Problems At Only 8,000 Miles?

DayUSeX · April 8, 2007

Hey everyone 07 classic wt 4.3 already having issues i think?

For one im at basically 8,000 miles atm, only driven the truck for like 3 months maybe.

The brakes squeek like crazy when I come to a stop. If i have music on I cant hear it, but one day i was just driving with no music on and the windows up and heard and thought holy crap!!

Second issue is the truck is bouncy as all hell. Almost feels like the shocks are blown, I checked the struts and they are not leakign oil at all. And it has only been 8,000 miles!!!!

Any ideas?? I mean obviously change the stuff out (lame) but is this a sign of serious issues?

I cant take it into the dealership becuase the idiots are only open monday through friday, so how the f**k does someone who work be able to get their truck fixed, great!

2007GMCSierra · April 8, 2007

GM brakes suck - I just don't know if they suck 8000 miles bad - probably not. That said - so long as you have under 12K on the clock they ought to be fixed for free if there is really something wrong with them. As for the bouncy ride - it is a truck. Even the classic (GMT800) have a nicer ride than most any body on frame truck out there. Doesn't sound like a serious issue to me - especially since the truck is still under a full warranty.

Hey everyone 07 classic wt 4.3 already having issues i think?

For one im at basically 8,000 miles atm, only driven the truck for like 3 months maybe.

The brakes squeek like crazy when I come to a stop. If i have music on I cant hear it, but one day i was just driving with no music on and the windows up and heard and thought holy crap!!

Second issue is the truck is bouncy as all hell. Almost feels like the shocks are blown, I checked the struts and they are not leakign oil at all. And it has only been 8,000 miles!!!!

Any ideas?? I mean obviously change the stuff out (lame) but is this a sign of serious issues?

I cant take it into the dealership becuase the idiots are only open monday through friday, so how the f**k does someone who work be able to get their truck fixed, great!

2004GMC1500CC · April 8, 2007

Hey everyone 07 classic wt 4.3 already having issues i think?

For one im at basically 8,000 miles atm, only driven the truck for like 3 months maybe.

The brakes squeek like crazy when I come to a stop. If i have music on I cant hear it, but one day i was just driving with no music on and the windows up and heard and thought holy crap!!

Second issue is the truck is bouncy as all hell. Almost feels like the shocks are blown, I checked the struts and they are not leakign oil at all. And it has only been 8,000 miles!!!!

Any ideas?? I mean obviously change the stuff out (lame) but is this a sign of serious issues?

I cant take it into the dealership becuase the idiots are only open monday through friday, so how the f**k does someone who work be able to get their truck fixed, great!

Check the tire pressure.

HawkeyeOC · April 8, 2007

Put some weight in the back of your truck. You will be amazed at the difference it makes. A couple hundred pounds will calm the bouncing down nicely. Compared to cars, trucks will always ride rougher when empty.

rogerf · April 8, 2007

I think you need to look at this as independent issues (although some appear to be interrelated) with likely some easy fixes.

The brakes squeek like crazy when I come to a stop. If i have music on I cant hear it, but one day i was just driving with no music on and the windows up and heard and thought holy crap!!

Brake noise (especially squeeking) is frequently tracable to load and/or driving conditions or enviornmental factors such as moisture. Do you haul significant amounts of weight, pull a trailer, or use this truck for stop & go driving conditions? What you describe sounds like glazed pads.

Second issue is the truck is bouncy as all hell. Almost feels like the shocks are blown, I checked the struts and they are not leakign oil at all. And it has only been 8,000 miles!!!!

Are you refering to a harsh ride or sloppy handling. Again, I would ask if you are moving any amount of weight and did you get the trailering/handling package (which can help control a heavy load)? Watch you tire pressures carefully, over-inflating will cause a harsh ride on an empty truck, under-inflating will cause sloppy handling with a heavy load. Adjust according to your load.

The sloppy handing is something I had experienced on my '97 Chevy 1500 W/T but not until it was 8 yrs old and approaching 100K miles. Replaced the shocks with gas-matics and replaced the swaybar link hardware/bushings/frame blocks, this time used urethane bushings. Made a world of difference but still had some slop from the soft sidewall tires. The stiffer "LT" rated tires I had on the rear helped significantly with handling.

