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Comments
Gord
As far as starting your own investigation, good luck....you may want to try www.nhtsa.com and www.alldata.com to start with
Dean
John
I'm shocked about your findings on the frame. In case I didn't state earlier, my truck is 4wd, so no rack and pinion, but no stabilizer either. My '99 silverado has 29,800 miles, and never has had vibrations or steering wheel shimmys, or aftershocks from going over bumps. But as much as we think these are all Silverados, the 4wd is just a different truck, no coil springs, just torsion bars, recirculating ball steering mechanism...different truck I think explains why it doesn't share the same problems. I've followed these vibration threads for a long time, but didn't belief it for quite a while because there is no hint of this problem with mine....therefore you can't be having it either. Wrong! Still, these frame weldments and steering box changes are major, and are very likely the fix everyone with the 65-70 vibes has been waiting for...so I anxiously await the results. I think you are getting to the bottom of this problem. Like you, I'm frustrated with the GM response, not personal in my case, but after reading your trials and tribulations, I still get indignant over it.
Hopefully this TSB will solve the problem. I had a front tire changed two weeks ago. Dealer said was defective. I'm beginning to question that cause I checked the opposite side tire. The pressure has been checked every week, set at max cold pressure of 35 psi...the amount of feathering on the tire is unbelieveable both on the in and outer tracks, completely scuffed everytime I check them. I suspect that this tire would be replaced under warranty also, this time not Michelin but by GM as the truck is the cause not the tire. My "kit" should arrive at anytime now since it's been almost two weeks. Will post results.
There is, however, a new problem that has surfaced since my steering fix. When I turn the truck to the left there is a high pitched squealing noise, like the noise you get when you turn the steering wheel too far. It only happens when I turn to the left. I noticed it right after I had the steering kit installed, so I wonder if it has something to do with the new metering valve that was installed. I talked to the dealer today about it, and he said they were aware of this problem and that they had received an administrative notice on it and that there would be a service bulletin issued on it soon. He said the fix had to do with a revised gear box.
Overall I'm happy with the fix, I'd much rather have a little squeal when I make a left turn than a shimmy in my steering wheel. If anyone else knows about this steering sqeal issue, I'd appreciate any information on it.
Ken
There are rubber pads that limit the amount of turn made by the tire. These pads actually rub against the inside of the tire. We used to place a little grease on these pads to eliminate the squeal.
1st: As you all know, my vibration was corrected with the new rim....however, I still have steering sensitivity to the roadway and I feel every bump. But the vibration was cured.
2nd: Occasionally I get a steering wheel shimmy when I hit the R/R tracks, etc....(just like the rest of you).
3rd: My seats and cup holder also shake a litte but I contribute that to steer sensitivity. They usally maintain a constant shake when I'm riding alone.
Question: I talked to my dealer about the new TSB and he said he would put it on if I wanted. He also suggested that if I could live with what I had, he would alter the truck anymore. What I don't want to happen here is fix something that ain't broke...or have more problems after the new system is installed. Think I should go for it, or live the the road sensitivity?
Kansan....how is your road sensitivity now? Does you cup holder/seats still shake?
Thanks for opinions.....
JOhn
I also found out that he (service) has already placed the kit on a truck (Z71 reg. cab--buyback) that had severe vibrations when going around a curve. I've noticed the truck on the rack for about 2 months. Anyway, he said the new kit worked and that they're re-selling the truck at an auction.
Thanks John
Dean
Does anyone know of a given bulletin that addresses a fix for this, it would be helpful when I go to the dealer.
As others have stated a vibration in the seats and cupholders when going at higher speeds, I still experience this even after have the rack and control arms changed. Not sure if this other problem is just characteristic of these trucks or what.
As stated in an earlier post from kansan about tire balancing being off after 1000 miles, a technician at an alignment & chassis shop said that the new trucks having more torque and use of aluminum wheels, it's possible that the tires are slipping on the rims under hard starts and stops causing them to become out-of-balance.
did you have your tires rebalanced after the TSB update?
its true that the tires will slip maybe up to an inch when first mounted....and why GOOD tire shops will either let the truck/car sit for a while to dry out or at minimum let you know to take it easy on the driving for a day or so. Maybe we could copy the guys from NHRA and install the screws around the rim to prevent tire slippage?
Post 457- did you try and have the dealer rotate and balance the tires again? how about having the truck aligned? what is the manufacture date of the truck?
On the subject of tires, my dealer had upgraded my P255/70R16 Generals to LT275/70R16 Michelin LTX M/S and I paid the difference. They have ordered the "kit" for me and I'm waiting for its arrival. The service manager, service advisor, shop foreman, general manager, and tech all read the TSB with great interest and not one mentioned anything about the truck tires that I have on now.
