2012 Chevy Silver silverado drive shaft

[SwampSurvivor]

Its an inherent design flaw of a slip yoke. Any driveshaft material will bind when going in and out.

SteveSRT8 - is it possible your vans have different driveline angles and dont push the driveshaft in / out when stopping at a light and taking off?

XJ Cherokees and TJ Wranglers use a slip yoke. Same rear differential, same transfer case - but the deiveline geometry is different on them and the TJ wranglers do not exhibit the problem.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Its an inherent design flaw of a slip yoke. Any driveshaft material will bind when going in and out.

SteveSRT8 - is it possible your vans have different driveline angles and dont push the driveshaft in / out when stopping at a light and taking off?

XJ Cherokees and TJ Wranglers use a slip yoke. Same rear differential, same transfer case - but the deiveline geometry is different on them and the TJ wranglers do not exhibit the problem.


If the trans is fixed in place and the rear end moves then something has to slide or give somehow as the distance between them changes. Our vans are all extended wheelbase and have the slip yoke in the center near the carrier bearing.

I have experienced this before and a quick clean and lube and we never see it again. Kind of a non-problem here.

 

[morepwr]

My older Silverado(1991) did this before. Pulled the driveshaft and greased up the splines where it goes over the output shaft and never had that happen again. Probably a totally different thing, but very easy to do.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Ten years ago when I had a new Tacoma, they had this problem. The solution for that vehicle then was the same one being suggested here now (grease). This isn't some new, exotic problem.

 

[01rangerxl]

Grease always quiets them for a while, but sometimes a driveshaft change can help.

I don't know about Silverados, but on Rangers there were both 2 piece steel and 1 piece aluminum or steel driveshafts depending on wheelbase/drivetrain. The 2 piece steel ones are the most troublesome when it comes to clunking and noises. The 1 piece aluminum ones are generally trouble free for life. Mine came with the 1 piece aluminum one and it's huge compared to the steel one on my old truck. No clunks or noises ever, and original u-joints (knock on wood).

 

[hattaresguy]

Turn up the radio!

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
Originally Posted By: millerbl00
For $300 a aluminum one might help. Might go ahead and replace it.

Not sure why you're under the impression that an aluminum drive shaft will fix this problem.

Heck, you might as well install a carbon fiber one. I've heard they're even better.


Yes, and I'd HATE to tell you how much coin a custom carbon fiber driveshaft would cost for your truck (since I am fairly certain they would not make an off the shelf one like they do for performance muscle cars), even if it could/would get rid of the clang.

 

[JethroBodine]

Originally Posted By: millerbl00
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Shouldn't this be covered under warranty?


They said normal.


GM makes a chromed slip yoke for this issue. Normally the sanding and application of teflon grease will solve it but in difficult cases they replace with a greased chrome plated yoke. This should all be done under warranty. Call a different dealer.

 

[millerbl00]

This has been done at 5 different dealerships and my own mechanic. No grease or yoke has helped.

Originally Posted By: JethroBodine
Originally Posted By: millerbl00
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Shouldn't this be covered under warranty?


They said normal.


GM makes a chromed slip yoke for this issue. Normally the sanding and application of teflon grease will solve it but in difficult cases they replace with a greased chrome plated yoke. This should all be done under warranty. Call a different dealer.

 

[millerbl00]

I am hoping the aluminum one with have less road noise "hum" too.

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Grease always quiets them for a while, but sometimes a driveshaft change can help.

I don't know about Silverados, but on Rangers there were both 2 piece steel and 1 piece aluminum or steel driveshafts depending on wheelbase/drivetrain. The 2 piece steel ones are the most troublesome when it comes to clunking and noises. The 1 piece aluminum ones are generally trouble free for life. Mine came with the 1 piece aluminum one and it's huge compared to the steel one on my old truck. No clunks or noises ever, and original u-joints (knock on wood).

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: millerbl00
I am hoping the aluminum one with have less road noise "hum" too.


why would it? Sure the aluminum or carbon is lighter but its not less rigid and its not addressing the issue of the yoke sliding on the splines.
If its this much of a problem you may be dealing with a binding issue, i cant see why unless the truck is lifted and even then they usually have enough tolerance built in unless its excessive but who knows.

Check the total movement of the yoke in the transmission tail shaft, you may benefit from a slightly shorter yoke
Alternatively you may be able to have the shaft shortened and a double cardan joint installed at the transmission side to help prevent binding and vibration (that hum you hear). A double cardan will not correct excessive angle issues.
Any good drive shaft shop can do a double cardan joint and balance job for you.

I suggest going to a drive shaft specialist not the dealer for issues like this once the dealer has given up and starts calling it "normal", then contact the manufacturer for possible reimbursement (i have done it and got the cost).

 

[JethroBodine]

You might have had a lemon law claim.

Originally Posted By: millerbl00
This has been done at 5 different dealerships and my own mechanic. No grease or yoke has helped.

Originally Posted By: JethroBodine
Originally Posted By: millerbl00
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Shouldn't this be covered under warranty?


They said normal.


GM makes a chromed slip yoke for this issue. Normally the sanding and application of teflon grease will solve it but in difficult cases they replace with a greased chrome plated yoke. This should all be done under warranty. Call a different dealer.

 

[millerbl00]

Thanks everyone. The truck is stock fyi.

 

[SteveSRT8]

As Trav said, try a real driveshaft specialist. We have one here that has been in biz 30 years and primarily caters to the Hi-Po crowd, but we have used him for many different cats over decades.

Very inexpensive, had the entire driveshaft out of one of our vans for a ujoint problem. Straightened the yoke and put in new ujoints and then balanced it so smoothly it was better than new.

Total was under 200 bucks complete.