Jump to content

Road noise after level…

Garrett Haight
 Share

Recommended Posts

Garrett Haight Enthusiast

Garrett Haight

Posted
Posted

I had a shop put a 2” RC leveling kit on my 2020 Sierra and ever since then the road noise is has been very bad. It’s like all I hear when driving it now. Just a whirling sound all the time that goes up and down in frequency. Never noticed it as much without the level. On gravel roads, the suspension is not deadening any of the sound from the road, just a constant whirling. However, on a perfectly smooth road, it’s as smooth as ice and I can’t hear anything hardly but once I get on a smooth but grittier road the same whirling sound comes back. I was wondering since there’s not as much weight on the front now if that’s why I’m getting so much road noise now. I haven’t gotten an alignment yet either but seriously think that wouldn’t help as much as I’d hope. Any ideas? 

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted

Did you have it aligned after installing the level?  Everything tight?  Any CV boots ripped?

 

No weight was taken off the front of the truck BTW.  Its not like you put 400lbs in the bed of the truck against the tailgate to "level" the front.  That is how you take weight off the front.  

  • Like 1
andrewb24 Enthusiast

andrewb24

Posted
Posted

I installed mine myself and it made squealing noise when driving it after the install but it ended up being the brake dust cover got bent and just had to bend it back out.  Maybe thats all that is wrong with yours.   Take the wheel off and spin the rotor with your hands and see if it makes noise and then find where the flimsy dust cover is touching and bend it back away from the rotor.

Garrett Haight Enthusiast

Garrett Haight

Posted
  • Author
Posted
13 minutes ago, newdude said:

Did you have it aligned after installing the level?  Everything tight?  Any CV boots ripped?

 

No weight was taken off the front of the truck BTW.  Its not like you put 400lbs in the bed of the truck against the tailgate to "level" the front.  That is how you take weight off the front.  

It has not been aligned yet. For comparison, I drove the same truck except it had the 2 inch lift (not level) and it was night and day difference. The steering felt heavier along with the front of the truck. That’s why I was thinking the weight has shifted towards the rear. The whirling noise could have been there before the level and since it’s a new truck I’m just not used to the road noise it normally makes. Getting an alignment on Monday, along with tires balanced/rotated. Hoping it will correct the issue. I can live with it but I’m considering lifting rear now to force more weight back on steering. 

Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

Posted
Posted
43 minutes ago, Garrett Haight said:

I had a shop put a 2” RC leveling kit on my 2020 Sierra and ever since then the road noise is has been very bad. It’s like all I hear when driving it now. 

Why wasn't your first response to take it back to the shop? 

Garrett Haight Enthusiast

Garrett Haight

Posted
  • Author
Posted
13 minutes ago, andrewb24 said:

I installed mine myself and it made squealing noise when driving it after the install but it ended up being the brake dust cover got bent and just had to bend it back out.  Maybe thats all that is wrong with yours.   Take the wheel off and spin the rotor with your hands and see if it makes noise and then find where the flimsy dust cover is touching and bend it back away from the rotor.

It’s not a squeal, like I said in OP, on a perfectly smooth road, the noise goes away, but as soon as the road gets grittier, the road noise becomes very noticeable, more so than I noticed before leveling the truck. I drove my fathers diesel 2020 half ton gmc and his has the 2 inch lift and it was very solid and not as noticeable road noise.

Garrett Haight Enthusiast

Garrett Haight

Posted
  • Author
Posted
2 minutes ago, Donstar said:

Why wasn't your first response to take it back to the shop? 

I called the shop and talked to them about it. They suggested getting an alignment which I’m getting on Monday. 

  • Like 1
aseibel Senior Enthusiast

aseibel

Posted
Posted

The "road noise" as you call it likely is due to the tires. Your modification has changed the way the tires interface with the road surface. You didn't say if they are OEM or oversize. Oversize tires are just plain louder.

How many miles on the current tires? how often do you rotate them? are they worn unevenly at all?

Getting an alignment and making sure your air pressure is correct will make a big difference.

