Do NOT ignore vibration from your brakes

"450X_FTW" (mistermic)
08/22/2017 at 14:15 • Filed to: None

2015 GMC Sierra with 47,000 miles, bought it from a dealer just over 1 year ago with 26,000 miles. The other week I noticed a slight vibration in the front end while braking. I got home, pulled the wheels off and checked the pads, still had at least 1/4" of brake pad left. Over the next week the vibration started to get worse, felt like warped rotors. Ordered a new set of rotors and pads spent a friday night replacing them, but it wasn’t warped rotors, it was serious corrosion on 1 of the 4 brake pads. The backping plate was completely corroded, to the point that it has holes in it. I sent the pictures to GM’s warranty department, even contacted their District Service Manger, no one cares. They just respond with “well brakes are a wear item”. Wear does not equal corrosion to the point that there are holes in the backing plate. Since GM did not care, I sent the pictures and information to NHTSA so they can be made aware at least. This goes along with all the other issues I’ve had since buying this truck a year ago (listed at the bottom)

Transmission was rebuilt around 40,000 miles, shift quality was so bad my neck would jerk with every 1-2 upshift

The slop in the rear axle is bad enough I’m taking it to the dealer again. Just shifting between reverse and drive or drive and reverse causes a clunk

About once a month the radio screen will go blank for 15-30 seconds then come back on. Finally captured it on video

I’m missing my 2012 Ram 1500 I traded in to buy this truck more and more.

DISCUSSION (38)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 14:27

Yeah....things like these are still why I am not a fan of GM Products...

I’m not a fan of domestic North American brands in general, really, but my parents used to swear by and only buy nothing but GM....so many issues over 30 years. Mom’s last two cars have been a 2000 Honda Civic and a 2010 Hyundai Accent, both of which have been leaps and bounds more reliable. The exception was our 1993 Dodge Caravan which only died from winter salt rust-out after MANY, MANY trouble free kilometers. The only issue that thing ever gave us was a fuel pump dying once. I still would love to have another exactly like it someday!

Rico > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 14:28

Damn! Sorry to say I don’t expect anything less from GM. Actually if you had no issues at all I would be afraid that something truly catastrophic was going to happen at any moment. It’s a good thing you do your own work and found the issues before it got any worse.

Mattbob > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 14:30

Sounds like its time to review some of the Steve Lehto podcasts.

450X_FTW > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
08/22/2017 at 14:34

Ironically, the one issue I had with my Ram 1500 that I traded in for the GMC, was a fuel pump quit around 55,000 miles. 5 years owned with 65,000 miles on it, and that was the only issue I ever had in that truck. Only owned Dodge Rams and a Jeep over the past 15 years, this was my first GM product, possibly last.

450X_FTW > Rico
08/22/2017 at 14:35

I worked for 3 years as a powertrain engineer at Chrysler, test driving vehicles, primarily Grand Cherokee and Durango, and my primary job was to find any drivability issues and get them fixed prior to production. So any vehicle I drive these days I’m overly critical of for pedal calibration, shift quality, shift hunting, etc.

450X_FTW > Mattbob
08/22/2017 at 14:36

I was waiting to see if GM would be willing to do anything with this truck. If it was one of these problems, not a big deal, but all on 1 truck makes me go insane.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 14:37

Counterpoint-if it’s a front-to-back shake that doesn’t come through the steering, it’s the rear brakes. If the rear brakes are drums you can ignore it most of the time. ESPECIALLY if you a) generally drive hard and/or b) you know that they have been serviced at some point in such a way that the drums and shoes no longer meet correctly.

Drums gonna drum. They WILL go sour on you if you use them hard and WILL NEVER wear together if the drums and shoes happen to have different radii—gotta replace both at the same time or put up with it. At the end of the day if they still provide mostly-adequate braking it’s not worth the hassle.

450X_FTW > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/22/2017 at 14:38

It was all in the steering wheel. Checked for slop of any kind in the tie rods and there was none. Since replacing the front brakes 2 weeks ago, the problem has not repeated itself.

PartyPooper2012 > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 14:39

Sounds like you are driving incorrectly.

What you should be doing is pressing on accelerator at the same time you are pressing on the brakes.

What this does is it creates friction in the brake pads and rotors. Friction causes heat. Heat gets rid of moisture in your pads.

Ride those brakes, granny. It’s not just a good idea. It’s my recommended way of driving.

BeaterGT > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 14:39

Everyone blaming GM and I’m sitting here wondering what the first owner did to this truck! A rebuilt trans at 40k? There are some strange red flags here.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 14:42

We bought the Caravan we had used....no idea how many kms were on it when we got it. It would’ve had...maybe...120,000kms or something on it the year the fuel pump went?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 14:43

Yeah, your diagnosis was obviously correct. Those pads... NOPE.

I just wanted to throw another opinion out there because that’s what I do

BigBlock440 > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 14:44

Holy crap, sounds like a similar scenario that my brother-in-law went through. The transmission and some other things were going in his 2001 Ram (high-mileage, stuff wears), so he sold it and bought a brand new Sierra, 2013 I think. After a few years he traded it in on a 2 year old Power Wagon because of the issues the GMC had (water intrusion, excessive rust, other things I don’t remember) and seems to be happy with it.

