My SSR: 2004 Smokin asphalt,purchased untitled in August 2005
Driveshaft "tink"
I believe our 2004 has developed this noise. Reading through the forum I know GM has a bulletin for this problem.
Could someone clarify what causes the noise and how GM take care of this ?
Or is the problem best left alone and does not get any worse, or does the fix by GM create a different problem?. Looking long term outside of the Warranty period.
I would appreciate any comments and opinions before returning to my local Dealership to rectify this issue, many thanks.
I am going to repeat an earlier warning (see threads using "donut" as the search word):
Do NOT allow a Chevy dealer to "fix" your problem by replacing the driveshaft with one that has the "donut" weight on the front end of it. That composite donut, made of steel and ribber, eventually (and sometimes not so eventualy) becomes unbalanced due to degradation & extrusion of the rubber, and srats damaging first the tailshaft seal and then the tailshaft housing. Do not accept that as a "solution" or you will be sorry. I am not sure if some or all Chevy dealers are still doing this bad idea fix.
My SSR: #1725, Red 2003, MagnaCharger, Billet Power servo and 4th Gear servo, Edlebrock/Custom Exhaust
I've been on this board for a long time and still don't know what the hell this "tink" thing is. When I shift my gear from R to D there is a very very small "ping" that sounds like a "zing". Is this it? Can someone please explain this?
If this is it, it doesn't bother me at all. Do I have to worry about it?
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#1725 Chicago
"It's not a graduation. He is moving from the 4th grade to the 5th grade. It's psychotic. They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity."
I've been on this board for a long time and still don't know what the hell this "tink" thing is. When I shift my gear from R to D there is a very very small "ping" that sounds like a "zing". Is this it? Can someone please explain this?
If this is it, it doesn't bother me at all. Do I have to worry about it?
Yes, this is it.
Do you have to worry about it (if the sound does not bother you)? We're not sure. I THINK it may cause faster than normal u-joint wear, and that would explain why it gets more pronounced with odometer miles, eventually occurring during normal transmission shifts.
Was it GM that refused to do it, or the dealership?
You can call GM Customer Assistance at 1-866-932-4368 and open a ticket on this.
They've been replacing them on this reference for a long time, they have already set the precident.....
We've got several GM sevice guys on the forum..... what say you, guys?????
Mike
You are right Mike, it would be the dealer that refused to do it, not GM.
__________________ 1932 Ford 2 Dr 1932 Ford Roadster 1938 Ford Deluxe 1941 Chevrolet Cab Over Engine 1947 Buick Roadmaster Conv 1959 Chev Impala 1963 Corvette Split Window 2004 SSR 2004 GMC Dually 2005 GMC Jimmy
I am going to repeat an earlier warning (see threads using "donut" as the search word):
Do NOT allow a Chevy dealer to "fix" your problem by replacing the driveshaft with one that has the "donut" weight on the front end of it. That composite donut, made of steel and ribber, eventually (and sometimes not so eventualy) becomes unbalanced due to degradation & extrusion of the rubber, and srats damaging first the tailshaft seal and then the tailshaft housing. Do not accept that as a "solution" or you will be sorry. I am not sure if some or all Chevy dealers are still doing this bad idea fix.
Jim G
I have not seen a warranty claim for the "donut" moving or becoming unbalanced on the replacement shaft. It is a similar concept to the engine harmonic balancer (steal and rubber) but turns alot slower.
__________________ 1932 Ford 2 Dr 1932 Ford Roadster 1938 Ford Deluxe 1941 Chevrolet Cab Over Engine 1947 Buick Roadmaster Conv 1959 Chev Impala 1963 Corvette Split Window 2004 SSR 2004 GMC Dually 2005 GMC Jimmy
41Chevcoe: When the donut unbalances, the "symptom" that the dealer mechanic finds is either a leaking tailshaft seal or a cracked tailshaft housing (if it went too long febofore the owner reported it). Most mechanics simply replace the seal and do not look any further.
