Vibration after dealer installed bilsteins?

[truckguy82]

So I just had my local dealer install bilsteins on the front at the lowest height setting. They also did a tire rotation.

 

I’m getting a vibration now at 70-80mph. Enough to be very annoying if I drove it somewhere far.

 

I’ll take it back to the dealer but I want to be informed before I do on possible causes.

 

They did not do an alignment. They didn’t suggest doing one nor did I think you need to if you keep the bilsteins at stock height. Regardless not sure a lack of alignment would cause a vibration either.

 

I suppose it could be the tire rotation but feel like that’s unlikely because that doesn’t involve changing the balance.

 

Thoughts? Possibly forgot to tighten something?

[Baldhills]

They should have done an alignment.  Tires out of balance on the front are suspect too.

[Baldhills]

Last time I had my tires rotated and balanced at Discount Tire they were not going to balance the tires going to the rear. I asked them to do all 4. 

If that’s possible for you it may have been awhile since those now fronts have been ballanced. 

[Sierra Dan]

The vibration has absolutely nothing to do with the Bilsteins.

Our K2's (some of them) are notorious for the vibration/shimmy between 70-80 anyway even with factory suspension.

 

[truckguy82]

6 minutes ago, Sierra Dan said:

The vibration has absolutely nothing to do with the Bilsteins.

Our K2's (some of them) are notorious for the vibration/shimmy between 70-80 anyway even with factory suspension.

 

Thanks, but try reading the post instead of just the thread title.

[truckguy82]

18 minutes ago, Baldhills said:

They should have done an alignment.  Tires out of balance on the front are suspect too.

Do you know enough about suspension to say that for sure? I thought it was only needed for the lift aspect and not just the shock install aspect.

[Michael71009]

Get an alignment. Ive always been told to get an alignment anytime you replace or mess with anything on the front end. Anything that I do other than brakes I get it realigned. I just had bilsteins installed last week on the highest setting, had them do an alignment and have had no issues.

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[Sierra Dan]

Just now, truckguy82 said:

Thanks, but try reading the post instead of just the thread title.

I did read it.

Just reiterating it's not related to the new shocks.

Have them check the leaf spring nut torque.

I tightened mine to around 80ft lb and my 70-80 vibration is gone.

 

 

[truckguy82]

Just now, Sierra Dan said:

I did read it.

Just reiterating it's not related to the new shocks.

Have them check the leaf spring nut torque.

I tightened mine to around 80ft lb and my 70-80 vibration is gone.

 

 

There was no vibration, I took my truck in for service, and then there was a vibration. 

 

I think it’s pretty clear it’s related to the service, which did not involve leaf springs.

[truckguy82]

3 minutes ago, Michael71009 said:

Get an alignment. Ive always been told to get an alignment anytime you replace or mess with anything on the front end. Anything that I do other than brakes I get it realigned. I just had bilsteins installed last week on the highest setting, had them do an alignment and have had no issues.

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There are many things you can touch on the front end that will not change the alignment in the sightest milimeter. 

 

I just have not done a front shock install in 15 years and am not sure if it’s one of those things that needs an alignment.

 

I’m sort of looking for someone who understands the suspension enough to say for sure it needs an alignment. The truck tracks straight and tire wear is perfect. I’d rather not have someone touch the alignment if it’s not the issue, not to mention pay for it.

[Michael71009]

Good luck. Interested to hear what you find.

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[Sierra Dan]

Some of the K2 trucks that exhibit vibration are sensitive to tire imbalance, lift or level mods and other subtle changes.

The suspension and drivetrain work as a whole to propel you down the road.

Any slight change to anything can throw the balance of the system off enough to create the vibration.

Over time suspension settles. Tires wear. Shocks wear.

The fact that you changed the front shocks and not the rear could throw the system balance off enough to create the shake.

What shocks do you have in the rear?

 

[Donstar]

55 minutes ago, truckguy82 said:

 

I’ll take it back to the dealer but I want to be informed before I do on possible causes.

 

I'd simply go back to the dealer and have them make it right.  Ignore the shock and dreaded chevy shake theories.  Chances are (as happened on my last rotation)  a wheel weight didn't stick. I found it adorning my driveway.  If you are worried while far away from home, I'd pull into my nearest dealer, tire store or Costco and have them check your wheel nut torque.  

[truckguy82]

4 minutes ago, Donstar said:

I'd simply go back to the dealer and have them make it right.  Ignore the shock and dreaded chevy shake theories.  Chances are (as happened on my last rotation)  a wheel weight didn't stick. I found it adorning my driveway.  If you are worried while far away from home, I'd pull into my nearest dealer, tire store or Costco and have them check your wheel nut torque.  

Yeah that’s what I’ll do.

 

they kinda hooked me up though. Only charged me  30 minutes of labor for each one. I think when they priced me they thought they were doing the whole assembly and it was just in and out.

 

I didn’t want to say “fix this problem its on you” when they already did me a favor.

 

Not to mention they gave me a 2019 denali ultimate as a loaner lol

[Ozer]

Similar mine just got a free rotation from Dunn Tire (part of my tire purchase deal) and i was fine, after the rotation 70 - 80 i get a noticeable vibration where there wasn't any before.

Ill have to go back and have them check tire balance.