Shake it up

[Massfloefi]

Hi guys,

Vehicle is a 2005 Gmc Yukon XL Denali. The issue is the interior cabin vibration when going over choppy roadways. No problem on smooth roads. Vibration amplified at highway speeds when hitting transverse bumps and other road imperfections. Basically all of Nyc and the occasional trips to NJ. Many new parts listed below. I even changed the shocks twice front/rear. With the Bilstein 4600hd's installed it was worse. Newer OE wheels and tires. Condition was the same with old wheels and tires. Very little steering wheel shake and only when the cabin vibration is extreme so I have ruled out intermediate shaft and bearing even though I do think they will need to be replaced in the future. I can find no play in wheel bearings, tie rods and no visual problems with cv joints. Plenty of room for torsion bar adjustment. The truck has also been aligned three times since I have purchased it. Thoughts?

P.s was converted to conventional shocks/springs.

Moog Problem Solver:
Front upper/lower control arms

Moog:
Rear upper/lower control arms
Front/rear sway bar bushings
Rear springs

Ac Delco:
Oe premium monotube shocks
Front/rear sway bar links

Dorman:
Panhard Bar

GM:
Z71 front jouncers

Previous owner:

Mevotech:
Idler arm
Pitman arm

 

[Massfloefi]

After more and more research I think I have to take a harder look at the pitman, idler arm and bracket even though they were changed 6k ago by previous owner.

 

[MrBalll]

I don't know much about all this, but you may check your body mounts. Maybe one rotted and is causing uneven vibration distribution around.

 

[mooman]

was the vibration there before you replaced the front jounce stops?

 

[Rocket Man]

Did you check and replace the swaybar endlinks when you did the bushings?

 

[Massfloefi]

I don't know much about all this, but you may check your body mounts. Maybe one rotted and is causing uneven vibration distribution around.

I found one body mount by the drivers door that isn’t seated fully in the cup. None of bushings look rotted but the metal bases are a mess.

 

[Massfloefi]

was the vibration there before you replaced the front jounce stops?

Yes it was. I tried gm stock ones first and then changed them to Z71 jouncers.

 

[Massfloefi]

Did you check and replace the swaybar endlinks when you did the bushings?

Yes I did replace those. Used Ac delco HD sway bar links.

 

[Massfloefi]

I found clicking and play in the idler arm and or bracket. Raised the vehicle and rocked the tire back and forth at 3 - 9. I also found a noise while spinning the drivers side tire. Couldn’t tell it it was a bad bearing or brake pad rubbing. Not the typical roaring sound I’ve heard from videos. Truck is pulling to the right side so I’ll have to get it aligned again. Still these don’t seem to be issues that would cause this kind of shimmy/shaking. At least not from the definitions behind these parts being faulty.

Had a honest mechanic take a ride with me Saturday. Thinks it is odd. He knows I’ve changed the shocks twice but was adimate about checking them because it feels like the shocks aren’t dampening these types of road imperfections. Leaving it with him tomorrow.

 

[inmypassatlife]

Torque converter shudder

 

[fozzi58]

The roads up here suck. Potholes everywhere. I almost hit a small 'crater' on 287 heading up to Nyack last week.

 

[Massfloefi]

Torque converter shudder

By definition this sounds similar to my problem. Unfortunately my shuddering just doesn't happen while traveling down the road at 40 mph randomly.

 

[Massfloefi]

*Update*

Had the idler arm bracket changed yesterday. Improved steering feel and i believe improved shaking at lower speeds. Driving back to Nyc from NJ on long sweeping turns at turnpike speeds and choppy bumps it is still present.

 

[Tahbro]

*Update*

Had the idler arm bracket changed yesterday. Improved steering feel and i believe improved shaking at lower speeds. Driving back to Nyc from NJ on long sweeping turns at turnpike speeds it is still present.

stupid question but have you checked for a bent wheel? also check to make sure tires aren't separating. I had a tire start to separate and the vibration felt like a terribly balanced wheel on the freeway.

 

[Merc1973]

stupid question but have you checked for a bent wheel? also check to make sure tires aren't separating. I had a tire start to separate and the vibration felt like a terribly balanced wheel on the freeway.

I too had a bend wheel that that caused vibrations.

 

[Massfloefi]

stupid question but have you checked for a bent wheel? also check to make sure tires aren't separating. I had a tire start to separate and the vibration felt like a terribly balanced wheel on the freeway.

Not a stupid question. No I have not yet but I would think the shaking would be present at all times if it was a bent rim.

It seems like there is no damping of the shocks over these types of road imperfections. A chop in the road, a large pothole or a highway traverse causes a vibration/shimmy/shake that starts in the front suspension and seems to travel through the chassis and the cabin. There has been a reduction during straight line travel and I believe lower speed sweeping turns after the idler arm bracket was changed.

Mechanic looked it over and couldn't figure it out. Guys were honest and admitted to not being suspension experts. They did indicate that pushing down ******* the front end felt like the shocks had no give. They suggested maybe trying to run my tire at a lower psi (I run stock 30) and removing the front jouncers to see if there was some kind of improvement.

