. Depending on what kind of oil was used, it can actually attract dirt, which will cause the noise. Only GM would design a leaf spring that you can't get dirty. Only GM would keep those leaf springs for over a decade before fixing it.

The lubrication they use at the dealer is silicone based, and shouldn't attract dirt. The problem is that it washes away easy, so the noise comes back fairly quickly.

I've heard that the issue is fixed in the 2019's. They moved the padding around or something. I don't know this for sure, but someone on one of the other threads has talked about it. I've also not heard of this happening on aftermarket leafs.

Thanks Baytrucker. It is fairly thick and sticky oil similar to fluid film.

The service writer did say it was from dirt i just don't understand how dirt can make the springs make this clunking noise. I am going to talk to the service manager to see if he knows of any way to get rid of the noise.

Baytrucker · August 16, 2019

36 minutes ago, PVwoohoo said:

Thanks Baytrucker. It is fairly thick and sticky oil similar to fluid film.

The service writer did say it was from dirt i just don't understand how dirt can make the springs make this clunking noise. I am going to talk to the service manager to see if he knows of any way to get rid of the noise.

Well, dirt creates friction, which makes noise. Its probably amplified by the ricochet down the axle and frame. This truck seems VERY sensitive to harmonics. I'm guessing the friction is momentary, like when the center of gravity of the truck shifts. This sounds like a "clunk", but its actually a very short "creak".

I tried adding silicone lubricant (the aerosol kind) which is the only thing that has improved the noise it so far. I did it in stages to see what spot had the biggest impact. By far, the biggest improvement was when I sprayed the section where the axle seat sits on the axle under the u-bolt. I bolts seem tight, but I don't have any way of gauging the level of torque. Even if they were loose, they were just tightened 2 weeks ago. They shouldn't be loose already.

I've not tried the rubber trick yet.

PVwoohoo · August 16, 2019

4 hours ago, Baytrucker said:

Well, dirt creates friction, which makes noise. Its probably amplified by the ricochet down the axle and frame. This truck seems VERY sensitive to harmonics. I'm guessing the friction is momentary, like when the center of gravity of the truck shifts. This sounds like a "clunk", but its actually a very short "creak".

I tried adding silicone lubricant (the aerosol kind) which is the only thing that has improved the noise it so far. I did it in stages to see what spot had the biggest impact. By far, the biggest improvement was when I sprayed the section where the axle seat sits on the axle under the u-bolt. I bolts seem tight, but I don't have any way of gauging the level of torque. Even if they were loose, they were just tightened 2 weeks ago. They shouldn't be loose already.

I've not tried the rubber trick yet.

thanks again!

they told me that re-torquing the bolts wont do anything because of the oil and i would have to clean the springs off and that would fix the problem. I am not exactly happy with the situation, I had a 2006 for 11 years and it was rustproofed each year and never had this happen, i also had a 2017 for 1 year and put 8000 miles it was also rustproofed when i got it and that one also did not clunk. After buying a truck with a $50000 sticker price i have to figure out a way to rig this up kinda suukkz if i wanted to work cars i would have kept the 2006.

Logrolller · August 17, 2019

And the beat, I mean clunk, goes on.

Logroller · August 17, 2019

And the beat, I mean clunk, goes on.

jay webb · August 17, 2019

On 11/8/2017 at 9:57 AM, troop12 said:

I purchased a new 2017 Silverado this past March. After about 3000-4000 miles I started to hear this clunking/ popping noise in the rear of the truck. I took it to my local dealer twice and they said they lubed the leaf springs. Didn't fix anything. I then took it to another local dealer who said the noise is coming from a leaf spring schackle and they think they got rid of the noise. I drove it for a few weeks and didn't hear the noise once. Right around the 3 week mark I started to hear it again so I took it back to the dealer. This time they said they lubed the leaf springs but this is only a temporary fix. I was understandably upset considering this is a brand new truck and it should not be having this issue. I did some research on this and found that some people had the springs/schackles replaced and it corrected the problem. The dealership said they will not replace anything until a permanent fix has been sent out by GM. So I called GM to complain. They basically told me the same thing. I am not happy driving around a truck that sounds like it's falling apart in the rear end and GM won't do anything about it. They won't even make the effort to replace the part to make the customer happy. Has anyone had this issue? Any advice on what to do or who to call and complain to get this issue fixed? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

as a tech at a gmc dealership i see this very often. this is what we do, we spoke with an engineer. there are updated leaf spring pads the dealership can install in replacement of the old ones. the old ones are rectangle in shape between the leaf springs. the new ones are like the round ones on the lower leaf spring. there is no actual bulletin or anything that calls for this. but gm has been approving the warranty claims for this. it typically takes about 30-1hr to complete. not a very difficult job. i did it 3 times this week at work.

jay webb · August 17, 2019

4 hours ago, PVwoohoo said:

thanks again!

they told me that re-torquing the bolts wont do anything because of the oil and i would have to clean the springs off and that would fix the problem. I am not exactly happy with the situation, I had a 2006 for 11 years and it was rustproofed each year and never had this happen, i also had a 2017 for 1 year and put 8000 miles it was also rustproofed when i got it and that one also did not clunk. After buying a truck with a $50000 sticker price i have to figure out a way to rig this up kinda suukkz if i wanted to work cars i would have kept the 2006.

as a tech at a gmc dealership i see this very often. this is what we do, we spoke with an engineer. there are updated leaf spring pads the dealership can install in replacement of the old ones. the old ones are rectangle in shape between the leaf springs. the new ones are like the round ones on the lower leaf spring. there is no actual bulletin or anything that calls for this. but gm has been approving the warranty claims for this. it typically takes about 30-1hr to complete. not a very difficult job. i did it 3 times this week at work.

PVwoohoo · August 17, 2019

13 hours ago, jay webb said:

as a tech at a gmc dealership i see this very often. this is what we do, we spoke with an engineer. there are updated leaf spring pads the dealership can install in replacement of the old ones. the old ones are rectangle in shape between the leaf springs. the new ones are like the round ones on the lower leaf spring. there is no actual bulletin or anything that calls for this. but gm has been approving the warranty claims for this. it typically takes about 30-1hr to complete. not a very difficult job. i did it 3 times this week at work.

Jay,

Thank you very much for the info i will pursue this with my dealer.