Vibration after dealer installed bilsteins?

[A.J. Curtis]

1 hour ago, truckguy82 said:

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?

Even though they installed the Bilsteins on the lowest setting you 100% need a front end alignment.

Bilstein states in the instructions that you need to get an alignment no matter what height setting you have. 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qt83y99ws2lg7ll/Bilstein shock instructions E4-WM5-Y458A00.pdf?dl=0

 

 

Here are a few items to check after an alignment if the problem is still there.

1. Re torque all your lug nuts

2. Verify that both the driver & passenger retaining clips are in the same position and locked in place.

3. Verify that both the driver & passenger springs are seated correctly on the upper and lower perches.

 

 

[captainzombie]

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?

 

By any chance, what did the dealer charge you for installing the Bilsteins? I have the Ranchos in mine and boy do they sometimes suck.

[truckguy82]

14 minutes ago, captainzombie said:

 

By any chance, what did the dealer charge you for installing the Bilsteins? I have the Ranchos in mine and boy do they sometimes suck.

Rears I did myself, they are really easy and anybody that has ever turned a wrench should do them on their own. It’s literally two bolts.

 

I had the dealer do my fronts at 1/2 labor for each shock. Costed me $120 in labor.

 

I had just bilsteins on the rear for like 6 months. I thought it solved most of the ride issue and wasn’t in a rush for the fronts. Man was i wrong, ride is so much better with the fronts on.

 

Don’t wait to put them on.

[crankman]

Rotate the tires back to the front as before see if vibration goes away. Had the same thing on my 1500 and the second I rotated the fronts to the rear the vibration disappeared on mine. Then I knew for sure one of my rear tires needed balancing. 

[Baldhills]

9 hours ago, truckguy82 said:

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.

Yes. Alignment IS needed. 

[Darmichar]

22 hours ago, 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.

 

 

Which nut on the leaf spring?  I have a slight shake at 70-80 and am willing to try anything. 

Dealer has stated they're willing to chase this issue with me even to the point of replacement, but I refuse to go through that just to get another truck that shakes.  I'd rather take a little time trying whatever it takes to make this truck right.

[Sierra Dan]

All 8. The leaf spring U Bolts nuts.

Mine were only somewhere around 50-55ft lb

It was not terrible before like some have reported.

The only way I could tell I had a vibration or shimmy/shake was looking over at the empty passenger seatback and headrest.

 

[MaverickZ71]

Gotta love posters like truckguy82.  He asks for thoughts, then scolds and argues with the responders.  The obvious answer is "take it back to the dealer" but he doesn't want to confront them, because they "hooked him up". 

 

Frakkin' snowflake. 

 

PS  The front suspension on your truck has COILOVER shock units that contain the springs.  Not just shocks!  If you're gonna argue, at least have a basic knowledge of what you're talking about!

[truckguy82]

11 minutes ago, MaverickZ71 said:

Gotta love posters like truckguy82.  He asks for thoughts, then scolds and argues with the responders.  The obvious answer is "take it back to the dealer" but he doesn't want to confront them, because they "hooked him up". 

 

Frakkin' snowflake. 

 

PS  The front suspension on your truck has COILOVER shock units that contain the springs.  Not just shocks!  If you're gonna argue, at least have a basic knowledge of what you're talking about!

I was looking for expert advice, not “you just should do an alignment just because thats what I heard somewhere”

 

I am well aware of the shock/coilover assembly and have changed shocks, springs, coilover assemblies, tie rods, wheel bearings, sway bars, etc etc etcand I’ve even done a few alignments

 

What I’m not aware of and what most others don’t seem to be aware of, is the particular procedure for our trucks. Also if you don’t increase the height of the truck and you don’t actually move anything that adjusts camber/caster/toe, why do you need an alignment? Because bilstein adds a generic line in their installation instructions to get an alignment done after installing an adjustable height shock which in 80% of installations people are adjusting the height?

 

why don’t I want an alignment? Because what many of you don’t understand is if the alignment is actually good, which is was spot on, I sure as hell don’t want somebody changing it.

 

If you’ve ever done an alignment with a modern hunter machine, you’d know it takes a long ass time to do it correctly and there is no way your typical technician does it like that in your typical 20 minute alignment. Finding someone to do a grade A alignment job is near impossible, and that’s what I had before I took the truck in and am hoping a still have now, a perfect alignment.

 

Also I said I would take it to the dealer I just want to be informed. I also am taking it to the dealer. I listened to one of the few good posts and came to my senses that it’s probably just a wheel weight that fell off.

 

So pretty much everything you just said is wrong.

[O_J_Simpson]

1 hour ago, truckguy82 said:

I was looking for expert advice, not “you just should do an alignment just because thats what I heard somewhere”

 

I am well aware of the shock/coilover assembly and have changed shocks, springs, coilover assemblies, tie rods, wheel bearings, sway bars, etc etc etcand I’ve even done a few alignments

 

What I’m not aware of and what most others don’t seem to be aware of, is the particular procedure for our trucks. Also if you don’t increase the height of the truck and you don’t actually move anything that adjusts camber/caster/toe, why do you need an alignment? Because bilstein adds a generic line in their installation instructions to get an alignment done after installing an adjustable height shock which in 80% of installations people are adjusting the height?

