[Canyon08Z71]

This seems like a popular issue with our trucks, so I will share my experience. As you know, I do all my own work on my truck and I also get to examine other trucks when I use HP Tuners to dial in their trucks. So I get to see a broad range of vehicles from the Extreme dropped 4" to a 8" lifted Z85. All the way down to OEM stock 355's...

Our trucks inherently have a drive line "clunk" or slap to it from the factory. GM calls this normal play in the drive line. It is present on almost every 355 I work on and can even be found on full size trucks...

With that said, I ran into a problem past the normal noise (clunk/slap). Out of the blue, on hard acceleration (WOT), I got a "clicking" noise from the rear of the truck... At first it almost sounded like my locker was on its way out...What I found was my U-joints completely smoked. $26 bucks later and an hour of my time, problem solved. I used after market u-joints (Precision) because of time constraints and location (I would have preferred to use OEM HD ones)... The Precision ones are grease able, if that matters to you.. If you go to the dealer, I believe you will have the option for AC Delco and OEM. OEM being a heavy duty u-joint but non grease able (sealed).

U-joint to transfer case:

 

[Guest]

that new one looks beefy

 

[NORMSCOLORADO]

how many miles do you have on before you noticed the clunk?

 

[Canyon08Z71]

how many miles do you have on before you noticed the clunk?

There was drive line noise from the factory, I began noticing it @ maybe 10k on the odometer.. Keep in mind, I bought the truck in Oct 2004.. So it was cold and windows up all the time.. Once it warmed up and I had the windows down, I noticed the OEM clunk/slap when passing through tolls (slowing down to 15mph and then resuming - clunk/slap). Almost everyone reports this noise...

The clicking noise was something new and did not show its face until the early to mid 50k range.

 

[NORMSCOLORADO]

yeah im at 50k now and i think that i better listen for it!

 

[rrcn]

Curious, did the normal clunk go away with the new u-joint?

 

[NORMSCOLORADO]

Curious, did the normal clunk go away with the new u-joint?

hey rccn wheres the napa hat?????:lo:

 

[Canyon08Z71]

Curious, did the normal clunk go away with the new u-joint?

Nope.. That is inherent to the GM OEM drive line.

The only thing it fixed was the "clicking" and the slop in the smoked u-joint.

 

[TucsonZ71]

Is there any simple remedy for the clunk?

 

[Canyon08Z71]

Is there any simple remedy for the clunk?

Write GM engineering... This has all been gone through and like I said, it is found on numerous vehicles and explained by the dealerships as normal play. Clunk/slap is just a description.

There is nothing wrong in my opinion... Since I received the truck with that "noise". It is not going to harm any thing as far as I know. Anyways, I am not in the business to re-engineer, just replace broken stuff. lol.

 

[roondog248]

I've been trying to figure out what this clicking noise I hear when going over speed bumps. I tow a heavy trailer for work, and I replaced my leaf pack about 6 months ago because they were sagging. gonna get a 3 way adjustable helper from Advance $33. just spent $40 on u joints on both sides of the drive shaft. gonna replace them this weekend.
I got the greaseable kind, they come greased, but don't look completely full of grease. I'm guessing it takes regular bearing grease. will look into it.
I will let you guys know if this solves the particular clicking noise I have been encountering.

05 GMC canyon 5cyl crew cab Z71SLE