GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Important: If you have not completed the Vibration Analysis tables as indicated and reviewed Vibration Diagnostic Aids, refer to Vibration Diagnostic Aids BEFORE proceeding.

If you have duplicated the vibration concern but have had difficulty in balancing a component or isolating a component, refer to the following information.

Most vibration concerns are corrected or eliminated through correcting excessive runout of a component, correcting balance of a component or isolating a component which has come into abnormal contact with another object/component.

Components which can generate a lot of energy and are experiencing excessive runout, imbalance or ground-out can produce a vibration with a strong enough amplitude that the vibration can transmit to components which are closely related. This type of a condition is usually related to and sensitive to torque-load. The most likely system that could exhibit this type of a condition is the driveline.

Driveline Torque-Load Conditions

An axle differential that has internal conditions such as excessive runout of components, misalignment of components, imbalance, etc., can produce vibration concerns which may be transmitted into other driveline components. This sort of a vibration occurrence can increase or decrease in severity based primarily upon torque-load, but can also be affected by cold or hot conditions.

If the drive axle is suspected to have internal problems which are being transmitted to other driveline components, refer to Diagnostic Starting Point - Rear Drive Axle in Rear Drive Axle, for internal axle diagnostics.