[1Shot]

I got a 2011 Silverado 1500 crew cab 4X4 Z71 everything.

my daughter and wife wanted a step so I decided to have one put on and also got a BDS level kit installed at the same time. This morning I noticed a grinding noise from the front, so I called the guy that put the kit on and he said they don't really mess with anything that would cause grinding when installing a level kit and I should check the tires. I checked them they seemed OK, i went and washed the truck and the grinding noise stopped so I assume he was correct and maybe a rock or peice of concrete got stuck in the treads.

Now the problem I have is when driving or stopping a very low speeds...like parking lot speed the truck creaks, kind of sound like walking on a wooden floor with loose nails. Sounds like something needs lube or a shot of WD40. Has anyone ever had that problem and any suggestions on what I might do to fix it

Thanks
Michael

:happy:

 

[torqydd]

Check the steps. I have read about a lot of the new trucks creaking and squawking due to the steps at least on the full length ones. Both the body mounting and frame mounting style seem to be doing it. Frame mounted id either loosen and see if it still does it. On the cab bolt mounted style you could try just backing them off just a hair as well and see. Just don't forget to re-torque the cab mounts if you go that route and I believe they are 83 or 93 ft lbs but can double check that if needed.

If it turns out it is the steps may have to go to single style setup under each door or see if the shop/manufacturer has some kind of rubber isolating pad.

 

[ajarman]

My Westin bars made a sound similar to what you are talking about, but only when the truck was flexing. I went with the Go Rhino's which mount to the cab and not the frame and no more creaking.

 

[Blackout07]

It's your steps. My Go Rhinos creak.

 

[ajarman]

It's your steps. My Go Rhinos creak.

I have creaking in my near future???

 

[silveradotrailblazer]

Try tightening the steps. Alot of them do creak even after retightening. Thats one reason I don't have step bars.

 

[mfleetwood]

I agree with everyone else regarding the steps...and yes, tightening should help. One thing additional that I would say is that before you tighten up, loosen them up a bit first, so they can get a chance to reset themselves and take out the tension. Then tighten them back up but do not completely tighten each one up to the recommend torque and then move to the next one, but tighten them up evenly (make about 3 passes) until you hit the right torque. I had creaking myself with my Westins and even though I tightened appropriately, it wasn't until I loosened them back up and evenly tightened them back down again that the creaking went away. It's been around a year since I did it that way and the creaking has never come back.

 

[Greg84]

If your steps are mounted to the body mounts, loosen the body mount bolts and push the mounting brackets inward a little bit. The creaking happens when the mounting brackets are touching the metal frame horn that goes around them. The rubber body mounts flex, and when they flex the tube step brackets move against the frame and make the creaking noise. Everyone tries to mount the steps outward as far as possible and this happens a lot, usually on the forward most bracket.

It wasn't so bad on the earlier 99-06 trucks, the frame horn didn't come down around the body mount as far so you could mount the bracket very far out and never have a problem. Almost every manufacturer uses the same brackets for 99-06 and 07-11, some of them modified the brackets by trimming the corners so it wouldn't make contact, most didn't.

 

[1Shot]

Already taken them off my truck and I am happy My son wants them for his truck and I am happy about that also because now it won't be a waste of money. His truck is a 2005 body style and I will try the adjustment to prevent creaking on his. Let me confirm your info, you are saying probably better to push the rail in so they are closer to the truck right? Seems like the guys that installed them on my truck should have known that if it solves the problem, I don't think it will be that big of a deal as the step will only be like a 1/2" closer to the truck. I will try that as well as the tightening advice I have already recieved.

Thanks again to all the guy's that gave advice I appreciate your help.

Michael

 

[Greg84]

Let me confirm your info, you are saying probably better to push the rail in so they are closer to the truck right? Seems like the guys that installed them on my truck should have known that if it solves the problem, I don't think it will be that big of a deal as the step will only be like a 1/2" closer to the truck. I will try that as well as the tightening advice I have already recieved.

Exactly. Just push it in far enough so the tube step brackets don't touch the outer metal frame around the cab mounts and you'll be good to go. Not sure why the shop that put them on wouldn't know about that issue unless they don't do a lot of installs on GM vehicles..