What did you do to your NBS GMT800 Tahoe/Yukon Today?

[wjburken]

I was on I-25 with my 06 Sierra Denali, and it has started this scary vibration type feel at speeds over 70mph. I can only describe it as driving over washboard trails, but at highway speeds. I have Bilstein shocks all around, could it be weak torsion bars?

Was the vibration coming through the steering wheel or through your seat?

Have you checked your tires to rule out any obvious signs of a tire issue? Any signs of throwing a wheel weight?

 

[ratled]

death wobble, its not just for Jeeps! OK, may not be but sounds familiar..... #1 cause of DW is tire balance

 

[Tonyrodz]

Would an out of balance driveshaft cause the wobble? I know those weights can sometimes(rarely)fall off.

 

[mountie]

Yes- good question.... WHEEL or SEAT......... ??

'Wheel' / front end
'Seat' / drivetrain

 

[MassHoe04]

Good point @tom3 . I guess I was just surprised by the fact that the alternator being bad was not discovered when the curbside charging/battery diagnostics were done.

Last time I went in for a known battery issue, the tester that Advance Auto used walked through battery and alternator testing with everything on and running and again with everything off. Still tested alternator, even though I wasn't even there for the alternator. Test confirmed battery failing, but alternator still good.

I suppose maybe an inexperienced parts guy making minimum wage... there is a chance something got overlooked.

 

[mountie]

Would an out of balance driveshaft cause the wobble? I know those weights can sometimes(rarely)fall off.

A driveshaft is 'dead center' underneath... I would assume it would cause a vibration or a knock, not a wobble?
On my old '88 C2500 truck, I had a bad u-joint... I swear, my whole drivetrain was going to blow up!!
( Then happy to find it was just the seized up joint)

 

[Sam Harris]

I was thinking this as well. I’m definitely hanging in to the battery, as it seems to be charging fine on the maintainer.. either way, happy to have both of these parts “new” before my drive to Tx..!

 

[MassHoe04]

death wobble, its not just for Jeeps! OK, may not be but sounds familiar..... #1 c

death wobble, its not just for Jeeps! OK, may not be but sounds familiar..... #1 cause of DW is tire balance

In Jeeps, true "Death Wobble" is most frequently caused by worn out connections on track bar (the bolt holes get sloppy) or worn out drag link connections in the steering (drag links or pitman arms). Not always, but these are the main culprits most of the time on high mileage Jeeps.

You could run fine around town, but all it would take is a big crack in the road or a bump to send the whole front end into a wobble that will shake the front end and steering wheel so bad you have to slow down or pull over to make it stop. You could be fine at high speed, on a perfect road, then hit one expansion joint on a bridge and all heck breaks loose up front.

Out of balance tires can cause wobble at different speeds, especially oversize off-road tires.
Sometimes the shimmy/shake, if tire or wheel related will go away if you go faster.

Jeep DW issues mostly came back to front end steering or suspension components being worn out where things attach.

Not sure how any of the torsion bar set-up we have plays into this. I'm still new to GM platform.

First thing I would try is moving front tires to the back to see if that makes the problem go away.

Jack the front end off the ground and start tugging, pushing and pulling the wheels. Pull and push on the sides, top and bottom. Every which way to see if you see, hear or feel something wiggling that shouldn't be. Spin them to see if you feel any grinding/dragging or hear any noises from the hub.

 

[mountie]

Taking the weight off the front, then check for stuff loose.
Sometimes a bit scary what you may find.....

Then you think to yourself..... " How long was this loose, I had no idea! "

 

[mikeyss]

It feels like King Kong is jumping up and down on the hood as I'm going 75mph is the best I can describe it

 

[mountie]

It feels like King Kong is jumping up and down on the hood as I'm going 75mph is the best I can describe it

Have someone drive beside you at 75 mph...... Watch the tire bouncing ???
....I just saw a 2017 (?) Suburban on the freeway with it's tire bouncing 3 inches off the ground, as the driver cruised along...... as if nothing was wrong....
( Oviously the shock was a tad worn/ no oil ?)

