File in Section:
Bulletin No.:

Service Bulletin

Date:

15-NA-082
December, 2015

TECHNICAL
Subject:

Clunking Noise from Front of Vehicle During Turns and/or Bumps

Attention: This Bulletin also applies to any of the models that may be Export vehicles.
Model Year:

VIN:

Engine:

Transmission:

2013

All

All

2007

2016

All

All

Avalanche

2007

2013

All

All

Chevrolet

Silverado
1500,
Suburban
1500, Tahoe

2007

2016

All

All

GMC

Sierra 1500,
Yukon,
Yukon
XL 1500

2007

2016

All

All

Brand:

Model:

from

to

Cadillac

Escalade
EXT

2007

Cadillac

Escalade,
Escalade
ESV

Chevrolet

Condition

from

to

Some customers may comment on a clunking noise originating from the front of the
vehicle that is more predominant during turns or traveling over bumps.

Cause

4223055

This may be caused by a damaged stabilizer shaft frame bracket. There have been some
cases in which the bracket is cracked, as shown. This condition has been found to be the
result of insufficient welds between the bracket and frame rail. There have been some
cases on older vehicles of corrosion affecting the bracket.

Copyright 2015 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Page 2

December, 2015

Bulletin No.: 15-NA-082

Correction
If you encounter a vehicle with the above concern,
follow the procedure below to install a new stabilizer
shaft bracket to the frame.
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Refer to
Battery Negative Cable Disconnection and
Connection.

4279395

4223060

2. Raise the vehicle in the air and inspect the
stabilizer shaft frame brackets (both left and right)
for any abnormalities or cracks and inspect welds
to ensure good alignment and integrity. Refer to
Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in SI.
Note: Be sure to inspect frame rails for any cracks or
damage in relation to the stabilizer bracket. If the frame
rail itself is cracked or damaged, repair should not be
attempted.
3. Once verified that the bracket is damaged or the
welds are insufficient, remove the stabilizer shaft.
Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Replacement in SI.
4. On 4WD models, once the stabilizer shaft is
removed also remove the front frame/front axle
mount exhaust heat shield (1) located above the
stabilizer bracket.
5. With the stabilizer shaft and shield removed, using
a rag and wax/grease removing solvent, remove
the wax coating and any grease, oil, or
undercoating from the truck frame in the affected
repair area.
Important: Be sure to remove all wax coating around
the areas of the bracket. If the wax coating is not fully
removed, this could affect the weld quality when
installing the new bracket.

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Bulletin No.: 15-NA-082

December, 2015

4223062

6. After all the wax coating is removed, using a cut off
wheel, remove the old bracket from the frame.
Warning: To avoid personal injury when exposed
to welding flashes or to galvanized (Zinc Oxide)
metal toxic fumes while grinding/cutting on any
type of metal or sheet molded compound, you must
work in a properly ventilated area, wearing an
approved respirator, eye protection , earplugs,
welding gloves, and protective clothing.

Page 3

4223069

8. Clean the area of all debris in preparation of the
new bracket to be welded to the frame.
Important: Be sure to inspect frame rails for any
cracks or damage in relation to the stabilizer bracket. If
the frame rail itself is cracked or damaged, repair
should not be attempted.

Important: Be sure to not cut the frame in process of
removing the bracket.

4223071

4223065

7. After the bracket has been removed, using an
angle grinder with 24 grit sand paper or equivalent
clean the areas of any excess bracket weld
material from the frame so that the new bracket
can sit flush in the location of the old one.
Important: Be sure to not grind away any frame
material, only remove the weld material.

9. After the area is clean of all debris, place the new
bracket in the location of the removed one. The
bracket should seat against the frame
crossmember bracket in the most forward position,
along the lower surface of the frame rail, and along
the inner surface of the frame rail in the rear.
Note: The new bracket will need the welding locations
stripped of all coating. Be sure to grind all edges of the
new bracket so that the quality of the weld will not be
affected.

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December, 2015

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Bulletin No.: 15-NA-082

4223078

10. After the bracket is in location, tack weld the
bracket to the frame in all 4 corners of the bracket.
This will keep the bracket from moving while
welding the bracket fully to the frame.

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4223077

11. After the bracket is tack welded in the location,
loosely position the stabilizer shaft to verify that the
bracket is in the correct location. Refer to Stabilizer
Shaft Replacement in SI.
12. After verifying that the bracket is in the correct
location, remove the stabilizer shaft. Refer to
Stabilizer Shaft Replacement in SI.

