Failed strut?

[TXWELDER]

2021 Yukon XL Denali 2wd. Started getting the bounce over bumps at highway speed. It ate the inside shoulder of the tire pretty bad and the driver side shock/strut assy is covered in what looks like bearing grease. Passenger side is clean. Replace suspension parts/tire, get an alignment and send it? This is my wife’s vehicle. Many thanks.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

That grease-looking stuff on the strut body seems too thick for strut fluid, and it seems too much in quantity for the bearing assembly failure in the top strut housing.

Further, the tire wear is not likely related to the strut itself, unless the strut itself disintegrated, which you would have noticed much earlier.

The strut has to come out and get inspected and most likely be replaced. I would start there, and if it turns out that the strut itself needs replacement, do that. Thoroughly check out the entire suspension on that side to see if anything else is loose and/or worn, and potentially causing that tire wear. If you find anything that needs replacement, do it. Then after all of the work is done, get an alignment.

 

[Doubeleive]

That grease-looking stuff on the strut body seems too thick for strut fluid, and it seems too much in quantity for the bearing assembly failure in the top strut housing.

Further, the tire wear is not likely related to the strut itself, unless the strut itself disintegrated, which you would have noticed much earlier.

The strut has to come out and get inspected and most likely be replaced. I would start there, and if it turns out that the strut itself needs replacement, do that. Thoroughly check out the entire suspension on that side to see if anything else is loose and/or worn, and potentially causing that tire wear. If you find anything that needs replacement, do it. Then after all of the work is done, get an alignment.

that strut is toast I have seen them like that before the grease just turns to goo
It "may" have contributed to the wear but I bet there is more suspension parts needing replacement+alignment
Funny this was in the shop for the transmission recently and nobody bothered to even inspect the vehicle????
these T2's require more maintenance because gm has cut corners, same with the K2's

 

[TXWELDER]

I take the blame on this. I knew it had been doing the highway "floating" over bumps but had not gotten in there to inspect. I will get an alignment first and foremost and hopefully they will be able to identify any loose/worn parts. For now I have rotated that tire to the rear and need to identify something that is cost effective to replace both front shocks/struts. They are the electronic version and I'd be happy to replace with anything that will keep the tires planted and wearing properly. The current units are BWI, but no idea how long they have been on there.

 

[Doubeleive]

I take the blame on this. I knew it had been doing the highway "floating" over bumps but had not gotten in there to inspect. I will get an alignment first and foremost and hopefully they will be able to identify any loose/worn parts. For now I have rotated that tire to the rear and need to identify something that is cost effective to replace both front shocks/struts. They are the electronic version and I'd be happy to replace with anything that will keep the tires planted and wearing properly. The current units are BWI, but no idea how long they have been on there.

rockauto will likely be your best option for a replacement, either oem or arnott or dorman.
dealer will want probably $800+ just for the part, r&r is not hard to do.

 

[TXWELDER]

rockauto will likely be your best option for a replacement, either oem or arnott or dorman.
dealer will want probably $800+ just for the part, r&r is not hard to do.

The problem I see is they don’t have the spring over on Rockauto and from what I understand they require a heavy press to remove and install on the shock body, not a common at-home tool. Is that not the case?

 

[Doubeleive]

The problem I see is they don’t have the spring over on Rockauto and from what I understand they require a heavy press to remove and install on the shock body, not a common at-home tool. Is that not the case?

if you wanted to clean it all up and just replace the shock part then you can rent the spring compressor tool from the auto parts store.
Or some shops have the commercial stand/tool and will do it for a fee

 

[blondie70]

I thought one could buy the whole assembly made up. Somebody should have them ???

 

[Doubeleive]

I thought one could buy the whole assembly made up. Somebody should have them ???

they do but you can save a chunk of money just rebuilding it

 

[Joseph Garcia]

If you want to replace just the shock portions of the struts, replacing both shocks, which is what I would recommend, @Doubeleive has provided you with options.

You can buy the shocks at GMPartsDirect.com for $276 each. Then, you could remove the entire strut assemblies (easy to do), take them to a local trusted repair shop, have them disassemble/replace/reassemble the strut assemblies, costing you under $100 total in labor, and then you could reinstall the strut assemblies. Then, get an alignment. Done.

 

[petethepug]

Just replace the OEM Magneride strut from r/a, it’s not necessary to replace the spring. The sleeve cover looks ok.

Always replace suspension parts in pairs. Alignment issues can be worn upper, lower or strut top bushings. Check them all when apart.

It’s AWD, adding one new tire to 3 used tires will spin your diffs to destruction. An inexpensive work around to avoid buying 4 new tires is to purchase one preloved tire.

I use United tires on eBay. I just had to do this and got a perfect matched tire for one of my 22” OEM Bridgestone tires. $97 shipped free in 4 days.

 

[TXWELDER]

So, I took the truck to an alignment shop. First thing they say is they see so many of these trucks with failed control arm bushings and steering components, so I would need a full suspension inspection before they can align it. Sure, go for it, $50. "What do you do for a living?" he asks, sizing me up to see how much BS he can sling at me. Of course, the whole thing needs a rebuild; all of it is shot. He's appalled that I don't have vibrations at speed or in the steering wheel because it's so bad. I ask him to quote the work, but that I am more than capable to do the work on my own at home. He proceeds to tell me that if I don't have a scanner to put the truck in "maintenance mode" my air ride will destroy itself and I will be out thousands of dollars. I don't have air suspension at all, so the $5k they quoted me was a sham and my faith in the automotive industry was affirmed, I have none. Why can't getting an alignment just be simple?

 

[TXWELDER]

Just replace the OEM Magneride strut from r/a, it’s not necessary to replace the spring. The sleeve cover looks ok.

Always replace suspension parts in pairs. Alignment issues can be worn upper, lower or strut top bushings. Check them all when apart.

It’s AWD, adding one new tire to 3 used tires will spin your diffs to destruction. An inexpensive work around to avoid buying 4 new tires is to purchase one preloved tire.

I use United tires on eBay. I just had to do this and got a perfect matched tire for one of my 22” OEM Bridgestone tires. $97 shipped free in 4 days.

It's a 2WD, not AWD. I intend to replace the shocks as a pair.