 

why don’t I want an alignment? Because what many of you don’t understand is if the alignment is actually good, which is was spot on, I sure as hell don’t want somebody changing it.

 

If you’ve ever done an alignment with a modern hunter machine, you’d know it takes a long ass time to do it correctly and there is no way your typical technician does it like that in your typical 20 minute alignment. Finding someone to do a grade A alignment job is near impossible, and that’s what I had before I took the truck in and am hoping a still have now, a perfect alignment.

 

Also I said I would take it to the dealer I just want to be informed. I also am taking it to the dealer. I listened to one of the few good posts and came to my senses that it’s probably just a wheel weight that fell off.

 

So pretty much everything you just said is wrong.

It is OK. The vibration is normal and everyone else here trying to help is triggering your emotions because they are not "experts" as you are looking for.

[A.J. Curtis]

50 minutes ago, truckguy82 said:

I was looking for expert advice, not “you just should do an alignment just because thats what I heard somewhere”

 

I am well aware of the shock/coilover assembly and have changed shocks, springs, coilover assemblies, tie rods, wheel bearings, sway bars, etc etc etcand I’ve even done a few alignments

 

What I’m not aware of and what most others don’t seem to be aware of, is the particular procedure for our trucks. Also if you don’t increase the height of the truck and you don’t actually move anything that adjusts camber/caster/toe, why do you need an alignment? Because bilstein adds a generic line in their installation instructions to get an alignment done after installing an adjustable height shock which in 80% of installations people are adjusting the height?

 

why don’t I want an alignment? Because what many of you don’t understand is if the alignment is actually good, which is was spot on, I sure as hell don’t want somebody changing it.

 

If you’ve ever done an alignment with a modern hunter machine, you’d know it takes a long ass time to do it correctly and there is no way your typical technician does it like that in your typical 20 minute alignment. Finding someone to do a grade A alignment job is near impossible, and that’s what I had before I took the truck in and am hoping a still have now, a perfect alignment.

 

Also I said I would take it to the dealer I just want to be informed. I also am taking it to the dealer. I listened to one of the few good posts and came to my senses that it’s probably just a wheel weight that fell off.

 

So pretty much everything you just said is wrong.

 

 

It could be as simple as a wheel weight, or a improperly torqued lug nut,  or even loose U bolts which is a common problem, but you will still need an alignment. Your alignment was "spot on" from the factory with the OEM coil overs. You have installed after market coil overs at "factory height" that is not 100% identical to the OEM coil over height. You know how complicated an alignment is, so what if the driver side coil over is 1/64 higher than the OEM coil over? Would your factory alignment still be intact? The GM repair Service manual says to do an alignment check when doing a coil over swap and Bilstein says it as well. Just because your dealer says you do not need it does not make it so. Have him show you the repair Manuel where it says it is not needed. 

We are trying to help you.  

I show you the instructions from bilstein yet you feel you know more than GM and the manufacture of the product you had installed. 

 

I truly hope the vibration gets fixed no matter what the cause is, and please let us know what the cause and solution was. It could be something someone has not heard of yet!

[truckguy82]

14 minutes ago, A.J. Curtis said:

 

 

It could be as simple as a wheel weight, or a improperly torqued lug nut,  or even loose U bolts which is a common problem, but you will still need an alignment. Your alignment was "spot on" from the factory with the OEM coil overs. You have installed after market coil overs at "factory height" that is not 100% identical to the OEM coil over height. You know how complicated an alignment is, so what if the driver side coil over is 1/64 higher than the OEM coil over? Would your factory alignment still be intact? The GM repair Service manual says to do an alignment check when doing a coil over swap and Bilstein says it as well. Just because your dealer says you do not need it does not make it so. Have him show you the repair Manuel where it says it is not needed. 

We are trying to help you.  

I show you the instructions from bilstein yet you feel you know more than GM and the manufacture of the product you had installed. 

 

I truly hope the vibration gets fixed no matter what the cause is, and please let us know what the cause and solution was. It could be something someone has not heard of yet!

I did not swap the coilovers, this is just a shock install.

 

Hell yes I would get an alignment if I used aftermarket coilovers.

[truckguy82]

20 minutes ago, O_J_Simpson said:

It is OK. The vibration is normal and everyone else here trying to help is triggering your emotions because they are not "experts" as you are looking for.

If you know a way of telling people that you already know more than them about the suspension and I’m looking for very specific help and doesn’t make me sound like a dbag, please let me know. Because I don’t see any nicer way of putting it other than not responding to them which could be considered more inconsiderate.

[A.J. Curtis]

10 minutes ago, truckguy82 said:

I did not swap the coilovers, this is just a shock install.

 

Hell yes I would get an alignment if I used aftermarket coilovers.

 The "shock"  once they swap the oem spring on is a coil over! Jesus dude!!!!!

 

"Bilstein B8 5100 (Ride Height Adjustable) shock absorbers are designed for trucks and SUV's with a front OE Coilover style suspension."

 

 

Did you completely change the front suspension to a different design like Leaf spring or torsion bar?

[tbarn]

You do NOT need an alignment because of shock replacement only. Alignments are done via upper control arms and tie rods. NONE of this changes when replacing front shocks on your truck as long as it is the same height. If it truly started after they worked on it then you have a tire balance/road force issue.