Shock Mount broke away from Frame

[etm]

I have a 2003 1500 and the right rear upper shock absorber mounting bracket broke away from the frame. In my opinion a very poor design by GM and the original welds do not even go all the way to the bottom of the bracket. The left side is also showing signs that it will brake off as well.  I have not found any other AV owner with the same issue. Hard to believe because of the way this bracket is welded to the frame. Chevrolet is blaming it on the fact that I still have the original shocks at 183K. No where in the service manual does it state that the shocks have to be replaced at a specific mileage, only if they are leaking which mine were not. Chev states that they would have to replace the Frame at a cost of 7K. I contacted customer service at Chev and the district manager came to look at my AV and he said that Chev would not replace the frame because I have 183K and the I should have replaced the shocks. All other Chev technicians that have looked at the vehicle have stated that the shock broke after the bracket broke away from the frame. 90 percent of the mileage on my AV are highway mileage and no of road driving was ever done. Also I have only towed a waverunner a half dozen times. So point is I have not misused my AV or lack of maintenance on my behalf that could have cause this to happen. Chev should stand behind their product! If any part should last forever it should be the frame.
Anyone have any suggestions on how I could continue with Chev to replace the frame?

 

[avalonandl]

ETM: Chevy is not going to replace the frame, you have 183k miles and well past any warranty. Take the vehicle to a frame shop they can fashion new mounts and put in new shocks.  You probably don't need a new frame unless yours was doused continuously in a salt bath. Get over it, 183,000 miles is pretty darn good. I think the mounts should cost you no more than 250 total.

Avalon

 

[etm]

The part is the Shock Mounting Bracket, not a mount. It should have never broken off the frame. Poor craftsmanship from Chev. The weld should have been done along the complete seam of both sides of the bracket. I do have it at a frame shop and to fix it correctly is will cost 2K! That would include fixing the left side upper braclet as well since it is shown signs of coming off to.

 

[pktwatch]

Got any pictures of what you are talking about, I can't picture what would cost $2000?

 

[ms38w]

I find it disturbing that Chevy would suggest replacing the frame for a broken shock mount.  Sounds to me like they are trying to get extra money out of you.  Any frame shop or a good mechanic with welding skills should be able to fashion new brackets, and likely do a better job of it than the factory welds.  Fret not...it'll all work out. 

 

[avalonandl]

ETM- I understand it is the bracket. If the left is still on they only need to clean off the seam, grind and reweld it. The the right bracket can be straightened and rewelded. Try getting a second estimate. Good luck.

Avalon

Add: Tires, shocks, brakes do not have any specific specific replacement schedule because it depends upon usage. My guess is your RR shock froze up and caused the bracket to fall off.

Again good luck.

 

[TXSZ66AVLANCHE]

Don't take this wrong but at 183K GM does not owe you shoot OK? My engine let go at 173K and I wasn't knocking on GM's door complaining about standing behind their product.

Having worked for GM in the past any broken frame (not bent/Collision) the only allowable repair is to replace the frame. End of story there.

Here is a cheaper alternative for you, Find a local shop that specializes in off road vehicles, custom fab work, or any fabrication shop and take it there for a new shock mount to be made and installed. Seriously its not the end of the world.

Post some picture of this, cant see how it broke off since the bolt goes through the frame.

 

[ltxi]

x2. Poor design by your standard or not, at 183k this isn't GM's problem. And replace the frame for a bad weld on a shock mount....good lord. what are you smoking?

 

[etm]

TXSZ66 i would not be knocking on GM's door either if my engine went at 100k plus.
My situation involves a non mechanical part and both a GM tech and the Frame tech have told me that the bracket was not welded to the frame correctly. They also both have stated the the shock rod snapped after the weld failed.
Pics attached
I stopped at a Chev dealer the other day and crawled under a 2011 to look at the bracket and the weld is now welded along the entire seam of the bracket on both sides. That's a little suspicious!

You are 100% correct about the frame replacement TXSZ66. GM will not repair this by welding the bracket back in place due to liability issues. So LTXI I'm not smoking anything just stating how GM would do the repair.

here's a list of the steps the frame shop would complete for the 2K
remove and install spare tire, remove and install wheelhouse on both sides, remove welded tailpipe hanger for access, remove & clean factory undercoating in the area, repair and weld rear frame rail to prepair it for welding new Mtg bracket to the frame, reinforce left side mounting bracket, install new shocks on both sides.

Thanks for everyones responses.
look forward to seeing if you have a different response after seeing the pics.

 

[etm]

pic 2

 

[etm]

pic3

 

[etm]

pic4

 

[TXSZ66AVLANCHE]

My statement remains unchanged, still don't see how this is GM's responsibility to repair. Sorry.

Crawling under a brand new Avalanche and seeing stuff that is different does not mean anything, did you happen to compare the front suspension? or any other changes?

You need to look around for other estimates, if they are charging you labor to remove and install the spare tire they need slapped. It looks like the weld is intact, the frame appears to be what gave based on the jagged edges.

