I bought my crew cab 2005 GMC Z71 new in 2005. It has 192,800 miles on it. I had to spend money on the air conditioner 3 years ago but other than that everything else has been maintenance type issues. Plugs, plug wires, battery, serpentine belt, and a heater fan blower relay. I want to keep this truck as long as I'm alive! I know you see these old guys driving older trucks that still run and look good! That's what I want to do with this one. After saying all of that...I am starting to hear two noises that I need help identifying.

1.) I'm hearing a rattle in the front end, especially on a dirt road. I'm thinking Tie rods and ball joints are worn.

2.) I'm hearing a high pitched noise from my transmission when I press on the gas peddle while driving at a steady speed. My wife has ask me if my cell phone is ringing at times because it's so loud. Someone said torque converter.

I'm going to a professional mechanic eventually but just wanted y'alls opinion.

Thanks, Bart

If you don't know what to look for have someone check the front end components. Rattle could be a loose skid plate or anything really. Even your intermediate shaft (not sure if the 05s have the new design or not). High pitched noise could be a TQ but I'd have a good transmission guy look at it. Could be dry bearings in a U joint or a dry seal. I guess you know your fluid is good in the tranny and transfer case?

The rattle in the front end sounds like the bushing on the steering column. I have same issue on my 06 z71. I had it repaired once during warranty.

^^^ This is a good bet on the rattle,you can shake the steering column up and down to check this.

I had the same problem in my 04'

If it is the bushing in the steering column. U can replace that or an old truck is to pack it with grease n it'll cut back on some of the racket.

if you can feel it in the steering wheel, it is the upper intermediate shaft. $65 at oriellys. the wine you are hearing could be a number of things. first make sure it is not radio. I know that sounds stupid but if the noise rises and falls with the rpms of the truck it could be a bad speaker. if that's not it, it could be a planetary bearing in the trans. I rebuilt the transmission in my 01 2500 hd because of that noise only to learn it wasn't hurting a dang thing. a week later is was doing it again and I drove another 35k miles with the noise. my 2006 rolled 200k this past weekend and it looks and drives like it has 80k on it. other than 100lbs of love bug guts on it.

damn intermediate shaft has been replaced in my 04 about 4 or 5 times. The last one was supposed to be the end all fix all shaft, but that was not the case.

Thats strange. I have never had to replace one a second time.

There's more pressure on the drivers side of YEK's truck.

Had a 99 Z71 and at around 190,000 the tie rods and joints had to be replaced. Probably what's going on with yours if I had to guess. Seems like there are several things that typically happen around 180-200k miles on these trucks. I sold mine at 206,000 b/c it started leaking a little oil... had to replace transmission at 185,000 and A/C at around 180,000. All in all great truck but I learned that the 180,000 mark usually comes with several thousand in repairs. Had a buddy get 300,000 on his with almost no work, so you never know. heck of a lot better than a new or newer truck payement

good point...same happened to me during warranty. my understanding is this doesn't really have to be fixed though...if I remember correctly

I just live with the rattle. Put a grease fitting on the steering housing and keep it greased. That'll stop the rattle.