I have removed the front jouncers which I believe provided a slightly smoother ride. There has been no negative affects in hard braking or turning with them remove. I know I should probably put them back on and I will. I am guessing at this point. Maybe my shocks are having a travel issue?

 

[Massfloefi]

The roads up here suck. Potholes everywhere. I almost hit a small 'crater' on 287 heading up to Nyack last week.

Yes they do. Im surprised there aren't more members complaining about suspension issues because of the roads here.

 

[Tahbro]

Not a stupid question. No I have not yet but I would think the shaking would be present at all times if it was a bent rim.

It seems like there is no damping of the shocks over these types of road imperfections. A chop in the road, a large pothole or a highway traverse causes a vibration/shimmy/shake that starts in the front suspension and seems to travel through the chassis and the cabin. There has been a reduction during straight line travel and I believe lower speed sweeping turns after the idler arm bracket was changed.

Mechanic looked it over and couldn't figure it out. Guys were honest and admitted to not being suspension experts. They did indicate that pushing down ******* the front end felt like the shocks had no give. They suggested maybe trying to run my tire at a lower psi (I run stock 30) and removing the front jouncers to see if there was some kind of improvement.

I have removed the front jouncers which I believe provided a slightly smoother ride. There has been no negative affects in hard braking or turning with them remove. I know I should probably put them back on and I will. I am guessing at this point. Maybe my shocks are having a travel issue?

a bent wheel will present itself at different times depending on how bad it is. just like the balance of the tires. if they are close to perfect you normally wont be able to tell until about 60-70 but eventually will drive out of the vibration the faster you go. with tire separation you will feel it all the time.

Not a stupid question. No I have not yet but I would think the shaking would be present at all times if it was a bent rim.

It seems like there is no damping of the shocks over these types of road imperfections. A chop in the road, a large pothole or a highway traverse causes a vibration/shimmy/shake that starts in the front suspension and seems to travel through the chassis and the cabin. There has been a reduction during straight line travel and I believe lower speed sweeping turns after the idler arm bracket was changed.

Mechanic looked it over and couldn't figure it out. Guys were honest and admitted to not being suspension experts. They did indicate that pushing down ******* the front end felt like the shocks had no give. They suggested maybe trying to run my tire at a lower psi (I run stock 30) and removing the front jouncers to see if there was some kind of improvement.

I have removed the front jouncers which I believe provided a slightly smoother ride. There has been no negative affects in hard braking or turning with them remove. I know I should probably put them back on and I will. I am guessing at this point. Maybe my shocks are having a travel issue?

can you explain a little more. does it happen only when hitting bumps on the freeway? do you feel the vibration or hear it? does it continue after you've hit the bumps? smooth highways at any speed is there an issue? you say vibration, shimmy, and shake all are a little different to me so im trying to pin point it but not sure. a vibration could be small were as a shimmy could mean crossing into another lanes and a shake seems more like a wheel out of balance. sounds like you've done a lot of work to the front end so far so a lot could be ruled out. Just out of curiosity has the truck ever been lifted or lowered? could the torsion bars have been changed to aftermarket? have they been lifted or adjusted in any way? Also do you get bump steer?

 

[Massfloefi]

a bent wheel will present itself at different times depending on how bad it is. just like the balance of the tires. if they are close to perfect you normally wont be able to tell until about 60-70 but eventually will drive out of the vibration the faster you go. with tire separation you will feel it all the time.


can you explain a little more. does it happen only when hitting bumps on the freeway? do you feel the vibration or hear it? does it continue after you've hit the bumps? smooth highways at any speed is there an issue? you say vibration, shimmy, and shake all are a little different to me so im trying to pin point it but not sure. a vibration could be small were as a shimmy could mean crossing into another lanes and a shake seems more like a wheel out of balance. sounds like you've done a lot of work to the front end so far so a lot could be ruled out. Just out of curiosity has the truck ever been lifted or lowered? could the torsion bars have been changed to aftermarket? have they been lifted or adjusted in any way? Also do you get bump steer?

 

[Massfloefi]

a bent wheel will present itself at different times depending on how bad it is. just like the balance of the tires. if they are close to perfect you normally wont be able to tell until about 60-70 but eventually will drive out of the vibration the faster you go. with tire separation you will feel it all the time.


can you explain a little more. does it happen only when hitting bumps on the freeway? do you feel the vibration or hear it? does it continue after you've hit the bumps? smooth highways at any speed is there an issue? you say vibration, shimmy, and shake all are a little different to me so im trying to pin point it but not sure. a vibration could be small were as a shimmy could mean crossing into another lanes and a shake seems more like a wheel out of balance. sounds like you've done a lot of work to the front end so far so a lot could be ruled out. Just out of curiosity has the truck ever been lifted or lowered? could the torsion bars have been changed to aftermarket? have they been lifted or adjusted in any way? Also do you get bump steer?

So I think I maybe getting closer to a solution. If you watch the video you can see a slight wobble in the wheel. Watch to the end you will hear a noise as well. I would ignore the creaking since I believe that was the faulty idler bracket but you can hear the wobble noise quite well. I am thinking bad wheel hub assembly?

The passenger side seems to be making more of the sound found in a failed bearing?