[ClarksonCote]

Is there a TSB for the axle nut causing the pop/click noise on accel and decel?

I just brought the vehicle in for a diagnostic to address the pop/click, they simply tightened the nut and the problem is gone. The problem is I've done this before as well, and the problem quickly returns. I think they at least need to replace the nuts with the newer 36mm version, but why would they believe me?

I certainly don't want to be charged a $100 fee for them to have simply done what I've already done and have the problem come back again.

 

[El Dobro]

When I was at the Chevy dealer buying the new nut and washer, I asked about a TSB for the Volt and they couldn't find any. The next time it comes loose, I'm going to change it myself.

 

[imanjunk1963]

So what did your dealer charge to tighten it?
And general agreement is the axle nut needs to be at least tightened if not replaced? My 2014 volt with 42k miles just started doing it the last monghts. I will have my bro mechanic check it for me before I head to the dealer for inspection in October.

 

[ClarksonCote]

In the end they did replace just the nut for me. I had asked about it after I explained that I had tightened the nuts myself but the problem quickly returned. They called the tech line and confirmed about the nuts that could be replaced, and charged me just for that part (Qty 2). It sounded like the labor wasn't going to be covered though, and they were going to only waive the diagnostic fee and charge me for the labor to install. GM's customer service might have gotten involved to help out as in the end I only paid parts.

I asked about the spacer on the back. They didn't replace it and said that the tech verified they are there already and that replacing them is too much work basically. They didn't think it was necessary and I'm ok with that answer as long as the problem is truly fixed.

The worksheet states torquing to something like 110 pound feet, then loosening 45 degrees, then torquing to 185 pound feet. That agrees with other references to the procedure I've seen here.

 

[imanjunk1963]

Can someone confirm what one poster stated here above regarding torquing....I am going to have my bro mechanic take a look and do the work and maybe buy the nuts and have him replace it also later. Or direct me to a spec somewhere on a web site.

The worksheet states torquing to something like 110 pound feet, then loosening 45 degrees, then torquing to 185 pound feet. That agrees with other references to the procedure I've seen here.

 

[El Dobro]

Can someone confirm what one poster stated here above regarding torquing....I am going to have my bro mechanic take a look and do the work and maybe buy the nuts and have him replace it also later. Or direct me to a spec somewhere on a web site.

The worksheet states torquing to something like 110 pound feet, then loosening 45 degrees, then torquing to 185 pound feet. That agrees with other references to the procedure I've seen here.

That is the tightening procedure I was told.

 

[llninja]

So what did your dealer charge to tighten it?
And general agreement is the axle nut needs to be at least tightened if not replaced? My 2014 volt with 42k miles just started doing it the last monghts. I will have my bro mechanic check it for me before I head to the dealer for inspection in October.

Paula, the service advisor torqued my nuts for $116. Eventually I needed to get a bearing replaced for $450, but the bearing noise isn't a pop, but a growl/groan noise that changes with speed changes. She changed the bearing and retorqued my nuts just 2 weeks ago which was about a year and 3 months after the first nut torquing.

 

[Bill Step]

Paula, the service advisor torqued my nuts for $116. Eventually I needed to get a bearing replaced for $450, but the bearing noise isn't a pop, but a growl/groan noise that changes with speed changes. She changed the bearing and retorqued my nuts just 2 weeks ago which was about a year and 3 months after the first nut torquing.

keep driving the car like you do,,you'll be tq'ing nuts and changing bearings all the time.just saying

 

[Bill Step]

Can someone confirm what one poster stated here above regarding torquing....I am going to have my bro mechanic take a look and do the work and maybe buy the nuts and have him replace it also later. Or direct me to a spec somewhere on a web site.

The worksheet states torquing to something like 110 pound feet, then loosening 45 degrees, then torquing to 185 pound feet. That agrees with other references to the procedure I've seen here.

sounds like I get to give my snap on digital tq wrench a work out.might even do that today in the driveway.

 

[llninja]

sounds like I get to give my snap on digital tq wrench a work out.might even do that today in the driveway.