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted
13 minutes ago, Garrett Haight said:

It has not been aligned yet. For comparison, I drove the same truck except it had the 2 inch lift (not level) and it was night and day difference. The steering felt heavier along with the front of the truck. That’s why I was thinking the weight has shifted towards the rear. The whirling noise could have been there before the level and since it’s a new truck I’m just not used to the road noise it normally makes. Getting an alignment on Monday, along with tires balanced/rotated. Hoping it will correct the issue. I can live with it but I’m considering lifting rear now to force more weight back on steering. 

 

 

The steering feel has changed because of the alignment being off.  Raising the nose up 2 inches those tires are toed in pretty good right now.  Leveling changes all of the geometrical angles of the CV, control arms and most importantly the tie rod ends. 

 

Your tires went from |  |  to  /  \  from the toe being too inwards now.  

Garrett Haight Enthusiast

Garrett Haight

Posted
  • Author
Posted
18 minutes ago, aseibel said:

The "road noise" as you call it likely is due to the tires. Your modification has changed the way the tires interface with the road surface. You didn't say if they are OEM or oversize. Oversize tires are just plain louder.

How many miles on the current tires? how often do you rotate them? are they worn unevenly at all?

Getting an alignment and making sure your air pressure is correct will make a big difference.

The tires are OEM with 14K miles on them. I just purchased the truck used so I’m unsure about the rotation schedule or if they’ve been balanced yet. Hoping an alignment cuts down the road (tire) noise a little more. Just seems way more noticeable than before the level, every little rough patch in road can be easily heard. 

Garrett Haight Enthusiast

Garrett Haight

Posted
  • Author
Posted
21 minutes ago, newdude said:

 

 

The steering feel has changed because of the alignment being off.  Raising the nose up 2 inches those tires are toed in pretty good right now.  Leveling changes all of the geometrical angles of the CV, control arms and most importantly the tie rod ends. 

 

Your tires went from |  |  to  /  \  from the toe being too inwards now.  

Thanks for the response. Yeah that makes sense. You think an alignment will help with the sound issue at least? I’m going to have the tire shop check everything while they’re down there and that nothing was damaged in the install of the leveling kit. 

lapoolboy Senior Enthusiast

lapoolboy

Posted
Posted
16 minutes ago, Garrett Haight said:

Thanks for the response. Yeah that makes sense. You think an alignment will help with the sound issue at least? I’m going to have the tire shop check everything while they’re down there and that nothing was damaged in the install of the leveling kit. 

Yes an alignment will help.  Your tires are scrubbing going down the road essentially chewing rubber off of them.  This is going to make noise.  Get an alignment ASAP unless you like spending money on tires.

 

Also, the truck will still make more noise than you were used to because you've now changed the airflow under and around the truck.  

  • Like 1
Garrett Haight Enthusiast

Garrett Haight

Posted
  • Author
Posted
22 minutes ago, lapoolboy said:

Yes an alignment will help.  Your tires are scrubbing going down the road essentially chewing rubber off of them.  This is going to make noise.  Get an alignment ASAP unless you like spending money on tires.

 

Also, the truck will still make more noise than you were used to because you've now changed the airflow under and around the truck.  

I hear the same whirling sound going over gravel too and I didn’t hear it that well when I test drive a brand new one off the lot after the level. I know the brand new one had 15 miles on the tires whereas mine have 14K miles on them. Same tires but mine aren’t aligned either. Could that cause that much noise reverberating in the suspension? It feels like it’s absorbing too much sound from what the tires are riding on, gravel, semi rough roads. Perfectly paved and the sound is very minimal and what I consider “Normal”. Just wasn’t sure an alignment could play that much of an impact. 

Garrett Haight Enthusiast

Garrett Haight

Posted
  • Author
Posted
26 minutes ago, lapoolboy said:

Yes an alignment will help.  Your tires are scrubbing going down the road essentially chewing rubber off of them.  This is going to make noise.  Get an alignment ASAP unless you like spending money on tires.

 

Also, the truck will still make more noise than you were used to because you've now changed the airflow under and around the truck.  

I’ve had bad tires before and it sounds like they’re not making an aligned contact on the road but when my 115K mile Ford is quieter than my brand new GMC, something is off. 

