Front end noise

[02Denali]

This is the last one I promise. While driving at a steady speed ( 35 to 40 mph) I hear a whine or drone sound which seems to be coming from the front end. The dealer has replaced the left half shaft along with the drive shaft along with the outer differential bearing assembly.. Now they are stating I have to live with it! I had heard that GMC had a problem with mis-machined font gear housings/cases that would cause this problem. Does anyone have information on this?

[bardorfm]

I have a very similar problem on my 04 Denali. Right when I step on the gas, or when I reach my cruising speed of say 45 mph, I hear a whining sound. I can only compare it to the sound of a model airplane coming from what I think is the front end. My dealer said what I was hearing was air travelling through the exhaust system. They contacted GMC and cust svc suggested they add a set of exhaust dampers just before the muffler. Well, it still makes the noise, although maybe not as much. I've been on the phone with GMC about it directly because the truck only has 4,000 miles on it and it's been in the shop 4 times! GMC cust sve has been pretty good...at least they act like they care. They want me to bring it to another dealer (30 miles away!) to have it looked at.

[GMCTech]

There is a very in depth bulletin out for your concern. (I've posted this same reply a couple times at different locations.)

The noise is your front axle.

The bulletin number is #03-04-17-005 dated March 13, 2003, and adresses possible fixes. The most effective fix I've seen is replacement of the front drive shaft (propshaft) with a dampened, balanced version. This has worked probably 8 out of 10 times for us.

Other documents that you can direct your dealership to are below:
Diagnostic Information and Procedure for Front Axle Noise
Diagnostic Starting Point - Front Drive Axle (Refer to SI Document ID #696970).
Symptoms - Front Drive Axle (Refer to SI Document ID #696957).
Front Drive Axle Noises (Refer to SI Document ID #700621).
Noisy in Drive (Refer to SI Document ID #700622).
Noisy When Coasting (Refer to SI Document ID #700624).
Intermittent Noise (Refer to SI Document ID #700625).
Constant Noise (Refer to SI Document ID #700631).
Noisy on Turns (Refer to SI Document ID #700634).

Just a note the part number for that dampened propshaft is #15186002.

Hope all this has helped.

[nick0750]

at my dealership we had 3-4 with a similar complaint and we needed to replace carrier bearings in the front diff and it did correct this condition.

[SGunner]

Originally Posted by nick0750

at my dealership we had 3-4 with a similar complaint and we needed to replace carrier bearings in the front diff and it did correct this condition.

GMCTech I thought your TSB solution was my fix also. It didn't do anything to fix the whine noise.

How difficult is the carrier bearings solution and how expensive? That might be my next move since the noise is unbearable.

Thanks

[DDYukon03]

I have a creaking, popping sound coming from my right front. Dealer said it was a frame connection they've done a hundred times on Yukons and Tahoes and they tightened it up with no results. Several friends have said the upper a arm bushings need to be adjusted/replaced. It is not a safety issue at this point, but it is very annoying. Any diagnosis and possible fix?

Originally Posted by GMCTech

There is a very in depth bulletin out for your concern. (I've posted this same reply a couple times at different locations.)

The noise is your front axle.

The bulletin number is #03-04-17-005 dated March 13, 2003, and adresses possible fixes. The most effective fix I've seen is replacement of the front drive shaft (propshaft) with a dampened, balanced version. This has worked probably 8 out of 10 times for us.

Other documents that you can direct your dealership to are below:
Diagnostic Information and Procedure for Front Axle Noise
Diagnostic Starting Point - Front Drive Axle (Refer to SI Document ID #696970).
Symptoms - Front Drive Axle (Refer to SI Document ID #696957).
Front Drive Axle Noises (Refer to SI Document ID #700621).
Noisy in Drive (Refer to SI Document ID #700622).
Noisy When Coasting (Refer to SI Document ID #700624).
Intermittent Noise (Refer to SI Document ID #700625).
Constant Noise (Refer to SI Document ID #700631).
Noisy on Turns (Refer to SI Document ID #700634).

Just a note the part number for that dampened propshaft is #15186002.

Hope all this has helped.

[SGunner]

I'm going to try Schaeffer's #267 Gear Lube and see if that helps the problem.

In case anyone up in Canada is interested, here is the contact info:

Burkolly Dist.
Box 2193
9th Ave. N.W. & Trans Canada Hwy
Moose Jaw, SK
S6H 7T2
(306) 694-5433 bus
(306) 694-5233 fax
[email protected]

The reason I'm trying this method is the propeller shaft replacement did nothing.