Drivetrain Clunk

SparkySparks · April 28, 2009

I’ve had my 2008 Silverado for around 9 months now and only have about 5200 miles on it. I buddy of mine has the Texas Edition version of my truck and has had it for about a year longer then I have had mine and about 3 times more miles on his. We both drive about the same but he gets to do more highway driving where as mine is mostly city. We both have the same problem where we get a “clunk” from the drive train. At first we both thought it might be the transmission getting stuck in second and then down shifting. It mainly seems to happen after being stopped for a few seconds, but it also happens while slowing down and taking off. I noticed that the harder you stop the harder the clunk. I took it to the dealer and they said this was a known issue with the 08’s and they could fix it. Said it was cause by the slip yoke not being greased correctly which would cause the driveshaft to stick and the clunk was from it becoming unstuck. The service manager told me a few people have had the same problem and they fixed it right up. My truck was fixed for a couple of weeks but its doing it again. Some times it is so bad it feels like the guy behind me just bumped me. Anyone else heard of this problem or has had it happen to them? Going to take my truck back again so they can take a look at it but I don’t want to go in every month or so and have them work on it. Might also try and get my seat covers replace, can’t keep the lint off of them.

Grungir · April 28, 2009

Ive had the same thing occasionally happen with mine... mostly happens when coming to a stop. It doesnt seem to matter what the speed is either.

2007 Sierra CC

Sigmawess · April 28, 2009

I have the same problem. In fact 3 dudes at work with GMT900 have the same problem. I was told it was a characteristic of the truck and was normal.

SparkySparks · April 28, 2009

I have the same problem. In fact 3 dudes at work with GMT900 have the same problem. I was told it was a characteristic of the truck and was normal.

I kind of have a problem with thinking this is normal, some times it is really bad, maybe normal as in multiple people have the issue. Any chance of this causing other problems down the line? I'll let you all know what the dealer says when I take it back this weekend.

Stevens03 · April 28, 2009

Either take the soccer ball out of the bed or Repack your slip yoke with grease to make it stop. Dropping the drive shaft and repacking the splines with grease takes about 10 minutes start/finish.

SparkySparks · April 28, 2009

Either take the soccer ball out of the bed or Repack your slip yoke with grease to make it stop. Dropping the drive shaft and repacking the splines with grease takes about 10 minutes start/finish.

Can you over pack the slip yoke, the dealer did it twice during the time left it with them cause it was still doing it when they test drove it the first time. The service manager said they didn't want to over pack it yet after a couple of weeks it is doing it again.

TxQuarterHorse · April 28, 2009

I kind of have a problem with thinking this is normal, some times it is really bad, maybe normal as in multiple people have the issue.

"Normal" is what General Motors calls a problem when they can't figure out what's causing it and they want you to just quit bugging them about it.

My 08 does it, sometimes so badly I'm like you, I think I've gotten rear-ended at a stoplight. I haven't had a chance to get it in and gripe about it yet though. Seems like I read here in another thread that there was an update to the TCM firmware that was supposed to fix it?

Stevens03 · April 28, 2009

On my 03, I had 2 issues that kept coming back. Intermittent steering shaft and the damn slip yoke issue. One of the things they did first was replace the slip yoke with an updated one. About 7-10,000 miles the noise came back. Next time, they replaced it and installed rear leaf insulators to help reduce the noise and bump. Seemed to work for about another 10,000 miles and the bump came back. About every 10,000 miles, I'd drop the drive shaft, re-pack the splines and put the shaft back in and the noise was gone for a while. Do I think they can pack too much,... I suppose you could, but the grease doesn't compact, so You'd have alot of trouble putting the drive shaft back If you did.

I'd give it a try and see if you can make the noise go away.

Good luck

VMax2007 · April 29, 2009

On my 03, I had 2 issues that kept coming back. Intermittent steering shaft and the damn slip yoke issue. One of the things they did first was replace the slip yoke with an updated one. About 7-10,000 miles the noise came back. Next time, they replaced it and installed rear leaf insulators to help reduce the noise and bump. Seemed to work for about another 10,000 miles and the bump came back. About every 10,000 miles, I'd drop the drive shaft, re-pack the splines and put the shaft back in and the noise was gone for a while. Do I think they can pack too much,... I suppose you could, but the grease doesn't compact, so You'd have alot of trouble putting the drive shaft back If you did.

I'd give it a try and see if you can make the noise go away.

Good luck

WTF is an "intermittent steering shaft"??? Is that one that only turns your wheels intermittently?

slomo007 · April 29, 2009

I have this too, and here's my question, if it's not hurting anything (sounds like that's the case) is it really worth worrying about? I agree it's a little annoying but I absolutely hate taking my truck in for warranty work (and risking more damage by dealership employees) for an issue which is not hurting anything at all.

SparkySparks · April 29, 2009

I have this too, and here's my question, if it's not hurting anything (sounds like that's the case) is it really worth worrying about? I agree it's a little annoying but I absolutely hate taking my truck in for warranty work (and risking more damage by dealership employees) for an issue which is not hurting anything at all.

It's not really hurting anything no but when you have a client in the truck or your boss and you stop at the light it always wants to clunk really hard then. Kind of sucks having a new truck with low miles and feeling like your driving your boss and/or clients around in a beater.

nobrakes00 · April 29, 2009

I have this too, and here's my question, if it's not hurting anything (sounds like that's the case) is it really worth worrying about? I agree it's a little annoying but I absolutely hate taking my truck in for warranty work (and risking more damage by dealership employees) for an issue which is not hurting anything at all.

My thoughts exactamundo! ^^^

As for the topic at hand, I had the same prob. Looking at my invoice right now, and here is what the description of action states: "R&R drive shaft and apply lube to shaft splines."

Wingnut · April 29, 2009

I have this too, and here's my question, if it's not hurting anything (sounds like that's the case) is it really worth worrying about? I agree it's a little annoying but I absolutely hate taking my truck in for warranty work (and risking more damage by dealership employees) for an issue which is not hurting anything at all.

Anything that binds that tight and releases with that much force in your drivetrain is going to eventually cause something to fail. Most likely a u-joint. Now...How long that will take? No idea. U-joints aren't known for their longevity either.

Just grease it and be done with it. It really is like a 10-15 minutes job (tops), and that's without power tools. 4 bolts, one wrench.

Stevens03 · April 29, 2009

On my 03, I had 2 issues that kept coming back. Intermittent steering shaft and the damn slip yoke issue. One of the things they did first was replace the slip yoke with an updated one. About 7-10,000 miles the noise came back. Next time, they replaced it and installed rear leaf insulators to help reduce the noise and bump. Seemed to work for about another 10,000 miles and the bump came back. About every 10,000 miles, I'd drop the drive shaft, re-pack the splines and put the shaft back in and the noise was gone for a while. Do I think they can pack too much,... I suppose you could, but the grease doesn't compact, so You'd have alot of trouble putting the drive shaft back If you did.

I'd give it a try and see if you can make the noise go away.

Good luck

WTF is an "intermittent steering shaft"??? Is that one that only turns your wheels intermittently?

I ment to say... Intermediate steering shaft. Still everyone knew what I meant, cause anyone that's had 99-07 classic and even some new 07's have had the issue too.

sc4808 · April 29, 2009

My 03 had the same problem and eventually caused the output bearing to fail in the transfer case, I went to the new replacement yolk and have had no more issues, that was over 100K miles ago.

I did not know that the NBS trucks were having the same issue, WTF, GM can't solve this or what?