Suburban shakes

2,164 Views | 18 Replies | Last: 4 mo ago by ETX14.16
ETX14.16
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
2016 Suburban, 90k miles….developed shakes on the highway this summer, only around 75-80mph. Immediately took it in for a rotate and balance, test drove afterwards with no improvement.

The shaking is not coming through the steering at all, so I'm assuming it's not front end related - it feels more like the body of the vehicle is shaking. Question is, where do I look next for what is causing this? U joints, drive shaft balance?
Flaith
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Likely control arm bushings or similar. Get the wheels off the ground, grab a pry bar, and start looking around for damaged bushings and excessive play.
AgToadie
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Sounds like when our transmission and torque converter was on its way out.

On a flat road with steady throttle does the tach fluctuate a couple hundred RPM? If so, I would suspect the torque converter is going out, That usually quickly follows with grenading the transmission when shavings from the converter run through the trans.

ETX14.16
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Thanks for the replies - I'll look into both. Hopefully it isn't the transmission and torque converter…
AgToadie
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I hope it's not the transmission for your sake.

If it is, I'd recommend reaching out to Jeremy at Brown's Auto Repair / Transmission Wholesalers off Louetta in Cypress for the rebuild work. Transmission Wholesalers

His shop rebuilt our '16 and four years later it's still doing great. He was also significantly less expensive than other shops.
Tango.Mike
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Occam's Razor principle of car troubleshooting, start with the cheapest and easiest before you get into complex stuff like the trans

1) shocks/struts. Yours probably has struts. At 10 years they definitely could be sagging despite the low miles, and you would only really notice at hwy speeds or when cornering hard. OEM quality is $90-140 each. Replacement is a 1-hr DIY job; 5 bolts each, only need to remove the tire

2) ball joints/control arms. Ball joints are cheap, but your lowers will have the awful mushroom fitting method, so it's easier just to replace the whole control arm assembly for $150-220 each. 3-5 hr DIY job per side, requires a lot more disassembly including a few speciality tools like a 36mm axle nut socket. Mechanic will gouge you, but might be worth it if you aren't comfortable or dont have things like a torque wrench. Also will require an alignment after

3) now get into stuff like torque converters. If you have the awful 8-speed, the torque converter is a possibility. The 6-speed is much less likely but possible. Those Chevy transmissions generally start to stutter when accelerating when the trans starts to go, especially around 40-45 mph

ETA: an auto parts store can read your trouble codes for free to see if there is a trans code, you can also monitor the trans temp in your dashboard info center. 180-220 is normal, hotter than 240 is a problem
ETX14.16
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Great feedback - thanks. Cheapest and easiest is my style when it comes to DIY auto repair. I'm comfortable enough doing struts and control arms myself.

Is it likely to be ball joints if I'm not feeling shaking through the steering wheel at all? That's the part I'm hung up on.

I'm not seeing any other symptoms that point to the transmission right now.
Ag for Life
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
ETX14.16 said:

Great feedback - thanks. Cheapest and easiest is my style when it comes to DIY auto repair. I'm comfortable enough doing struts and control arms myself.

Is it likely to be ball joints if I'm not feeling shaking through the steering wheel at all? That's the part I'm hung up on.

I'm not seeing any other symptoms that point to the transmission right now.

Jack up each front individually and grab the edge of the tires to test the ball joints at various angles moving it back and forth. If everything feels tight your ball joints are good. Bad ones will be very obviously loose. You can also remove the tires and carefully use a pry bar for a closer inspection on the ball joints. Can also wiggle test things when the tire is off and look for leaks on the struts.
Tango.Mike
How long do you want to ignore this user?
ETX14.16 said:

Great feedback - thanks. Cheapest and easiest is my style when it comes to DIY auto repair. I'm comfortable enough doing struts and control arms myself.

Is it likely to be ball joints if I'm not feeling shaking through the steering wheel at all? That's the part I'm hung up on.

I'm not seeing any other symptoms that point to the transmission right now.


If you're not feeling anything in the steering and your tires aren't obviously wearing unevenly then it doesn't sound like ball joints. But like the guy above said, you can jack it up and wiggle the tire to test. Wiggle top to bottom for ball joints and front to back for tie rods (with someone holding the steering wheel still for the tie rods). If the ball joints are bad it will be very easy to wiggle by hand. Less conclusive but a good thing to check, look behind the steering knuckle to see if the boots are shot and clearly not holding grease.

I hesitate to be the "well it happened to me" guy, but I bet we've all experienced worn out shocks/struts before
SCHTICK00
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Do t waste time with checking suspension. We have 190,000 on our 15 and rock prairie has tested its suspension every day. Your issue is almost certainly the torque converter/transmission. We're on our third transmission now and what you're feeling is exactly what we have felt. Watch your rpm's on a light incline at 40-45 mph. If you see the tach climb and drop while holding speed it's the torque converter. There's no getting around replacing the transmission before 120,000 miles and if you plan to keep the car go back with a circle D torque converter. Could have saved myself 5000 by doing that the first time
maroon barchetta
How long do you want to ignore this user?
This is a pretty good new band name.
TRIDENT
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Trade it in
La Fours
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Maybe check the motor and transmission mounts?
Tim Weaver
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Check your wheel bearings all around.

Bad ahock/struts can cause a shimmy too.

Look for uneven wear on a tire. It could just be the tread and the tire is still in balance.

Check alignment. Just because it drives straight doesn't mean its in alignment.
ETX14.16
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
No answer yet, but an update so far:

Separately had it in the shop last week to replace ac condenser and asked them to diagnose the shake.

Tech test drove it, felt the shake and thought it was tire balance/alignment related. Informed them I had it rotated, balanced and aligned about 3 weeks prior. They offered to re-balance and at least re-check the alignment at no cost. Indicated tires looked good, Michelin Defenders (about 10 months old). Tires balanced fine, but it was out of alignment - I don't recall exact figures but "nothing extreme" that they thought could be causing the shake.

Asked about it being transmission related and they said the way the shake felt while driving was not a transmission shake, thinking it is still somewhere in the suspension.

I needed the vehicle back same-day so I didn't leave it for further diagnosis.

So I'll be working through the suspension checks recommended here - also I test drove in the 40-45 mph range to watch rpms, and the tach held steady, no jumping around. Still hopeful it's not transmission, but also not completely convinced.
Silvy
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Does vibration happen only while under load (cruising and/or accelerating) and if so, are you able to stop the vibration by removing load? If yes, probably the torque converter.

If the vibration occurs while not under a load (coasting), it's not torque converter.
ETX14.16
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Great point I hadn't considered - I think it's just speed related at 75+, not acceleration but I'm going to have to check
Mr. Dubi
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Take it back to the tire shop and ask them to recheck the balance. There are so many variables that a bad balance can be made no better, or worse by just tossing the wheels on a balancer.

I worked at a tire shop in the early'90's, there were a few occasions that I had to remount a tire to fix a balance problem.
ETX14.16
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I'll be damned - replaced the struts this evening and drove it up to about 85, the shakes are completely gone
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.