The only reason I got all the inside details on it is because of what happened on my own SSR.
The mechanic at the Atlanta area dealership that repaired my own SSR when it started to leak tranny fluid out of the tailshaft, was alert enough to note that the splines on the shaft looked damaged. He thought it was just a case of a bad machinging job from the factory, and replaced the driveshaft with yet another donut-equipped one. Then fate intervened. Dennis Reinhart contacted me and said he thought he had a cure for the driveshaft tink (he does). He offered me one of MMC driveshafts, and when Randy and I installed it, Randy, who is SUPER detail oriented, noted that the donut on the shaft that he removed was already starting to show rubber deterioration and extrusion.
We quickly realized what was happening. The donut rubber deteriorates with time for some reason in this applicaiton (could be simply an inferior grade of rubber used, or inadequate balancing of the composite donut assembly). When it does, it becomes VERY unbalanced, and since it is SO heavy (check it out!), it starts to shake the tailshaft area pretty effectively. The first victim is the tailshaft seal. The second is the splines. The third is the tailshaft housing.
I'm going to say it yet again and hoepfully for the last time: If you have one of these donuts on your SSR, get the shaft replaced. If your GM dealer won't equip you with a non-donut shaft, BUY a Denis Reinhart metal matrix composite shaft and spare yourself lots of grief.
As Jim G has stated the info about Dennis Reinhart, they now offer a less expensive version of the driveshaft, which is the one that I have in the '03. I had approached GM about paying for it after they installed the donut and it did the same thing after 1000 miles. They declined, and I ended up buying the Reinhart shaft myself, and had the dealer install, my tech did not charge me for the install, because of the previous shaft.
That was almost 7000 miles ago, and not one tink from the new shaft, I don't even think about it, until I see threads on the forum addressing the problem.
It been the best move that I have made.....No More TINK.....
How do you know if you have the "rubber-doughnut" shaft?
Do you have to drop the driveshaft to find out?
Thanks
No. It is quite visible when you look at the foreward end of the driveshaft, right behind the transmission. If you do a search on this webste using "donut", I think you will find a photo that I posted a very long time ago.
If you have my e-book, the donut is also visible in the top left photo on page144.
GM flat out refused to fix mine at all. Said they are now considering the sound normal....Don't that beat all?
You're not the only one. At least (I hope), it's on my service record that I had it in for the noise. Althought, mine's not tinking, it's an outright clunk when I shift.
My SSR: #1725, Red 2003, MagnaCharger, Billet Power servo and 4th Gear servo, Edlebrock/Custom Exhaust
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimGnitecki
41Chevcoe: When the donut unbalances, the "symptom" that the dealer mechanic finds is either a leaking tailshaft seal or a cracked tailshaft housing (if it went too long febofore the owner reported it). Most mechanics simply replace the seal and do not look any further.
The only reason I got all the inside details on it is because of what happened on my own SSR.
The mechanic at the Atlanta area dealership that repaired my own SSR when it started to leak tranny fluid out of the tailshaft, was alert enough to note that the splines on the shaft looked damaged. He thought it was just a case of a bad machinging job from the factory, and replaced the driveshaft with yet another donut-equipped one. Then fate intervened. Dennis Reinhart contacted me and said he thought he had a cure for the driveshaft tink (he does). He offered me one of MMC driveshafts, and when Randy and I installed it, Randy, who is SUPER detail oriented, noted that the donut on the shaft that he removed was already starting to show rubber deterioration and extrusion.
We quickly realized what was happening. The donut rubber deteriorates with time for some reason in this applicaiton (could be simply an inferior grade of rubber used, or inadequate balancing of the composite donut assembly). When it does, it becomes VERY unbalanced, and since it is SO heavy (check it out!), it starts to shake the tailshaft area pretty effectively. The first victim is the tailshaft seal. The second is the splines. The third is the tailshaft housing.
