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2019 Z51 A8 Torque Tube Grinding Noise

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Old 06-12-2018, 03:12 PM
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markeaux
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Default 2019 Z51 A8 Torque Tube Grinding Noise

Received my ordered 2019 Z51 3LT A8 three months ago, it now has 2500 mi. It has never been tracked or abused, just simple driving around town, highways, and on country backroads. Six days ago I noticed a slight intermittent rotational grinding noise at idle which has now become progressively louder. The noise is coming from the forward torque tube area, and sounds exactly like a failed torque tube bearing as heard on a few videos I found on youtube. I also found several C7 posts going back to 2014 about similar torque tube issues, including one individual who had 3 torque tube replacements, and even an engine rebuild (crankshaft bearing failure) due to the issue. In at least one case parts were to have taken weeks to order/receive, and one individual was so ticked off at that he emailed Mary Barra and the repairing dealer was then able to get the parts in just a few days. Other than that one case, it appears that the typical torque tube diagnosis+repair time is about 2-3 weeks and requires some very careful reassembly.

The dealer could only fit me into their schedule tomorrow for diagnosis. As I understand it, the entire rear suspension, trans, etc, need to be dropped just to inspect the torque tube, etc. Needless to say if that is the case I will be very disappointed and frankly quite ticked off. I traded my 2015 Yukon Denali in for this vehicle, and that Denali was very problematic - it was in for warranty repairs over 15 times due to numerous failures such as torque converter vibration, A8 shifting issues, sensors, AC evaporator, steering column bearing failure, etc.

Does anyone know if there may be a 2019 TSB for the torque tube (or flexplate)?

Thanks for any info ... Mark

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06-30-2018, 06:40 PM
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Thanks all for the great info and comments.

Got it back yesterday, so it was in the shop a solid 16 days. Ultimately the failed bearing was in the rear part of the TT despite the sound clearly coming from the front - shop foreman said the grinding sound resonated to the front. He also said GM instructed them to first replace a clamp which did not fix it then the entire TT assembly was replaced. They had to keep it an extra day to allow them to do two cold starts to seat the bearings before a final test drive.

Put a hundred miles on it so far and all seems fine. No vibrations, rattles or anything and not a scratch, scuff nor ding.

I got it back just in time for some greatly needed vette therapy!
Old 06-21-2018, 11:52 AM
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Heard back from the shop yesterday. Apparently they had diagnosed the issue as a failed clamp/bolt, however the replacement did not fix the issue. Now an entire torque tube has been ordered which is due to arrive in another 5 days (6/25/18).

Last edited by markeaux; 06-30-2018 at 07:24 PM.
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Old 06-21-2018, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by markeaux
Heard back from the shop yesterday. Apparently they had diagnosed the issue as a failed flexplate bolt, however the replacement bolt did not fix the issue. Now an entire torque tube has been ordered which is due to arrive in another 5 days (6/25/18).
Be very careful with this. If that tube isn’t installed 100% perfect you risk blowing the motor in about 5k Miles. Many stories here of Dealers mis aligning the tube to the motor putting forward stress on the bearings and eventually causing an engine failure.

https://www.stingrayforums.com/forum...-failures.html



Last edited by C5Driver; 06-21-2018 at 02:29 PM.
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Old 06-21-2018, 02:32 PM
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Wow.

Sorry to hear about those troubles. Most of us were thinking that those TC problems had been solved before the '19's came out. Hope you get it resolved to your satisfaction...keep us posted.
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Old 06-21-2018, 03:32 PM
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Gearhead Jim
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Originally Posted by ExRedRacer
Wow.

Sorry to hear about those troubles. Most of us were thinking that those TC problems had been solved before the '19's came out. Hope you get it resolved to your satisfaction...keep us posted.
This looks like something different from a TC failure.
Or did I miss something?
Old 06-21-2018, 03:46 PM
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Makitso
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http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=6740
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Old 06-21-2018, 05:27 PM
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23/C8Z
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OP. Not a big deal. It's a defective bearing ir something to that effect in the torque tube.

corvettes have had issues with the TT since they started using them in the C5. My C6 needed one for a similar noise. All was perfect afterwards.

in fact every car using torque tubes will have a failure now and then. Google then.
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Old 06-30-2018, 06:40 PM
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Thanks all for the great info and comments.

Got it back yesterday, so it was in the shop a solid 16 days. Ultimately the failed bearing was in the rear part of the TT despite the sound clearly coming from the front - shop foreman said the grinding sound resonated to the front. He also said GM instructed them to first replace a clamp which did not fix it then the entire TT assembly was replaced. They had to keep it an extra day to allow them to do two cold starts to seat the bearings before a final test drive.

Put a hundred miles on it so far and all seems fine. No vibrations, rattles or anything and not a scratch, scuff nor ding.

I got it back just in time for some greatly needed vette therapy!