13. Continuous-weld the new bracket into position.
Ensure the rear vertical weld (1) is extended
approximately 15 mm above the edge of the
bracket.
Note: When welding, be sure to start from the bottom
of the bracket and work your way upward.
Note: Gas metal arc weld using ER70S-3 electrode
and an Argon CO2 protective gas mixture. Alternatively,
meeting AWS 7013.
Note: Provide a continuous weld around the bracket.
If access does not permit a continuous weld, make a
6 mm minimum overlap of adjacent welds.
Warning: To avoid personal injury when exposed
to welding flashes or to galvanized (Zinc Oxide)
metal toxic fumes while grinding/cutting on any
type of metal or sheet molded compound, you must
work in a properly ventilated area, wearing an
approved respirator, eye protection , earplugs,
welding gloves, and protective clothing.

Bulletin No.: 15-NA-082

December, 2015

Page 5

14. After the bracket has been fully welded to the
frame, using Lloyd’s Pure Prep™ Metal Surface
Preparation P/N 25418 (10 fluid ounce bottle), or
equivalent, saturate a towel or Scotch-Brite™ (3M)
pad with the pre-diluted solution and scrub the
area well, rendering a foaming of the Pure Prep.™
This will greatly improve adhesion and corrosion
resistance in the repair areas.
15. Using a water dampened clean towel, remove any
residue and dry the affected area. Dry the repair
area completely using an air hose to blow dry the
frame and bracket.
16. Check the repair area for phosphate treatment by
wiping it to see if any corrosion residue can be
picked up. Correctly treated areas will not have any
residue on the surface.

4223080

18. Apply a second coat of Lloyds Kryptonite. This can
be a heavy coat; double and triple passes with this
product, over a light first coat, are not a problem.

4223079

17. Apply a light flash-coat of Lloyds Kryptonite Metal
Treatment P/N 36502 Life Long Rust Protection
(14 ounce aerosol), or equivalent, to all bare areas
of the frame where the wax coating was removed.
This first coat should flash in approximately 3-5
minutes. Apply a light flash-coat to the inside of the
frame rail using existing access holes, as shown.
Insert the straw of the aerosol can as far as
possible, and slowly work the straw back out while
applying material.

4223081

19. We suggest top coating the Lloyds Kryptonite with
Daubert Nox-Rust® P/N X-121B “One Coat Rust
Preventative Coating” (aerosol), or equivalent.
20. Reinstall the stabilizer shaft with new stabilizer
shaft clamp bolts. With new stabilizer thread
cutting bolts, drive the bolts to cut the new threads,
then loosen the bolts two turns and then torque to
50 Y (37 lb ft). Refer to Stabilizer Shaft
Replacement in SI.
Note: The stabilizer shaft clamp bolt attachment holes
on the new bracket are not threaded, the clamp bolts
are thread cutting.

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December, 2015

Bulletin No.: 15-NA-082

21. On 4WD models, install the front frame/front axle
mount exhaust heat shield.
22. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Refer to
Battery Negative Cable Disconnection and
Connection.

Parts Information
Dealers should obtain 25418 and 36502 by contacting
Lloyds by e-mail at [email protected], or
by calling 1-800-361-6766.
U.S. Dealers can obtain the X-121B topcoat by
contacting the Daubert website at
www.daubertchemical.com or inside the U.S. only, by
calling 1-800-914-0034.
Canadian dealers must contact the Daubert distributor
in Canada, Corrosion Control Coatings Ltd, by faxing
the form below to 1-800-563-8078.
Part Number

Description

84037074

Bracket – Drivetrain & Frt Susp Frm
Stab (Left Hand)

84037075

Bracket – Drivetrain & Frt Susp Frm
Stab (Right Hand)

11570934 (2 Qty)

SCREW-HEX FLANGE HEAD
TAPPING

Warranty Information
For vehicles repaired under the Bumper-to-Bumper
coverage (Canada Base Warranty coverage), use the
following labor operation. Reference the Applicable
Warranties section of Investigate Vehicle History (IVH)
for coverage information.
Labor
Operation

Description

Labor
Time

1480628*

Repair and Replace Stabilizer
Bracket on One Side

2.5 hrs

Add

Replace Both Stabilizer
Brackets

1.5 hrs

*This is a unique Labor Operation for Bulletin use only.

Additional Keywords: Sway

Version

2

Modified

December 16, 2015 – Updated Important statements and added Additional Keywords.

Bulletin No.: 15-NA-082

December, 2015

Page 7

4232962

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these
technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper
service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a
job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your
vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the
information.

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