Final verdict on the SSR "TINK"?

DakotaDocMartin · 07-19-2006, 03:59 PM

I've read all of the discussions about the "dreaded" tink. But, without going into hundreds of opinions for and against... I just want to know from someone who is in the know...

My old 1984 GMC 3/4 ton lets out one heckuva "tink" now and then and outside of it being annoying... I don't think it's mechanically threatening to the vehicle.

Is the SSR's "tink" anything to really worry about mechanically? I mean, is it something that really NEEDS to be taken care of in a mechanical sense, or is it just important to do away with an annoying sound?

poppa · 07-19-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DakotaDocMartin

I've read all of the discussions about the "dreaded" tink. But, without going into hundreds of opinions for and against... I just want to know from someone who is in the know...

My old 1984 GMC 3/4 ton lets out one heckuva "tink" now and then and outside of it being annoying... I don't think it's mechanically threatening to the vehicle.

Is the SSR's "tink" anything to really worry about mechanically? I mean, is it something that really NEEDS to be taken care of in a mechanical sense, or is it just important to do away with an annoying sound?

There's tinks and TINKS I have a slight tink when going into drive or reverse 11,000 miles on my truck been there from day 1, Bottom line a large diameter aluminium driveshaft can have some harmonic noise in it. If it doesn't bother you then I would (and I am) leave it alone.

Boosted · 07-19-2006, 05:29 PM

Older vehicles with steal shafts tink was a bad u-joint. that is a problem..Ours seems to be the aluminum binding causing it..

I am going to just drive it..

DakotaDocMartin · 07-19-2006, 07:08 PM

I only notice a little tink once in awhile when I have the top down and I'm backing out of the garage. So, being it doesn't seem to be a life threatening problem... I'm going to just leave mine the way it is also.

But, I "tink" we ain't heard the last of it. Some will hate it, some won't care. Some won't even know they have a tink even if it tinks at them all day long.

CQQL_SSR · 07-19-2006, 09:55 PM

I noticed mine the other day when I had the top down and the radio off. The radio is never off so I never noticed it before. I have other GM vehicles with the same "Tink". I always thought the noise was excessive backlash on the ring and pinion. When I read the threads about replacing the drive shaft to eliminate the "Tink" then I started to rethink the cause. Now I have a headache. If the replacement aftermarket driveshaft fixes the problem then there must be something that moves or flexes on the stock shaft.

I "Tink" the solution is increase the radio volume.

Charlie

pfisterlevel · 07-19-2006, 10:25 PM

I agree with all who say Leave It Alone! There seem to be more horror stories from those of you who have tried to have it fixed or replacing parts, over and over again. Not to mention the risk of other damage or scratches to the vehicle from the service departments. The "tink" is SSR's way of saying "Here I am!". I think it gives the vehicle it's own personality. I'm keeping it!

John

WearyEagle · 07-20-2006, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boosted

Older vehicles with steal shafts tink was a bad u-joint. that is a problem..Ours seems to be the aluminum binding causing it..

I am going to just drive it..

Thanks, Boosted.

I was beginning to think I was going nuts because I remember in the old days it was attributed to a bad (play in the) u-joint. Now I get different explanations.

sa-weet · 07-20-2006, 11:21 AM

I have been in the driveline business for nearly 35 years. I now have two locations , I feel like I have just about "seen it all" but every once in a while...?
We have been building/repairing steel and aluminum drivelines for Quite some time....they both have thier own unique quirks.
the driveline in the SSR is an aluminum one , when it is assembled at the factory it is welded close to a swedge in the tube, when torque is applied there is a load up in the tubing and actually moves within itself. I have not seen any of the SSR driveshafts fail because of this (but its still not right to have a vehicle do that) we have paid good money for these vehicles. I also understand there are some other vehicles doing the same thing tahoe's I think . GM knows of the problem but I don't think they are going to do anything about it....just keep replacing them till the warranty runs out. I have had 4 replaced....#5 still does it . it usually takes a few miles to start showing enough stress to do the" Ting thing"sorry I couldn't help it. I just kept on letting gm try to fix the problem ...while under warranty.
once during the times the dealer had a shaft on order.... we took the old one out and replaced it with the chrome-moly steel shaft we built in our shop......perfect..so my plan is to let gm try to fix the problem untill my warranty runs out , then if its not fixed ..in go's my steel one and it will be just a past memory. I have read on some of the other threads that some of the guys are buying carbon fiber drivelines to put in thier SSR's ....thats great but the are very expensive...if anyone would like info on my steel one just give me a PM.

