Odd Noise From Front of Truck

[Bailey Guns]

I have a 2017 Chevy Colorado 4x4. About a month ago I noticed an odd noise coming from the front end. It sounds very much like the sound of driving on the rumble strips on a highway though not nearly as loud or as significant as that. It's a vibrating sound and it can be felt under the floor as well as thru the steering wheel.

This noise/vibration is very intermittent. It doesn't happen every time I drive the truck. Shutting the truck off and restarting it seems to stop the problem but I'm not 100% certain on that yet. It is only present when I turn the steering wheel to the left. It is occasionally, even more intermittently, accompanied by a thumping sound...like a part is loose and hitting something...coming from the same area while accelerating. So far I've only noticed it with the transfer case in 2WD. However, it seems to have started after I drove the truck to work and back a day or two in the AWD mode (part time 4x4).

I took it in to the dealer and they couldn't replicate the noise/vibration...exactly what I was afraid of since it's so intermittent. They said they checked the left side wheel, brake assembly, suspension, etc...and couldn't find anything loose, broken or damaged. Today it started again on the way home just as I was driving by the dealership. I was able to snag a service advisor who rode with me and got to hear/feel it first-hand this time.

Any of you mechanical types have any suggestions or ever heard of this before? I don't have a clue what it might be, really, but my guess is it's part of the front differential trying to engage on that side for some reason. I believe it's an electrical system and in my mind that would explain why shutting off the truck and restarting makes it go away. But that's just a wild-ass guess.

I've looked on some forums and it seems that other people have this problem with the earlier gen pickups but I can't find anything recent for the newer models.

[ray1970]

If it's anything like the full size trucks it could be in the front differential. On the larger trucks the transfer case spins the front drive shaft all of the time, even in 2WD. 4WD simply engages the front diff. Kind of a silly design if you ask me. I know when they first started doing that there were a rash of weird noises/vibrations associated with something in there. Front pinion bearing maybe?

[Bailey Guns]

Would it make sense to pull the electronic transfer case fuse? If it doesn't happen after doing that might it be a good indication it has something to do with the transfer case/4wd system?

[zteknik]

Could be a couple of things. I'm a Ford tech so it may be a little different for Chevy.
I don't remember how they have their locking hubs for the 4wd set up but what it sounds to me is that its not disengaging completely or engaging intermittently.
I know on the Fords the locking mechanisms will do that. Also its possible the bearing is starting to go. Is there a whine out of it while driving? If so then that's the bearing going out.
If not my fist thing to go after would be that locking hub mechanism.

[Bailey Guns]

No whining noise. When it isn't vibrating the truck is quiet and smooth and feels normal. I tend to agree that it's likely something to do with the partial engagement of the 4wd.

[Great-Kazoo]

Take the skunk you hit out from the wheel well. I'm no wildlife expert, but i wager it's that or a porcupine. Be careful with them, they can present a sticky situation

[Bailey Guns]

I'm sure my dogs woulda tooken care of that for me already.

[zteknik]

It also could be false abs activation. Tone ring around the front axle can be cracked. Most cases the abs or brake light would be on.


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[Bailey Guns]

No ABS or other lights and no codes per the dealer.

I'm taking it back in on Fri and I'll mention all these things. At least he was honest and said he was clueless as to the source. We'll see if they can find anything.

[BPTactical]

I have a 2017 Chevy Colorado 4x4. About a month ago I noticed an odd noise coming from the front end. It sounds very much like the sound of driving on the rumble strips on a highway though not nearly as loud or as significant as that. It's a vibrating sound and it can be felt under the floor as well as thru the steering wheel.

This noise/vibration is very intermittent. It doesn't happen every time I drive the truck. Shutting the truck off and restarting it seems to stop the problem but I'm not 100% certain on that yet. It is only present when I turn the steering wheel to the left. It is occasionally, even more intermittently, accompanied by a thumping sound...like a part is loose and hitting something...coming from the same area while accelerating. So far I've only noticed it with the transfer case in 2WD. However, it seems to have started after I drove the truck to work and back a day or two in the AWD mode (part time 4x4).

I took it in to the dealer and they couldn't replicate the noise/vibration...exactly what I was afraid of since it's so intermittent. They said they checked the left side wheel, brake assembly, suspension, etc...and couldn't find anything loose, broken or damaged. Today it started again on the way home just as I was driving by the dealership. I was able to snag a service advisor who rode with me and got to hear/feel it first-hand this time.

Any of you mechanical types have any suggestions or ever heard of this before? I don't have a clue what it might be, really, but my guess is it's part of the front differential trying to engage on that side for some reason. I believe it's an electrical system and in my mind that would explain why shutting off the truck and restarting makes it go away. But that's just a wild-ass guess.

I've looked on some forums and it seems that other people have this problem with the earlier gen pickups but I can't find anything recent for the newer models.


Found the problem.






Love Ya Carl[Coffee]

[jslo]

Our Buick LaCrosse was doing similar things. Unplugged the abs and hasn't done it since. But my light would come on.

[BushMasterBoy]

Could be a fractured wire to the ABS sensor in the wheel hubs. Or a bad ABS sensor. I had a problem with my 2005 Colorado. It used to throw an ABS warning light. I changed the hub and sensor as a complete unit (left side). That fixed it. It would have been cheaper to just change the ABS sensor, but it is press fitted in the hub. Since the sensor is basically a magnet and brittle, I installed a complete unit. You could try braking on a gravel road and seeing what pattern you get. I think there are some specialized ABS scanners out there too. Sorry I can't help anymore.