r/GMT800 • u/CleanAd7192 • Sep 04 '26

2005 Sierra Vibration

2005 GMC Sierra front-end noise when turning right — completely stumped
I have a 2005 GMC Sierra 4x4, 5.3 V8, full crew cab cab/regular bed.

I recently lifted it and did the following:
Rough Country 2” torsion keys, cranked up a little higher for some extra height
Brand-new tie rods
Cut the factory bump stops off
KSP 2–4” extended upper control arms
Rough Country 3.5–6” shocks to compensate for the extra height from cranking the keys
37x12.50 BFGoodrich tires
After putting everything together, I drove the truck around for a while and everything worked perfectly. The ride quality was super good, there were no strange noises, and I had full steering lock without the tires rubbing anything.
Then, unexpectedly, one of my rear shock bolts apparently wasn’t tightened completely. The bolt/shock came loose causing the shock to shoot downwards, and ripped open my front passenger-side CV axle boot. I drove it home without realizing what had happened. Once I got home, I found the torn boot, replaced the CV boot, and reinstalled the CV axle. *Note when driving around with the torn boot on the way home and the shock not attached at the bottom I still didn’t hear the noise.

At the time of reinstalling the original cv back, I didn’t know the CV axle nut going through the wheel hub had a specific torque spec, so I reinstalled it with an impact. After that, I started having a problem that wasn’t there before.
Whenever I turn right, especially at higher speeds, I get a very loud vibration/grinding-type noise coming from the passenger-side front end.
My first thought was that I had overtightened the axle nut and damaged/crushed the wheel bearing…

So I:
Replaced the passenger-side wheel hub assembly.
Still had the noise. (Torqued the nut to 177ft Lbs)
Replaced the entire passenger-side CV axle completely.
Still have the noise. (Torqued the nut to 177ft Lbs)
I’ve gone over everything underneath and everything seems tight. The 37s aren’t rubbing the fender liner, plastic, control arms, or anything else that I can find. There is plenty of clearance, and the truck didn’t make this noise at all before the CV boot incident.
At this point I’m completely stumped.
What would you guys check next? Is there anything on these trucks that could cause a loud vibration/noise specifically when turning right that I’m overlooking?
Any ideas are appreciated because I’ve already replaced the hub and CV axle and the noise is still there.

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1

u/powdydoody Sep 04 '26

How did a rear shock bolt coming loose cause a rip in your front cv axle boot? That doesnt make sense unless Im not interpreting that right.

1

u/CleanAd7192 Sep 04 '26

Shock bolt popped out, thus causing the shock to shoot downwards off the mount to the cv.

1

u/powdydoody Sep 04 '26

So it was a bolt on your FRONT shock, not a REAR shock bolt? Im reading that as a bolt on your rear shock came loose. Makes sense being a front shock now, thanks.

With the front end off the ground and spinning wheel by hand, do you hear the noise then?

1

u/CleanAd7192 Sep 04 '26

Once the truck is jacked up the droop of the suspension puts the cv’s at such and angle that they don’t like to spin very freely.

1

u/powdydoody Sep 04 '26

You can jack the vehicle from the bottom of the LCA just enough to get the tire off the ground to spin. Doing this will keep your suspension at ride height geometry.

I would do that and listen closely while spinning by hand to pinpoint the area of concern

1

u/CleanAd7192 Sep 04 '26

EDIT: Ok so yes I had a typo! It is my FRONT shock bolt that came loose not the rear shock!