Boosted · 07-20-2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa-weet

I have been in the driveline business for nearly 35 years. I now have two locations , I feel like I have just about "seen it all" but every once in a while...?
We have been building/repairing steel and aluminum drivelines for Quite some time....they both have thier own unique quirks.
the driveline in the SSR is an aluminum one , when it is assembled at the factory it is welded close to a swedge in the tube, when torque is applied there is a load up in the tubing and actually moves within itself. I have not seen any of the SSR driveshafts fail because of this (but its still not right to have a vehicle do that) we have paid good money for these vehicles. I also understand there are some other vehicles doing the same thing tahoe's I think . GM knows of the problem but I don't think they are going to do anything about it....just keep replacing them till the warranty runs out. I have had 4 replaced....#5 still does it . it usually takes a few miles to start showing enough stress to do the" Ting thing"sorry I couldn't help it. I just kept on letting gm try to fix the problem ...while under warranty.
once during the times the dealer had a shaft on order.... we took the old one out and replaced it with the chrome-moly steel shaft we built in our shop......perfect..so my plan is to let gm try to fix the problem untill my warranty runs out , then if its not fixed ..in go's my steel one and it will be just a past memory. I have read on some of the other threads that some of the guys are buying carbon fiber drivelines to put in thier SSR's ....thats great but the are very expensive...if anyone would like info on my steel one just give me a PM.

Thanks for theInformation and if I ever let this get the best of me I will look you up!

Ricochet · 07-20-2006, 12:29 PM

At this point I think the "Tink" is more of an annoyance than something that is going to fail or break something else. I'm not sure why GM didn't feel it necessary to properly fix the issue. The only reason that comes to mind is that its not just the drive shaft its a compilation of problems causing the noise. Then that would explain why they didn't fix it because it would cost to much to replace and re design the various components that are causing it.

WOW_FCTR · 07-20-2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa-weet

I have been in the driveline business for nearly 35 years. I now have two locations , I feel like I have just about "seen it all" but every once in a while...?
We have been building/repairing steel and aluminum drivelines for Quite some time....they both have thier own unique quirks.
the driveline in the SSR is an aluminum one , when it is assembled at the factory it is welded close to a swedge in the tube, when torque is applied there is a load up in the tubing and actually moves within itself. I have not seen any of the SSR driveshafts fail because of this (but its still not right to have a vehicle do that) we have paid good money for these vehicles. I also understand there are some other vehicles doing the same thing tahoe's I think . GM knows of the problem but I don't think they are going to do anything about it....just keep replacing them till the warranty runs out. I have had 4 replaced....#5 still does it . it usually takes a few miles to start showing enough stress to do the" Ting thing"sorry I couldn't help it. I just kept on letting gm try to fix the problem ...while under warranty.
once during the times the dealer had a shaft on order.... we took the old one out and replaced it with the chrome-moly steel shaft we built in our shop......perfect..so my plan is to let gm try to fix the problem untill my warranty runs out , then if its not fixed ..in go's my steel one and it will be just a past memory. I have read on some of the other threads that some of the guys are buying carbon fiber drivelines to put in thier SSR's ....thats great but the are very expensive...if anyone would like info on my steel one just give me a PM.

Why would you go through all that time and trouble to have GM try new unsuccessful drive shafts when you have the solution right there?

cruzned · 07-20-2006, 01:49 PM

I "Tink" we should'nt worry about it. I kinda like ole tinkerbell comin out of Black Betty like that. Have driven the daylights out of her and the tink does not mean anything, good or bad. It just is what it is. A small noise. NBD to me.

poppa · 07-20-2006, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzned

I "Tink" we should'nt worry about it. I kinda like ole tinkerbell comin out of Black Betty like that. Have driven the daylights out of her and the tink does not mean anything, good or bad. It just is what it is. A small noise. NBD to me.