Urambo Tauro > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 14:47

Excessive backlash in the diff, maybe?

450X_FTW > Urambo Tauro
08/22/2017 at 14:56

There’s a lot of lash. I put the parking brake on, trans in netural, crawl underneath and can rotate the driveshaft about 5-10 degrees each way it feels like.

450X_FTW > BeaterGT
08/22/2017 at 14:57

Trans was fine for the first few months, no issues. Then when it got cold I noticed an odd shift bump from 1st to 2nd every other week. As time went on it happened more and more and more to the point I couldnt’ take it. I waited to take it in because the first time the dealer could not replicate the issue.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 15:05

If you would stop pissing on the left front wheel those pads would not have corroded.

Urambo Tauro > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 15:05

Huh. I’ve only ever measured backlash with a dial indicator. I have no idea what proper lash translates to, degree-wise. Definitely not something I’m good at eyeballing.

Future next gen S2000 owner > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 15:10

Thinking about a Sierra, have you dug up anything to make you think it is a common issue?

Quadradeuce > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 15:14

I have a 2011 GMT900 platform truck. When they switched over to the K2XX platform I feel a bunch of issues cropped up. I know several people who have had some minor issues with the Ecotec3 engine.

However, the transmission remained the same, and I would assume the driveshaft and rear axel did too. I’m approaching 100k miles with zero failures of any kind. But I bought it new and treat it well. I have a feeling the PO thrashed it to crater a transmission with a solid reputation.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 15:50

That truck has seen some things in its short life...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 17:02

As someone who is around these things on a daily basis at the dealership level... It sounds like you have a bit of a lemon/abused pre-owned.

I’ve never seen pads do that on anything. Plus the 6L80 hardly ever has issues (unless yours is an 8 speed, in which case good luck). GM trucks have always had a bit of a clunk going between reverse and drive (my 2010 and my dad’s 2004 do, fwiw) but that looks a bit excessive. The radio thing might honestly just be a simple update.

The K2s have some common issues, but none of your issues are among them that I’ve seen.

RacinBob > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 18:34

The pad rust between the pad and antivibration plate is unusual however it’s not something that looks like a problem. Not much metal had rusted, the pad was still square and straight. Its cosmetic, not functional . The “holes” you describe are on all the pads for extruding the pad material into the pad to bind it.

brianbrannon > 450X_FTW
08/22/2017 at 20:45

Pretty sure the thin spots are cast into the pad. But mostly, you’re 11,000 miles out of warranty and you actually expect anyone to care about worn out brake pads?

450X_FTW > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
08/22/2017 at 22:23

I was aiming for the shock absorber, I missed.

450X_FTW > Urambo Tauro
08/22/2017 at 22:24

I’m not good at eyeballing either, but the feeling and the sound, is definitely abnormal

450X_FTW > Future next gen S2000 owner
08/22/2017 at 22:25

Shift quality seems to be a common issue. Mine was due to a hydraulic valve leaking internally to the trans and not providing enough pressure to complete the shift. They replaced everything in the trans except for the gears, housing, and torque converter

450X_FTW > Quadradeuce
08/22/2017 at 22:25

It’s aggravating for sure. One of the issues, no big deal, but all of them drive me mad.

450X_FTW > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/22/2017 at 22:26

6L80 it is. Which is surprising to have issues that I’ve had since this powertrain combo has been around for so long.

450X_FTW > RacinBob
08/22/2017 at 22:28

The pad wear was still even as I was driving it as little as possible once I started to feel the vibration getting worse. I was taking my bike as alternative as often as I could. It’s not just rust, it’s full on corrosion and the backing plate is paper thin, what is left at least.

450X_FTW > brianbrannon
08/22/2017 at 22:31

I expect them to care about a brake pad failure, not a brake pad wear. As a person who works for the auto industry, teir 1 supplier for engine parts, if I received a part back from warranty or bench testing that looked like that and I told the customer (OEM) that it’s a wear item, I would be in daily meetings including weekends analyzing parts like crazy, and would not end those meetings until we had containment, root cause, and replacement parts for the field.

brianbrannon > 450X_FTW
08/23/2017 at 17:45

And they would laugh you out of those meetings because that’s not brake pad failure

450X_FTW > brianbrannon
08/23/2017 at 21:12

If you’ve ever had to be a supplier for the OEM, and this was a test vehicle return, you better believe that customer would have me in daily meetings.

brianbrannon > 450X_FTW
08/24/2017 at 12:43

You are incorrectly calling the pad shim a backing plate. Your picture clearly shows the backing plate is normal thickness. This is a non- mechanic working on a vehicle problem not a parts failure

450X_FTW > brianbrannon
08/24/2017 at 13:22

That shim was not even attached anymore. The other 3 pads it was still attached. The edge of the backing plate is normal thickness, the middle is missing about 2 mm of material from the corrosion.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > 450X_FTW
10/31/2017 at 09:53

Oh all the things about your article, I covet the well-lit work area.

450X_FTW > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
10/31/2017 at 12:22

covet the well lit work area?

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > 450X_FTW
10/31/2017 at 13:47

Yes. It’s not like a problem I can’t solve. But it’s like a leaky roof. When it’s raining, too dangerous to work on the roof. But when it’s dry, the roofs not leaking.