I cant take it into the dealership becuase the idiots are only open monday through friday, so how the f**k does someone who work be able to get their truck fixed, great!

Running 8K miles in 3 months says a lot about how much you depend on this truck. I would call you dealer and try to work something out to get this serviced. Most dealers I've dealt with will attempt to accommodate you needs if they know your situation.

ken1mod · April 8, 2007

My '00 brakes are great. They snub my silvy ane 4000 lb boat down great. No complaints.

ken

DayUSeX · April 8, 2007

Well this truck does have racks and a box, and carrys ALL my tools almos constantly (enough for about 2 people to do 2 rough and finish jobs by themselves.

There is no handling package, Anything I should add, I dont mind spending money

Asfor tire pressure, they are currently at 33psi cold and get checked twice a month

burnrider · April 9, 2007

Well this truck does have racks and a box, and carrys ALL my tools almos constantly (enough for about 2 people to do 2 rough and finish jobs by themselves.

There is no handling package, Anything I should add, I dont mind spending money

Asfor tire pressure, they are currently at 33psi cold and get checked twice a month

Good call on the tire pressure. The tire dealer told me 35 psi and the center was showing noticable wear at 10,000. I reduced it to 33 psi as well and it does help the ride. It also makes the steering more stable, but mine is an old chev w/o a rack and pinion steering. I added a sway bar in the rear and it did help stabilize the truck in turning. I also had 3/4 ton chev coil springs installed in the front. You still get a bouncy ride (without weight), but a much more stable ride when turning. The sway bar was manufactured by Hellwig, in it's day, it was $125.

The front spring replacement was about $300.

It might be a good idea to talk to a fleet mechanic for a company using the trucks daily with a certain amount of weight they carry daily (ie city or state shop people) or suspension shops contracting that type of work.

03blackburb · April 9, 2007

Sounds like you need to speak to a service writer and schedule an appointment to get the truck in. The dealers around here open at 7 AM and close at 7PM. They also have an after hours dropbox. Also have some Saturday hours. Either way they are accomidating.

Or is the problem that you have the truck "working" 24/7? In that case to avoid any missed worked time, you should bit the bullet and buy another truck. Sounds like with the mileage you put on the truck you are averaging about 25 K per year. How do you handle normal maintanance and upkeep on the vehicle. I have not found any shops, dealer or other wise that work third shift.

DayUSeX · April 9, 2007

maitence, i do myself

I change the oil with synthetic when the OLM comes on (has not yet), and really what else needs to be done?

Since everyone at work has silverado's we have a set of spare company 17's that people will use while their other rims get new tires on them, kind of nice.

Other than that major issues would be taken on by the dealership (woohoo warranty), and should be give a rental until it is all better.

As for another vehicle i ahve two other beside the truck but they are DEFIANTLY not work vehicles

*gently hugs ws6*

03blackburb · April 9, 2007

Brakes, belts, hoses, tires. Sounds like you work 24/7. You ever take a day off?

DayUSeX · April 9, 2007

about 3 times a month i take a day off.

Brakes take what, an hour to do?

Belts, the serptine takes about 10 minutes to do

Hoses have yet to do those

tires i explained.

rogerf · April 9, 2007

Was a fleet owner for @ 10 years so I find it refreshing to see someone working a truck hard.

I think you explained the handling issue. Racks & tool boxes (assume the tool boxes are mounted high across the bed) and don't have the trailering package. The stiffer swaybar in the handling package would help. Adding a sway bar to the rear suspension is probably the best fix for the problem. You will still need to watch the tire situation and consider LT rated tires when the time comes. Wouldn't recommend this all the time but I slightly over-inflated my soft P-rated tires to compensate for heavy loads in a pinch.

Don't count on a loaner for warranty service. It will be entertaining to see you stuff your tools into an Aveo!

DayUSeX · April 9, 2007

LOL i could deal with the aveo, i dont need ALL my tools, just take what i need and only what I need. though still there are those freak occurances that happen every other day where you are like o thank God that is buried somewhere in my truck.