Vibration issues "chevy shake" questions

westie · April 19, 2016

I know there are a lot of threads regarding the vibration issues with these trucks. I test drove a 2014 1500 denali last night and it had the chevy shake. What an uncomfortable ride for such an expensive truck!

My questions are...

How many of these GM trucks have this issue? Is it all of them or a small percentage of them? I could see how someone wouldnt notice it if they weren't aware of the issue when they go for the test drive.

How do you deal with this issue when talking to the sales people? Car salesmen are the absolute WORST people to deal with. Of course the sales manager was using this one as a demo and said he didnt notice any vibration when driving it. Well no shit, you're trying to sell it so of course theres no vibration in your opinion. Has anyone else brought the vibration issue up when test driving?

I really like the sierra 1500's, especially the denali, but I cant spend 45K+ on a truck that has a worse ride than my 06 4runner with 130K miles on it.

Maybe i should be looking at toyota tundras or something.

Thanks for the replies

jbradyr · April 19, 2016

I am not sure on the percentage of trucks that have the "chevy shake," but I know that my 2014 Silverado had the issue. It was a demo when I bought it and had about 2000 miles on it. I DO know that the 2015 GMC Sierra Z71 4x4 that I have now does not have the issue. The ride is super smooth!

westie · April 19, 2016

thanks for the reply.

Strange that some have it and some dont. did you bring it up at the dealer when you bought the 2015 silverado?

dnb2014 · April 19, 2016

I smell something?...... I think it's a dead horse

westie · April 19, 2016

not trying to beat a dead horse. just looking for info on how people have dealt with this issue when visiting a dealership and looking at a truck.

i have been checking the carfax reports and if i see tires mounted/balanced when the vehicle has under 20k miles im assuming it has the chevy shake.

Northside · April 19, 2016

The vast majority of these trucks ride great. A few vibrate. The cause and solution to the vibration seems elusive. I found the truck I liked and drove it up to 80 m.p.h. and it was smooth as a luxury car. After 18,000 miles it still is smooth. I wouldn't buy one without driving it first, but I'd buy another if something happened to the one I have now. Great trucks!

Silverado Steve · April 19, 2016

The vibration issue isn't just synonymous with the GM 1/2 tons. Go checkout f150forums.com, there are owners there who complain of the problem with the newly redesigned ford. Honestly, if you had good luck with you 4Runner, why are you shaking trees switching brands? Perhaps you should look at a Tundra. Last, there are several threads that already cover this topic. When someone brand new starts a thread about a problem on a vehicle they don't own, it comes off as trolling.

not trying to beat a dead horse. just looking for info on how people have dealt with this issue when visiting a dealership and looking at a truck.

i have been checking the carfax reports and if i see tires mounted/balanced when the vehicle has under 20k miles im assuming it has the chevy shake.

20SierraL8T24 · April 19, 2016

My first was terrible and my second has 30k and smooth. Just read the vibration thread. Lots of guys have had their vehicles fixed as well. As said above, all manufacturers have a certain percentage of thrucks that shake. Just Google tundra vibration, there are hundreds of topics as well...

Txmedic · April 19, 2016

Bought 2014 Sierra new Feb. of '14. One year later with about 16,000 miles vibration as if you were driving on grooved asphalt. I was told the tires were out of balance. I went toe to toe with them on that one. Next they "loosened all the bolts on the front suspension and retorqued them". Then the torque convertor was replaced. Finally, they took my advice and looked at the rear axle. Took two weeks waiting for "the right" parts. Problem solved. Here we are one year later. At 28,000 miles vibration is back. It is different, yet similar. I told the dealer resonant vibration. Same source as before, but now there is a second source of vibration. They didn't know what resonant vibration was. Dealer had it for one day last week. They said a tire was bad. It couldn't be balanced. They replace the tire. Pro-rated of course. IT'S GOING BACK. Nothing changed. Today I blocked it up and crawled under it. PROBLEM #1 Side to side play in propellor shaft is about 1/4 in. PROBLEM #2 Crush washer was apparently overtorqued. Feels like a worn out gear box on a shredder (bushhog for some folks). Now the flip side. A friend of mine bought a Siverado. The same week I bought my GMC. Identical trucks except for color and trim. That truck HAS NOT missed a beat. Routine maintenance is all he has done. And with more miles. Go figure.

dave07 · April 19, 2016

I know there are a lot of threads regarding the vibration issues with these trucks. I test drove a 2014 1500 denali last night and it had the chevy shake. What an uncomfortable ride for such an expensive truck!

My questions are...

How many of these GM trucks have this issue? Is it all of them or a small percentage of them? I could see how someone wouldnt notice it if they weren't aware of the issue when they go for the test drive.

How do you deal with this issue when talking to the sales people? Car salesmen are the absolute WORST people to deal with. Of course the sales manager was using this one as a demo and said he didnt notice any vibration when driving it. Well no shit, you're trying to sell it so of course theres no vibration in your opinion. Has anyone else brought the vibration issue up when test driving?

I really like the sierra 1500's, especially the denali, but I cant spend 45K+ on a truck that has a worse ride than my 06 4runner with 130K miles on it.

Maybe i should be looking at toyota tundras or something.

Thanks for the replies

Make sure the tires don't have flat spots. Got the Chevy Shake real bad when I let the truck sit for a week in the winter. But that was the only time when I got it and thought man I need to take this sucker to the dealership. Smooth other than that.

emeryz28 · April 20, 2016

I keep hearing about this, but my Silverado and a friends Sierra I have been in are smooth as butter

HondaHawkGT · April 22, 2016

There are literally hundreds of threads on here about vibration. This is indeed a dead horse topic. Some vibrate, most don't. Go read the lengthy topic on it over in the troubleshooting section. It would take a week to read every page of it.

If you plan on buying any half-ton truck, make sure you test drive it up to at least 80 MPH. I've read discussions on every message board for every brand of truck about vibration issues. They're plenty pissed about it too.

ZXTOM · April 22, 2016

The fact is that most trucks do NOT do this..

But more owners that have problems will post the issues with the truck..

Owners that have no issues don't normally make a post stating so..

My truck has ZERO problems, none what so ever!... I have had the truck loaded to the max payload and close to the max tow weight from with in a couple weeks of new.. I use it as a truck, hauling and towing.. I rarely drive it to work or around town. I have other cars for that..

Still drives great, is smooth, is quiet, is very comfortable, etc...

I highly recommend a GM truck.

westie · April 22, 2016

thanks guys. Wasnt trying to troll or upset anyone with my thread. If you dont like what I posted no need to read it and comment. Was just looking for some insight without reading through 500 pages of people complaining about their trucks.

Im picking up my truck this afternoon. 2015 1500 denali. the thing is mint. cant wait to drive it.

thanks again.

salem185 · April 24, 2016

I know there are a lot of threads regarding the vibration issues with these trucks. I test drove a 2014 1500 denali last night and it had the chevy shake. What an uncomfortable ride for such an expensive truck!

My questions are...

How many of these GM trucks have this issue? Is it all of them or a small percentage of them? I could see how someone wouldnt notice it if they weren't aware of the issue when they go for the test drive.

How do you deal with this issue when talking to the sales people? Car salesmen are the absolute WORST people to deal with. Of course the sales manager was using this one as a demo and said he didnt notice any vibration when driving it. Well no shit, you're trying to sell it so of course theres no vibration in your opinion. Has anyone else brought the vibration issue up when test driving?

I really like the sierra 1500's, especially the denali, but I cant spend 45K+ on a truck that has a worse ride than my 06 4runner with 130K miles on it.

Maybe i should be looking at toyota tundras or something.

Thanks for the replies