The one thing I would be careful about if using a steel drive shaft is high speed. Chevy went with the aluminium because of the length of the shaft and the inherent weight of steel to cut down on "sling" at speed, surely they would have gone with steel if the felt they could because its cheaper. The Rhinehart shaft probably doesn't "tink" because it is smaller diameter and thicker walled aluminium, which gives it less resonence. Like I said in the beginning of this thread whats a little "tink" between friends.
Again just my .02

sa-weet · 07-20-2006, 02:23 PM

this is NOT true I know all the length requirements involved with building drivelines
the steel is well within limits. The actual reason GM and other manufactures use aluminum is weight aluminum weighs a pound or two less......GVW...thats it.
on a vehicle that weighs as much as the SSR it really shouldn't be to much of an issue.

SSRENITY · 07-20-2006, 02:27 PM

I think many of you are missing the point on the driveshaft issue. I could care less about a little tink noise. It is the rubber donut that worries me. Others have reported seal leaks at the tailshaft and tailshaft failures because of this. I'll happily live with the tink...just give me a reasonably priced fix for the donut problem!

JRYS · 07-20-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzned

I "Tink" we should'nt worry about it. I kinda like ole tinkerbell comin out of Black Betty like that. Have driven the daylights out of her and the tink does not mean anything, good or bad. It just is what it is. A small noise. NBD to me.

TINK, WHAT TINK

shiftz33 · 07-20-2006, 08:38 PM

The "tink" issue is one of personal tolerance whether it is enough to bother the owner of the SSR to get it addressed.

The SSR owners that say "don't worry about it" that's their opinion, but not mine.

I paid hard earned money for 2 different SSRs that both had this issue. One of the main reasons for me to get a SSR is the top down driving.

That's exactly when the "tink" can be heard the most and it was quite LOUD on both of my SSRs.

Why would I want to drive a convertible with the top down and hear "tink...tink...tink" at every stoplight, every gas pedal change and most every gear change. Kind of takes away from the whole "top down" experience.

rickw · 07-21-2006, 10:25 AM

I jsut had mine in for service. I told them about my "tink" and they ordered me a new driveshaft. We'll see how mine works out.

Boosted · 07-21-2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiftz33

I paid hard earned money for 2 different SSRs that both had this issue. One of the main reasons for me to get a SSR is the top down driving.

And you have yet to figure out that GM is not ever going to fix this? Not trying to be a butt, but I had an 04 and now an 05 and have been around a little while on this site and NO ONE HAS EVER HAD THE TINK FIXED BY GM.

If someone has please step and say so... The way I see it is that you can take it back to the dealer every other week and complain about it, be without the truck and drive one of those nice rental cars, sell it and walk away form the truck 100%, buy an aftermarket shaft like Jim G. did or just live with it. All it is, is a noise...

Have a good day now ya hear!

SSRENITY · 07-21-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boosted

And you have yet to figure out that GM is not ever going to fix this? Not trying to be a butt, but I had an 04 and now an 05 and have been around a little while on this site and NO ONE HAS EVER HAD THE TINK FIXED BY GM.

If someone has please step and say so... The way I see it is that you can take it back to the dealer every other week and complain about it, be without the truck and drive one of those nice rental cars, sell it and walk away form the truck 100%, buy an aftermarket shaft like Jim G. did or just live with it. All it is, is a noise...

Have a good day now ya hear!

Again...read my post in this thread. It is NOT just a noise that should be of concern. It is the rubber donut on the front yoke we have to worry about. I'm not looking forward to tranny fluid leaks out of the tailshaft seal or a failed tailshaft housing.

rickw · 07-21-2006, 11:48 AM

I just figured what the hell? If I take a chance and it at least gets a little better then it's worth it.