2005 Tahoe 4WD - Help! Bad Shake from 0-45 mph

[Jzona]

I’ve been having a really shaky ride from 0–45 mph, but it goes away around 50 mph. I took it to a sketchy shop after doing a full front-end suspension refresh (control arms, tie rods, etc.), and I think I got a bad alignment.

• The toe looks pointed out on both sides.
• Caster looks tilted inward (top of the wheel angled in).

It just snowed here, so I put it in 4x4, and that’s when I noticed more issues:

• When coasting to a stop in 4WD, I hear a loud groan/moan noise.
• While turning slightly at about 30 mph, there’s binding and grinding—almost like bad CV axles.
• I pulled both CVs and they look fine visually.

The front diff is leaking on the driver side axle seal. I refilled the diff fluid a few weeks ago and saw a decent amount of metal shavings.
(Could I possibly be a bad bearing by the outer seal?)



I can’t attach videos here, but I grabbed a screenshot of the front driveshaft. There’s no play at the transfer case, but I do feel a clunk if I push the driveshaft up/down or twist it.



Any tips would really help — this is my daily winter vehicle, and I’m trying to avoid dumping more money

 

[Jzona]

Here’s a video :

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

It looks to me like you need to replace the front differential. Used ones are common and fairly cheap.

 

[6speedblazer]

Carrier bearings in the front diff are known to go bad. really, it's the adjuster lock tabs letting the adjusters walk and then bearing preload changes.

I've rebuilt a bunch of these front diffs that had WAY worse metal on the magnets only to find rollers on the carrier bearings pitted.

these trucks are also known for transferase chain stretch that can rub thru the case. I would do a drain and fill on the t-case and check the status of the case.

 

[Nozbich]

Here’s a video :

Can you post a video of you moving your front end parts too? It would be helpful to see what else is messed up.

 

[OR VietVet]

Did you do front suspension refresh because of shakes or the shakes started after the work or after the alignment?

 

[Jzona]

Hi there shakes started after I replaced upper ball joints. All other suspension related components were replaced a year prior. I’ll take a video later this week and post here.

 

[Fless]

The alignment you had done -- did you get the printout that shows "before and after" measurements? If so, we'd like to see it. If you didn't get one and you think the shop didn't do it right, it might be time to get a competent shop to do one.

 

[OR VietVet]

The alignment you had done -- did you get the printout that shows "before and after" measurements? If so, we'd like to see it. If you didn't get one and you think the shop didn't do it right, it might be time to get a competent shop to do one.

Hi there shakes started after I replaced upper ball joints. All other suspension related components were replaced a year prior. I’ll take a video later this week and post here.

Did you replace just ball joints or the whole arm? Bushings? If was aligned. may have too much caster causing caster shimmy. Need to see the printout.