If you are careful, you can pop the center caps off and do all this without jacking the car off the ground to take off the wheels.

keep driving the car like you do,,you'll be tq'ing nuts and changing bearings all the time.just saying

Any excuse to get Paula to torque my nuts is well worth it. I've actually spent more on wheel/rim replacement/repair than on the bearings. I suspect my bearings wore prematurely when I was forced off-road two weeks ago by an oncoming driver in the center of the road leaving me to swerve offroad and hit a hole which bent my wheel. It only took a day for the growling to start as the wheel wobbled (only noticed this when they spun the wheel on the balancer at the tire shop). So it wasn't my driving style that cause this, but the idiot who was either texting or not paying attention cutting a corner he/she shouldn't have been cutting. I had about 3 feet of pavement, 2 feet of gravel and a grassy ditch left to me as I avoided disaster.

 

[Bill Step]

If you are careful, you can pop the center caps off and do all this without jacking the car off the ground to take off the wheels.

gonna try that first w/ the plastic trim tools.

 

[ClarksonCote]

As a semi-quick update, my pop/click noise is already back, though it is not nearly as loud as it was before.

 

[flyingsherpa]

Here's a similar TSB for some Cruzes et al... IIRC, gen1 Volts share some of the relevant parts here, so maybe a dealer could be convinced to try this?

My clicking, which had started this past winter, stopped once the weather got warm. I had my dealer check it out when it was still happening and they agreed to replace the axles under warranty, but they were backordered. That was many months ago and of course they haven't contacted me. Figure I'll wait to see if/when it comes back this fall/winter and ping them again.

 

[saltsman]

At least with my dealer, they said if the nut or washer was replaced, it would be covered under the 100,000 mi drivetrain warranty. Without replacement, there would be a labor charge of $88. Of course they just charged my $88 and left the old washer on there, even though I requested it be replaced and charged me the $88.

 

[El Dobro]

At least with my dealer, they said if the nut or washer was replaced, it would be covered under the 100,000 mi drivetrain warranty. Without replacement, there would be a labor charge of $88. Of course they just charged my $88 and left the old washer on there, even though I requested it be replaced and charged me the $88.

And that's why with some little things, I do them myself.

 

[imanjunk1963]

So I was able to have my bro mechanic take a look at the axle nut. Indeed he thought it was torqued at less than the 185lb because he used his tool to see where it might start turning from 130ish and going up to 185 checking about 10 points apart. I think the nut started turning about 160ish. BUT he also noticed the wheel hub nuts were easy to loosen an thought it could maybe have been the rim shifting against the lugs? In any event we torqued the axle nut to the specs published here..thanks for that informaton. The noise is gone now. Hopefully it stays away and time will tell. The check/retorque was only done on the passenger side.

 

[llninja]

So I was able to have my bro mechanic take a look at the axle nut. Indeed he thought it was torqued at less than the 185lb because he used his tool to see where it might start turning from 130ish and going up to 185 checking about 10 points apart. I think the nut started turning about 160ish. BUT he also noticed the wheel hub nuts were easy to loosen an thought it could maybe have been the rim shifting against the lugs? In any event we torqued the axle nut to the specs published here..thanks for that informaton. The noise is gone now. Hopefully it stays away and time will tell. The check/retorque was only done on the passenger side.

Paula torqued both my nuts, though you should have had both of yours torqued as well (though it sounds really weird to say "get your bro to torque your nuts")

 

[imanjunk1963]

yeah but ill take what i can get last minute. If it comes back we will do both. And the guy with the plastic trim remover tool idea to take off the center hub cap on the rim was a good one...next we will do that too as it popped out real easy when we pushed it out from behind.

 

[palmtree]

Yep. No need to take the tire off the ground. I just popped out the center cap and tightened the nut down in my garage. Noise is gone for now. Theoretically, you should be able to replace the nut without lifting the tire since the hub is supposed to be pressed onto the axle stub. The hub shouldn't budge with the nut removed if the car is not moved. I suppose the washer (if there is one) may be too large to come out of the hole in the center of the wheel. Then you would need to lift the tire and remove the wheel. It's really strange that these come loose like they do. Every other car that I have replaced a hub one has required it to be pressed off the axle and it doesn't come off easily. My guess is that it is from the reverse torque caused by regenerative braking. Never had the problem with my Prius or Escape hybrid.

 

[ClarksonCote]

As a semi-quick update, my pop/click noise is already back, though it is not nearly as loud as it was before.

As another update to my specific scenario, they've decided to just replace the axle shafts under warranty.

To recap:
- I tightened the nuts myself, still had the pop/click. (Note, you should follow the prescribed recipe: torque to X, loosen, torque to Y)
- They replaced the nuts and tightened, pop/click returned after a day though was much quieter.
- They're now ordering the axle shafts for replacement to eliminate the noise and prevent recurrence.