You had mentioned in your post that the TSB is for a steering problem, which fortunately you do not have. The vibration that I am experiencing is in the front end and transmitted to the steering via the rack and pinion. What type of vibration do you have that the dealer won’t help you cause of your tires? Have you considered going to another dealership? I would consider another dealer and also open a file with GM so that everything is on record should you pursue a buyback. my $.02
EMPLOYEES ARE WELL VERSED AS TO HOW TO RESPOND
AND WILL DENY ANY KNOWLEGDE OF PROBLEMS UNLESS
PRESSURED. TSB'S SHOULD BE A REGULAR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AT ANY SERVICE DEPT. AND IT IS HARD
TO BELEIVE THAT NO DEALER IN YOUR AREA KNEW OF IT.
[THIS POST IS REFERING TO POST 451]
The service manager must be feeding me a line as usual..... the truck I saw on the rack was a Z71 step-side and he told me he was replacing items, etc. to be sold at auction. When I told him about the TSB (he didn't know it was released until I told him), he said that was what he was doing to the Z71 on the rack. Typical BS....
JOhn
jed1894
Sorry to hear about your service manager. These things happen a little too often if you ask me. The BS that is...
Dean
It was the first attempt at this TSB for the dealership, so the shop foreman has taken an interest in my vehicle. He even did some of the work to make sure it followed the bulletin. So far the fix seems to be working. I took it up to 75 mph yesterday on a stretch of highway that normally made the steering vibrate. I had no hint of vibration. In fact the steering is much tighter now. I also tried sharp turns to the left and did not hear the "squeal" that a few others had posted about. Hopefully that doesn't appear in the next few days. The only complaint that I have is minor. My steering wheel is not centered perfectly anymore. The truck does seem to be aligned correctly but I guess they did not center the steering perfectly before completing the job. It is much better than a vibrating or jerking wheel. Best of luck to others who are undergoing this fix.
On a side note, anyone out there had their water pump die yet. Mine started leaking through the weep hole about a month ago (9700 mi mark). Had to have a new pump put in.
All of these "quality" problems are really making me want to get rid of this vehicle before the warranty runs out. Oil leak, water pump, and steering vibes are a lot in less than 10k miles.
Rico
2000 base model (built 7/99 in Ontario), ext cab, 2WD, Auto, AC, 3.42
For the life of me, I cannot understand why GM would put rack and pinion on a truck.
I crawled under my truck last night to check over what they did. Looks like they replaced all the applicable parts, but...... All four of the rubber dust boots on the upper and lower ball joints where split and grease was all over them. It looks like they used the old pickle fork to separate them instead of pressing them out. This tool works fine for old ball joint or tie rod ends that are worn out, but not on good ones. Been there, done that. The dust boots on my new rancho shocks were all stretched and crumpled up. Shocks were scratched up. The weld on the reinforcement plate looks like someone did it blindfolded. Couldn't tell if they used all the caulking/sealer per the TSB, but they did spray undercoating on it. Also looked like they replaced the outer tie rods even though the tsb does not call for it. Dust boots were fine on them.
So guess I'll be making another trip back to the dealer to see how they are going to fix the "fix". If I have anything to say about it, they can pay someone else to fix it. I don't have much trust in them doing it right. Later.
Good luck to everyone else,
Ken
Dean
John
2nd: What would happen to the wear of my tires if I lowered tire pressure to 30 or 32 psi for a smoother ride?
Thanks
John
If you lowered the tires too much, you will show excessive wear on the inner and outer tracks of the tire, as with overinflation, the middle of the tire shows more wear. At 30psi you might start to show excessive wear on the inner and outer tracks. Just keep an eye out for the wear and you should be alright.
Dean
Regarding the new TSB (fix): having heard a few horror stories about the fix, I'm having second thoughts about trying it on my truck. The only real problem I'm having now is the seat/cup holder shake/vibration....a little towing vibration too. The ride is not as smooth as my other Silverado. Wonder if they'll do half of the new TSB work for correct the rough ride? Which component would correct the rough/sensitivity ride?
John
our vibrating 2000 Silverado 2WD Extended cab, 5.3. Truck was mfg. in 7/99 in Canada and sat somewhere until we purchased it in April. We didn't get much help from the dealer and didn't want the TSB performed. To anyone thinking about the dispute resolution process, GO FOR IT cause it wasn't as bad as we imagined. GM was not very well prepared when we attended the hearing and basically sounded like all of their service managers! We will be checking out the 2001 Silverados soon.