 

[swathdiver]

I was on I-25 with my 06 Sierra Denali, and it has started this scary vibration type feel at speeds over 70mph. I can only describe it as driving over washboard trails, but at highway speeds. I have Bilstein shocks all around, could it be weak torsion bars?

Probably a bad shock, might be a broken belt in a tire.

 

[ncalvo]

replaced the upper intermediate steering shaft and bearing, and rear upper and lower control arms and track bar today..

Gotta knock out the pitman arm this week.

I also recently did everything up front.. control arms, tie rods, bearings, sway bar bushings, camber/caster plates and bolts.
Had to cut out my passenger side upper control arm the caster bolt was siezed. Replaced it with a brand new one and my last alignment the tech said the "bolt spins freely" wtf does that even mean?
About to take the upper control arm off and replace the caster plate and bolt once more and see if that fixes it. I want a perfect alignment again. Maybe something is up with the guide pin

 

[Douglas Friedberg]

How about this for a simple thread. I know a lot of us do simple stuff to our trucks everyday and we don't make a new thread for everything we do. So if you did something neat, simple, or just want to brag about a new cool piece you threw on your ride post it up. I figure this thread will also bring inspiration to others as well.

I'll start.....

Today I did some spring cleaning to the my '01 Tahoe. I washed it and cleaned out the inside. I also ordered some new JL audio speakers for the doors and front and rear Weathertech floor mats. I also put some sound deadening material in the doors.

Jack your post count up, and post away.
-Ben

Anybody notice that you can not coast in neutral shut off your engine and it won’t start in neutral at all. Is this normal with these trucks??? Won’t start in neutral at all. ????

 

[MassHoe04]

Anybody notice that you can not coast in neutral shut off your engine and it won’t start in neutral at all. Is this normal with these trucks??? Won’t start in neutral at all. ????

Maybe you have a bad Park/Neutral switch?

Should be able to start while moving in Neutral.

From page 2-22 of my 04 owner's manual...
"Starting Your Engine

Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position – that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only."

 

[latvius]

Replaced the "aspirator" in the Denali and learned how to remove the A pillar trim piece.

 

[clandr1]

Hit a milestone today. Things have been quiet on the truck front lately which is always good news. Forgive how filthy the gauges are. I really need to clean it.

 

[mountie]

Hit a milestone today. Things have been quiet on the truck front lately which is always good news. Forgive how filthy the gauges are. I really need to clean it.

View attachment 370634

 

[Walchit]

replaced the upper intermediate steering shaft and bearing, and rear upper and lower control arms and track bar today..

Gotta knock out the pitman arm this week.

I also recently did everything up front.. control arms, tie rods, bearings, sway bar bushings, camber/caster plates and bolts.
Had to cut out my passenger side upper control arm the caster bolt was siezed. Replaced it with a brand new one and my last alignment the tech said the "bolt spins freely" wtf does that even mean?
About to take the upper control arm off and replace the caster plate and bolt once more and see if that fixes it. I want a perfect alignment again. Maybe something is up with the guide pin

If you got the spc brand bolts and plates they are junk and strip out before reaching torque. I had to cut one back off, so I went ahead and replaced the bolts with Dorman ones from autozone, and used the spc plates. The other bolts were all on the verge of being stripped out.

The guide pins I got to replace the ones I knocked out with the Sawzall weren't right either, and I ended up using little stainless nuts and bolts for a them.

 

[Keviebear86]

I got my Tahoe back last night and dropped it at the shop to get some maintenance done. I am beyond pleased with the work that was done. The shop did an excellent job with panel fitment and going above and beyond with their customer service. I did get a quote to just go ahead and repair the rest of the body (dents, scratches, and a repaint) I'm going to save for that over the winter and get the rest of it redone next year. After the first week or so goes by I'll wash it and detail the interior (very dusty from being in a shop for 3 weeks).

Thanks for all the suggestions and support over the time I've been on this forum. I'll keep everyone in the loop as my rebuild continues!