2 piece driveshaft shudder

manytranny · March 22, 2003

I am growing tired of the 2 piece shudder. I get all the time, loaded or not. Very annoying. Any tips? How do I go about fixing this?

I have heard about some problems with the cross member, and some moron dealers cutting it out. What do I tell them to do?

I have a 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD, Diesel, ZF 6 speed, 4x4, CC/SB.

Any problems with the ZF? Thanks...

Shaners · March 22, 2003

I had mine replaced on my 6.0L crewcab shortbed 4x4.

The dealer has specific instructions on where to cut the mounting bracket in order to remove the carrier bearing. My truck has been solid ever since the repair work was performed. The dealer should not remove the frame cross member, but just the bracket for the carrier bearing.

I thought the '02 trucks already had the 1-piece shaft in them. Maybe it has something to do with your 6-speed manual tranny.

manytranny · March 22, 2003

Ya. I really dont know whats up. I thought they put in a one piece for the 02's. Mine is a late 02 anyway. At least I bought it at the end of the year.

I hope I can get it taken care of...Might be hard with the ZF...

Thanks...

SxViper · March 22, 2003

I have a 2002 GMC Crew Cab 2500HD long box 6.0L and I think I have the two piece drive shaft. Looks like one short shaft that has a + joint and another shaft after that.. Both are rusted pretty good... Should I have them replace this with the one piece drive shaft?

manytranny · March 23, 2003

The one piece is aluminum, and wont rust like that.

Unless you have the driveline shudder, I wouldnt bother with it. If you do have it, then go for the fix...

SxViper · March 23, 2003

Whats this shudder sound like or feel like. I get a bump or bang every once in a while when pulling off from a stop... Is that the shudder?

BlueRado · March 23, 2003

Whats this shudder sound like or feel like. I get a bump or bang every once in a while when pulling off from a stop... Is that the shudder?

It sounds to me more like you have the slip yoke bump/clunk issue, rather than the driveshaft shudder. My experience in driving an LBXC w/ 2-piece drive shaft is that you get a low freq. vibration right on application of the throttle, kinda in the seat of the pants. Once you make a little speed, it goes away. Some people have reported it to be very harsh to moderate speeds - this one was pretty subtle, and no associated sound, until the back was loaded.

At least in this case that I drove, if you load the back down (5th wheel in this case), it got dramatically worse, to the point that dash parts were being shaken lose. The new one-piece cured it completely - load or not.

The bump/clunk, on the other hand, is related to the slip yoke not "slipping" until it built up enough inertia to free itself. The 2 fixes that are used, one I've used on my old '99 are new blue-green transfer case (autotrak) fluid and a nickel-plated slip yoke. Both are temp fixes, as I understand it.

Hope this clarifies.

Shaners · March 23, 2003

I have a 2002 GMC Crew Cab 2500HD long box 6.0L and I think I have the two piece drive shaft. Looks like one short shaft that has a + joint and another shaft after that.. Both are rusted pretty good... Should I have them replace this with the one piece drive shaft?

I think the TSB for the driveshaft replacement only covers the crewcab shortbox. But if you are having a seat of the pants vibration (GM refers to it as a "shudder" ) when you launch from a stop, I would ask the service mgr about it...

AssKickinHD · March 23, 2003

Is there a recall for the Short box cc's for this? This is the first I have heard of this!

manytranny · March 23, 2003

There is a recall if you have the shudder. Some have it, some dont. There would be no point in applying that recall if yo dont have the shudder.

Any info in regards to the ZF6?

Thanks

Shaners · March 24, 2003

Is there a recall for the Short box cc's for this? This is the first I have heard of this!

It's not really a recall as much as it is a Technical Service Bulliten (TSB). If you have the "Shudder on Launch" problem, then you should see your dealer and have the driveshaft replaced with a one-piece unit if you are suffering from this problem.

I'm not sure 100%, but I think it applies to just the 2001 crewcab shortbed models...

SxViper · March 24, 2003

Thanks guys.. The bang only happend once so far.. Might have been I got on the gas a little to hard...

BlackSilver · March 24, 2003

I have a 2003 extended cab, short box, and 2-peice driveshaft. It's smooth as silk, even accelerated hard with a heavy load.

Wingnut · March 24, 2003

Heh, Blacksilver...It looks like that Pontiac is pulling the 5th wheel in your pic. instead of the truck.

Whatcha got under that hood?

WileE1 · April 4, 2003

I just did this a few weeks ago. I'm a few thousand away from 36K miles and didn't want to have probles later. my truck has felt the same since I bought it. I took it into my dealership and told'm I thought it had the shudder, I told'm it was real noticable under load. Gave them the TSB number, They took it for a spin and ordered the new shaft.

You wil not believe the diffrence, I wasn't sure, but the first moment I drove it with the new one It was obvious. I think everyone with the 2 piece will be surprised if they get it changed.

Plus who wants to have to replace t ujoints on the rear.