differential warble
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 214
From: Sarasota Florida
differential warble
I have seen a number of threads on a warble on the driver's side of the differential. My 2014 has probably had the warble for a while, but recently, it has increased and become annoying. I read all the threads, got a copy of the TSB (20-NA-041), and had the dealer shop manager confirm the problem. I have an appointment to take it in and have it fixed under my extended warranty. Here is my concern: I pretty much feel sick every time my car needs warranty work. The stuff I can do, I do myself. My fear is that somehow, a car I love and have owned since new, could be made worse by the dealer. Does anyone here know whether the warble is just an annoyance or could I expect catastrophic failure of my differential? The car is a base M7 with 79,000 miles. I had a deposit on a C8 for nearly 2 years until my dealer called and cancelled my order and returned my deposit. So, I may be driving my C7 longer than I ever expected. Bottom line, fix the warble or live with it?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 677
Likes: 414
From: Pensacola, FL
If GM is going to fix under warranty, go with it. I had the same warble effect on my 2017 Stingray. The warble has been gone since the repair over 20,000 miles ago. I dont recall reading of any catastrophic failure due to the warble. If the warble noise creates a discomfort to you while driving it, then it should be a no brainer to get it fixed. Good Luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 960
Likes: 270
From: Western PA
My 2017 Stingray with auto tranny had the rear end warble. I agree with you that it is annoying. I don't think you should worry about failure. I like to think that if failure is common and causes wrecks or major other damage, the members on this site would damn sure let us all know. There are a bunch of us on here where our cars have this warble.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 677
Likes: 414
From: Pensacola, FL
Go to the dealership and ask to speak to their vette tech. Ask questions like how long has he worked on corvettes? Does he know about the warble? Has he already done the repair for the warble on other vettes? Get a feel for his knowledge. If you dont have the warm fuzzy, you can always go to a different dealership. Good Luck!
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 190
Likes: 66
From: Scotts Valley, California
I had the same issue and had the differential replaced. The tech at the dealer told me that the warble is an annoyance and doesn’t affect performance. As soon as I got the car back I noticed a very heavy rattle coming from the rear. I immediately brought the car back and luckily was able to reproduce the noise on a test drive. The tech never found the origin of the rattle but said he tightened everything around the differential and the sound mostly went away. But I do hear a less conspicuous rattle now and then. However, I would still get the differential replaced as the warble was unnerving. In my experience with four vettes you’ll be lucky if you never need any work done so you might as well get used to it and take it in.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,641
Likes: 804
From: FORT LAUDERDALE FL
Live with it...BTW, no way on my C7 to the dealer AND no way my 911 C2S cab goes to Porsche...still have the exhaust shield recall outstanding because they will mess something else up. Sad that you can't trust dealers......
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
Very familiar with WARBLE since I started this whole mess, authored the original post and I never heard of an M7 with this condition but always that chance. From all that I know and have read a ton of info, it is mostly base stingray A8, the M7 has a different differential gearing and like I said have never heard of the warble problem with that set up. As always could be wrong. Never heard of a total failure either but changing the carrier plate and bearing is not a big job and not near as hard as entire differential change out. Not sure what your repair entails but I'd get it done if it were me. GM bought my car back in 2017 and I bought a 2017 GS two weeks later and never a problem with it. Not sure I have seen the TSB, could someone shoot me a copy or post it, thanks
Found the TSB, google is you friend, LOL. Not sure whether to feel honored to have been cause of a TSB generation or maybe get the GM SOB award, LOL
Found the TSB, google is you friend, LOL. Not sure whether to feel honored to have been cause of a TSB generation or maybe get the GM SOB award, LOL
Last edited by bjones7131; Jan 7, 2022 at 10:37 AM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 960
Likes: 270
From: Western PA
They changed the left side plate and it still made warble sound. They then changed the rear end and it still made the warble sound. I jacked up the car and started looking around underneath. They did change the parts. I could feel the difference in the play in the bushings from the left side and the right side.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
They changed the left side plate and it still made warble sound. They then changed the rear end and it still made the warble sound. I jacked up the car and started looking around underneath. They did change the parts. I could feel the difference in the play in the bushings from the left side and the right side.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 960
Likes: 270
From: Western PA
I figured GM sent a rear end from the same batch of bad ones. I asked the service manager for the serial numbers from the originals and the replacements. Said she doesn't have them. I said so you don't need the serial numbers to get paid for the work. She said no.
Car was going back in this spring to do the rear end again. I found another car I like better so I sold it. New car is a stick, no warble.
Car was going back in this spring to do the rear end again. I found another car I like better so I sold it. New car is a stick, no warble.
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 414
Likes: 95
This maintenance "dealer-phobia" is real....I still remember when it was oil change time on my first C-7, I went to schedule the first dealer oil change....I told the service writer behind the desk that it was a "new C7" he said, " Whats that? A truck or sumthin?" SO typical of a new car dealer....the dealers - all of them - best tighten up the service of cars.......all cars....You can buy ANY car on the planet from your armchair...so service excellence is the last battleground.....
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 118
Likes: 42
My 2019 is in the dealer now getting the diff plate changed. I have no idea what to expect. The transmission flush to fix the shudder did fix the shudder but when I picked up the car it smelled like burned oil inside the cabin. When I dropped off the car last night I told the service writer that I would appreciate it if this didn't happen again. He acted like an idiot and told me "I don't know what you expect. This is a shop. It smells like a shop..." So yeah, you shell out a large investment for a high end car but the service department is going to treat it like chevy colt. Once you signed the paperwork they just don't give a crap. I have had mostly Nissans and while I have had occasional minor issues with service, I never once picked up my vehicle and it smelled like burned oil though. Best of luck if you decide to get it repaired.