Last edited by markeaux; 06-30-2018 at 06:52 PM.
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Old 06-30-2018, 07:17 PM
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Thanks for reporting results & good luck. Also thanks for the dealership shoutout that they treated you well & took care of the problem. So many negative posts about dealers & I have a hunch (from attitude in their posts) that CUSTOMER calmness/respect towards dealer/service dept gets much better treatment & results. Glad it has worked out.
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Old 06-30-2018, 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by madrob2020
Thanks for reporting results & good luck. Also thanks for the dealership shoutout that they treated you well & took care of the problem. So many negative posts about dealers & I have a hunch (from attitude in their posts) that CUSTOMER calmness/respect towards dealer/service dept gets much better treatment & results. Glad it has worked out.
Indeed I was quite calm the whole time, and having researched the many TT issues on this forum and elsewhere really helped convey a proper level of concern to the service advisor and shop foreman who opened a case with GM right away. I actually had it repaired at the same Cadillac, Buick, GMC dealership with which I have a decades-old relationship. In fact the awesome service advisor and shop foreman both know me quite well due to my previous 2015 Yukon Denali issues. The family that owns it also owns Chevy dealerships in nearby towns and so they service all GM makes. They have a seasoned Corvette specialist, and within the last few weeks I noticed 3 other vettes there including a hot cammed Z06.

For reference, here are the part numbers on my receipt:
12560341 Bolt (GM has a bulletin to try this clamp bolt first but it did not fix the intermittent spun bearing grinding noise)
84016822 Support (this is the torque tube assembly, and replacing this did fix the noise)

Last edited by markeaux; 07-01-2018 at 10:55 AM.
Old 07-28-2018, 09:36 AM
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The saga continues: After the torque tube replacement there was a strong vibration at 2K rpms in Park and every gear - very noticeable since the shift points are right around 2K in normal driving. After 6 days back in the shop they said GM thinks it's just a TT alignment issue. We shall see. Hoping to get it back next week.

23 days in the shop so far. That's about 1 month out of the 5 I've had it ... 20% downtime :/

Last edited by markeaux; 07-28-2018 at 09:40 AM.
Old 07-28-2018, 10:53 AM
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[QUOTE=markeaux;15976840600

23 days in the shop so far. That's about 1 month out of the 5 I've had it ... 20% downtime :/[/QUOTE]
Really tough way to start a new relationship with your car. Hang in their & report some GOOD news next time we hope!
Old 07-28-2018, 11:35 AM
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23/C8Z
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Omg. Unreal. Sorry to get your Hope's up. At this point say nothing. Have it repaired.


if it happens one more time again do the same. Then contact lemon law attorney. 1800mylemon

problem will go away quickly when they buy the car back and you can start over or move on.

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Old 07-28-2018, 11:51 AM
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I had a lemon...good luck with getting it fixed right.
Even if they fit the TT right it will always have hard shifts.
once they try and work on it it’s like opening a can of snakes.
Believe me GM knows the problem, you just have to get to the right person to get it resolved. BUYBACK!
Old 08-02-2018, 07:12 PM
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28 days total in the shop now (over 2 visits) to fix this issue. They said when they adjusted the replacement TT to fix the vibration @ 2K rpms the grinding noise came back, then when they adjusted it to fix the grinding noise the vibration came back.

GM now advises another new TT plus new flex plate, so it will probably be at least another week for it to arrive, installed, tested, etc. At that point it would have been in the shop a total of about 35 days.

Last edited by markeaux; 08-02-2018 at 07:14 PM.
Old 08-02-2018, 09:15 PM
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Originally Posted by markeaux
28 days total in the shop now (over 2 visits) to fix this issue. They said when they adjusted the replacement TT to fix the vibration @ 2K rpms the grinding noise came back, then when they adjusted it to fix the grinding noise the vibration came back.

GM now advises another new TT plus new flex plate, so it will probably be at least another week for it to arrive, installed, tested, etc. At that point it would have been in the shop a total of about 35 days.
I feel your pain, brother. My 2016 was in the shop for over 30 days total for TC, stator support and fuel sending unit replacement. Fortunately it was put back together well and so far, so good. I also recently had some parts replaced in the rear axle to resolve the infamous "warble" that many Stingray owners have and are experiencing. I wish you all the best in getting your car repaired correctly and back on the road.
Old 08-03-2018, 06:04 AM
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Just out of curiosity... even though this was warranty work did the receipt list the total cost for parts and labor for the torque tube replacement? I am still pondering an extended warranty. I don't care about TC issues and costs since I am M7. Also I wonder why dealers seem to have so much trouble getting this repair right. I realize access would be easier during assembly but what do they do that the techs have trouble with?

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Old 09-24-2018, 07:44 PM
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The vibration at 2K rpms just returned within the last few days, sheesh! So back in the shop she goes. This issue is wearing me very thin, and while I love every aspect of the car otherwise I am seriously questioning it's reliability, and if I want to put up with it being in the shop for 2+ weeks at a time.
Old 09-25-2018, 04:00 AM
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Lemon law time.
Old 09-25-2018, 08:20 AM
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Agreed. Happens in every car line with every mfr. Sometimes they're just wrong and not diagnosed properly causing other issues while never addressing the original complaint. 1800mylemon

call it. It's all fax email and one or two phone calls. Never have to set foot in an office.


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