Garrett Haight Enthusiast

Garrett Haight

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Like I said earlier, I can just hear way too much road noise almost to a point I can’t see tires being aligned making that big of a difference….? I could be wrong and hopefully I am. 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • lanaderay
      5 Best Slide Down Gameplay Tips! 

      By lanaderay · Posted

      Are you playing Slide Down endlessly but your score is still low? Are you constantly crashing into obstacles as the game speed increases? Don't worry, this article will share 5 invaluable tips to help you master the race and impress your friends. Golden Rules 1. Look one step further. The mistake of 90% of new players is only staring at their character. The secret of experts is to look towards the top of the screen (where the slide is about to appear). This gives your brain an extra 0.5 - 1 second to process the situation and determine the direction of movement before the obstacle approaches. 2. Use gentle movements; don't swipe too hard. Slide Down is very sensitive. Moving your finger too forcefully or with excessive amplitude will cause your character to be thrown off course or crash into a wall. Practise moving your finger with small, decisive, and precise movements. 3. Don't be greedy for gold in dangerous locations. Gold coins are tempting for buying skins, but life is more important. If you see a gold coin right on the edge of a cliff or next to a spike trap, ignore it. Our goal is a High Score, and your score only increases if you survive. 4. Make the most of Power-ups. During the slide, you'll encounter items like Magnets (attract gold) or Shields (temporary invincibility). Never miss them! Especially the Shield, it's your "get out of jail free card" to help you get through those deadly fast sections. 5. Stay calm when speed peaks. When your score exceeds 500 or 1000, the game speed will be very fast. At this point, don't try to think logically; let your natural reflexes work. Take deep breaths and don't panic. Apply these 5 tips to your next game, and your leaderboard will surely improve dramatically. Good luck climbing the Slide Down leaderboard!
    • lingyuair
      Why I Recommend a Desiccant Air Dryer for Cleaner, Drier Compressed Air

      By lingyuair · Posted

      If you use compressed air regularly, one problem you cannot ignore is moisture. Water in the air line can cause rust, unstable air pressure, poor tool performance, and even damage to sensitive equipment. That is why I highly recommend using a desiccant air dryer. A desiccant air dryer is designed to remove moisture from compressed air by using drying materials such as activated alumina or molecular sieve. Compared with basic water separators, it can achieve much lower dew points, making it especially useful for applications that require dry and stable air. For workshops, painting systems, pneumatic tools, CNC machines, laser cutting equipment, and industrial production lines, a desiccant air dryer can make a big difference. It helps protect equipment, improve air quality, reduce maintenance costs, and extend the service life of the whole compressed air system. Another advantage is reliability. Many desiccant air dryers are built for continuous operation and can maintain stable drying performance even in demanding environments. For users who care about long-term efficiency and equipment protection, this is a smart investment. When choosing a desiccant air dryer, I suggest paying attention to air flow capacity, working pressure, dew point performance, regeneration method, and maintenance requirements. A good model should match your compressor system and actual air consumption. Overall, if moisture is causing problems in your compressed air system, a desiccant air dryer is definitely worth considering. It is practical, efficient, and highly useful for anyone who needs clean, dry, and reliable compressed air.
    • Jsdirt
      2027 GMC Sierra: Official Discussion

      By Jsdirt · Posted

      My brand new 2007 Silverado's wax frame was rust from end to end partway through it's SECOND winter here in MA. That stuff is completely useless.    
    • Jsdirt
      2027 GMC Sierra: Official Discussion

      By Jsdirt · Posted

      I went another direction after losing a trailer tire, thanks to not being able to access air at ANY of the 5 gas stations and garages I stopped at prior, with a Toyota Tacoma onboard, 50 miles from the Canadian border. They were either out of order, access was blocked, or the hose a few feet too short and I couldn't get any closer without risking damage to someone's property.   https://postimg.cc/gallery/X5QJ55w
    • Another JR
      Remote Start Noise 2024 2500 HD Gas

      By Another JR · Posted

      I took a 12 second video on my iphone but the file is too big to upload. I will have to figure out how to extract the audio or just do another start with an audio recording. 

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...