Finally Fixed Chevy Shakes!!

truckguy82 · June 23, 2020

On 5/11/2020 at 5:44 PM, garrett0151 said:

Fixing the Chevy Shakes!

Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP 124715

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My 2016 Silverado with 82,000 miles has had the shaking issue for a couple years or the 30,000-40,000 miles. This issue for me occurs around the 70 mph-80 mph range. The center console would shake so bad that I would have to dial back the speed to below 72 mph.

Measures I have taken to resolve the “Chevy Shakes” None of these worked.

1)   Re-balance old tires Free

2)    Purchased new tires $1,200

3)    Alignment $84

4)   Re-balance Drive Line $160

5)   Road-master Shock Absorbed $500 (This did help some of the shake mostly the handling and ride)

Fixed the issue!!

1)    Transmission flush with the correct transmission fluid $200 (Which does not come in transmission from factory) Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP 124715

I was able to flush the transmission myself. There are guides online that can walk you through it if you have the time and skill.

Here is a Link:

4L60E Transmission Flush Guide

https://www.newgmparts.com/4l60e-transmission-flush-guide

Took me 4 hours and I was able to flush transmission and change motor oil as well. The dealership wanted $140 for diagnostic and $750 for flush. Since the transmission was my last hope. I purchased the fluid from Summit Racing for $160 and flushed it myself.

Amateur tips:
If you decide to do the flush yourself, do not pull ½” line on the cooler or the top one You’ll being changing your motor oil too! Do not ask me how I know this.

A quick overview of how I flushed my transmission.

1)    Pulled 3/8” transmission line out the cooler on the passenger side. I did the by pulling the black keeper down and removing the E-Retaining clip. I then pushed a 3/8” hose in the cooler and a 3/8” hose over the trans line and fastened them into a 4-quart bucket.

a.    If you are doing this by yourself make sure to be careful. If the hoses are not fastened or held down into the bucket, you could make a big mess.

2)    You or your helper (Preferably a helper) turn the vehicle on. Fluid came out of the transmission hose and not out of the cooler. I am not a mechanic but, in some videos, I watched, I have seen fluid pushed out of the cooler. There is a lot of pressure from the pump in the transmission, if a hose pops off, you are going to want someone to turn the vehicle off.

3)    With both hoses placed inside a bucket with measurements on it, have your helped turn the vehicle over until there are four quarts or you start seeing bubbles. Kill the truck and do your pan drop.

a.    Pan drop pro tip. The pan is extremely difficult to get out because the exhaust is right under the pan. If you place a jack on a board and a strap under the board rapped around the exhaust. Pump the jack up to the frame and tighten down on the strap, slightly pulling the exhaust down (1/4”-1/2”). It does not take much.

b.    Second pro tip. Purchase a handheld pump from the part store or Walmart. They range from $7-$20. Use it to pump the fluid out of the pan when drop. It will prevent you from making one big mess and covering you and the floor with transmission fluid. Trust me, its worth it!

4)    Pull the pan and clean it. The gasket is reusable. You can purchase just a filter from the part store for less than $40 or both for less than $50.

5)    Tighten bolts in a cross pattern and re fill transmission with either 8 quarts or however much you were able to get out. I measured exactly 4 quarts in the pan.

6)    Once its filled, have your partner drain another 4.5-5 quarts out while shifting through P,N, and Drive. This way you get out as much as you can in the transmission. The fluid should be clean and pink.

7)    Fill the transmission back up with however many quarts you pull out MINUS ONE!. This way you can put one or two bottles of Lucas Transmission Non-Slip. This is also supposed to help with the shuddering issue and allowing your seals to swell. This is to prevent leaks.

a.    I was able to put two bottles in.

    Do not add Lucas additive until the transmission is at operating temperature. You will need to fasten the trans line back to the cooler making sure the E Clip is fastened securely.

9)    The transmission should hold somewhere around 12.5 quarts. I purchased 14 from summit to make sure I had enough to flush out the old (Fluid comes out clean and pink)

10) DO NOT OVER FILL TRANSMISSION. Watch tons of YouTube until you are comfortable. Add a half a quart at a time and allow it to run down the tube (where the dipstick goes, 10-15 minutes) before you check it again.

If anyone would like to reach out to me regarding this issue, feel free.

Fluid:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mob-124715-1

Here is a helpful link provided by Chevrolet giving details on the issue.

https://gm-techlink.com/?p=11127

How did you circumvent the trans thermostat

garrett0151 · June 23, 2020

I warmed the transmission up to operating temp and waited 20min before I started the flush.

lucas287 · October 11, 2021

@garrett0151Any updates on this? Was this really the fix, or did it come right back?

Thanks!

Chev567 · November 3, 2021

Just replaced transmission in my 16 sierra.its still shaking coming from underneath console and steering wheel 70 to 80 and feels like it's struggling to go any faster.wheres as before was smooth all the way through to 80. guessing I have drive shaft checked next? Any help welcomed

Ronnie Askins · February 27, 2022

On 5/26/2020 at 4:31 PM, David Wallace said:

Thanks for the info, i'm guessing my problem is not the chevy shake than... mine doesn't really shake it just has a slight vibration in the floor/gas pedal with that rhythmic humming noise...

Did you ever figure out what the problem was I have a 2016 Silverado that has a shake in the floor over the tranny and gas pedal. Rear end been completely rebuilt tranny was replaced with a remand , I can’t figure it out any help would be nice

Ronnie Askins · February 27, 2022

I have a 2016 Chevy Silverado front end been rebuilt . Tranny started being sluggish took it in to shop got tranny replaced with a remand then 10,000 miles later started to get rearend noise the shop completely rebuilt the rear end went back to the shop to have the rear end

rebuild because apparently two pinion bearings went bad got that fixed and now I have a intermittent shake at highway speed‘s fill it in the gas pedal in the floorboard not in the seat or steering wheel any ideas?

Edited February 27, 2022 by Ronnie Askins

Cory Sax · June 22, 2023

This thread saved me a lot of money. I bought a used 2018 Z71 and it started to shake about 10K miles after I purchased it. Tried rotating the tires and that didn't work. I feared my transmission was going out. Took it to my local auto shop and they said it may be the torque converter. I told them about this thread and they flushed at the transmission and serviced it. Worked like a charm! No vibration and it drives great. Thanks for the thread!