I'm going to say it yet again and hoepfully for the last time: If you have one of these donuts on your SSR, get the shaft replaced. If your GM dealer won't equip you with a non-donut shaft, BUY a Denis Reinhart metal matrix composite shaft and spare yourself lots of grief.
Jim G
Jim G,
My SSR has not had this changed. Do I have the donut thing or is this the replacement for the original?
Also, now that I have the supercharger, can they say no to the repair?
Do you recommend getting this Reinhart matrix anyways for my SSR? The sound seems quite minor to me but I only have 15000 miles on it. How much does the part and labor cost in case GM not paying for it? ( I have an extended warranty)
__________________
#1725 Chicago
"It's not a graduation. He is moving from the 4th grade to the 5th grade. It's psychotic. They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity."
any pics of the donuts available or do i have to go to Donut Castle????
grimmye
cocktail hour you know
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The farther you are from the beginning the closer you get to the end.
My SSR has not had this changed. Do I have the donut thing or is this the replacement for the original?
Also, now that I have the supercharger, can they say no to the repair?
Do you recommend getting this Reinhart matrix anyways for my SSR? The sound seems quite minor to me but I only have 15000 miles on it. How much does the part and labor cost in case GM not paying for it? ( I have an extended warranty)
The donut-equipped shaft seems to be a warranty repair aporoach, NOT original equipemnt. At least, I have not run into one yet that was orignal equipment.
The dealer has no right to refuse service on the driveshaft just because you have a supercharger installed. Most dealer service writers would not even notice though too.
I HIGHLY recommend Dennis's MMC driveshaft. Besides getting rid of the tink, it is also far quieter in general, and a MUCH higher quality shaft.
I do not know the new price of Dennis's driveshaft, which I am led to believe might be lower than that of the original one he offered. The original one cost about $550 as I recall. Labor is literally 20 minutes or less. My mechanic friend Randy did the swap in my DRIVEWAY, without a hoist.
I'm going to say it yet again and hoepfully for the last time: If you have one of these donuts on your SSR, get the shaft replaced. If your GM dealer won't equip you with a non-donut shaft, BUY a Denis Reinhart metal matrix composite shaft and spare yourself lots of grief.
Jim G
Jim, I realize we have two different opinions on this, but there is no history of the " donut " driveshaft balancer going out of balance and tearing the back of the transmission apart. I don't dispute that Dennis Reinhart probably makes an excellent shaft, but I do not want anyone to be afraid to drive their SSR with a stock driveshaft in it.
__________________ 1932 Ford 2 Dr 1932 Ford Roadster 1938 Ford Deluxe 1941 Chevrolet Cab Over Engine 1947 Buick Roadmaster Conv 1959 Chev Impala 1963 Corvette Split Window 2004 SSR 2004 GMC Dually 2005 GMC Jimmy
My SSR: #1725, Red 2003, MagnaCharger, Billet Power servo and 4th Gear servo, Edlebrock/Custom Exhaust
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimGnitecki
The donut-equipped shaft seems to be a warranty repair aporoach, NOT original equipemnt. At least, I have not run into one yet that was orignal equipment.
The dealer has no right to refuse service on the driveshaft just because you have a supercharger installed. Most dealer service writers would not even notice though too.
I HIGHLY recommend Dennis's MMC driveshaft. Besides getting rid of the tink, it is also far quieter in general, and a MUCH higher quality shaft.
I do not know the new price of Dennis's driveshaft, which I am led to believe might be lower than that of the original one he offered. The original one cost about $550 as I recall. Labor is literally 20 minutes or less. My mechanic friend Randy did the swap in my DRIVEWAY, without a hoist.
Jim G
Jim, you are quite an asset to this forum. I'm sure you have heard this before. Thank you.
One more thing. What can theoretically happen if I don't do anything to this little tink? Can I cause major damage?
__________________
#1725 Chicago
"It's not a graduation. He is moving from the 4th grade to the 5th grade. It's psychotic. They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity."
2004 has developed this noise. Reading through the forum I know GM has a bulletin for this problem.