 

[BlazerPride]

  I'm sorry, but the normal pressure from a shock absorber, won't put that much stress on a bracket. And, if the shock was operating properly, I don't think the shock body would contact the bracket, in the location I circled.
  This looks suspiciously like abuse, or overloading the truck. Of course, the people you're asking to repair your truck, aren't going to piss you off by giving you an accurate answer. They'll lay the blame at anyone else's feet, just to appease you, and get the repair job for themselves. Example, "How in the heck can anyone tell which broke first, the bracket or the shock?" Are they using a crystal ball?

  Again, I'm sorry, but I don't see the logic in the explanations you've been given.

 

[TXSZ66AVLANCHE]

Where are you located? Maybe we as a group can find an alternative repair facility.

Seriously though, a shock is a wear item and not intended to last the life of the vehicle. My Av is approaching 200K and has had 3 sets of shocks.

 

[etm]

The mark you circled AV-N-TAZ was not made from the shock body! It was made from the top of the shock rod after it snapped. The other marks below the circle were also made from the shock after it broke. I assure you that I have not abused my AVY!  I am a manufactures representative in the promotional products industries so I do not carry a lot of weight in my AVY. I also do not drive off road! I have only towed a waverunner about a half dozen times. As you all know nothing that our AVY's cant handle! If I was abusing my AVY then the left side would also have marks on the bracket, which it does not. Only signs that the bracket is not welded on properly and showing signs that it will also fail and pull apart from the frame.

The GM techs response was accurate! The only way GM would repair this is with a new Frame. How is that appeasing me? That pissed me off if anything AV-N-TAZ! The GM tech was not placing the blame on someone else feet. Only at the manufactures feet of the frame...Which is GM. He stated his professional opinion on the situation. Don't take this the wrong way AV-N-Taz, but what makes your explanation correct? Are you a certified GM tech?

TXSZ66 I'm located in Southern California, LA county

 

[ms38w]

What about a little JB Weld?  

I agree that, while GM shouldn't be indefinately responsible,it is a static item...no moving parts...and the beefiest thing on the truck!  You would think that items such as a frame would be warranted well beyond mechanical items.  If a windshield's safety film delaminated or bubbled, I would expect that to be warranted beyond the basic offerings for a specific vehicle.  

That being said, it would be hard to prove/disprove abuse (ie. overloading or off roading), and wouldn't necessarily affect both left and right sides equally...especially an uneven load.  No one is suggesting that there was any abuse involved, just that, even if GM would warrant the frame to say 200k miles, this type of damage could appear to be the result of abuse/misuse, whether intentional or unintentional.

Are you the first owner? Could have been an older issue that finally showed up.

 

[TXSZ66AVLANCHE]

The good thing is that your CA and its the custom vehicle capital of the world, plenty of custom shops that can fix this and male it better. I've searched and searched and I can't find another complaint on the web for a broken shock mount on a Avalanche or Suburban (uses the same frame) this really looks like an isolated incident at best.

 

[ltxi]

The GM tech's response may have been accurate wrt GM's policy but it's still "real world" inane. Replacing the entire frame to fix this on an eight year old, extremely high mileage truck is just totally nuts. Any good shop can repair the damage and do the preventive work to the other side and, as noted, you live in the capital of specialty work. But I also agree with the assessment your running the stock rear shocks to 183K miles at least contributed to the problem. That had to pretty abusive to the mount.

 

[etm]

I am the original owner so it can't be blamed on prior owner misuse. I have also searched to find the same issue and couldn't find the same case either TXSZ66. I'm really having a hard time believing that especially after the Frame & Body shop showed and explained how the original weld was not welded along the complete seam of the bracket to the frame. I know I cant prove that I have not misused my Avy and I'm not trying to but I know I have not put any demand on my Avy that it was not built for. Oh well I'm back on the road and the frame shop did an awesome job welding the brackets on both sides. I certainly will not be having this issue again. I wouldn't be surprised that others do. Not wishing harm to anyone else but please keep an eye on these brackets on your AVY because it might be less costly to fix before the bracket actually snaps off as in my case.

 

[ms38w]

I'm glad you got it taken care of with satisfactory results.  Having the mounts beefed up a bit was probably a smart idea.  I'm a big fan of "overkill". I hope this experience hasn't left a bitter taste for the Avalanche.  It really is a remarkable vehicle.

 

[TXSZ66AVLANCHE]

What did you end up paying for the repair? I took a look at the shock mounts on my 04 Av (182K) and my 03 Suburban (207K) and I don't see any signs of cracking, the welds look just like your and are not completely welded. Both have been worked hard on and off road, towed very heavy trailers....only problem I've ever had was bent trailing arms. 

 

[Donnie]

I have a 2003 1500 and the right rear upper shock absorber mounting bracket broke away from the frame. In my opinion a very poor design by GM and the original welds do not even go all the way to the bottom of the bracket. The left side is also showing signs that it will brake off as well. I have not found any other AV owner with the same issue. Hard to believe because of the way this bracket is welded to the frame. Chevrolet is blaming it on the fact that I still have the original shocks at 183K. No where in the service manual does it state that the shocks have to be replaced at a specific mileage, only if they are leaking which mine were not. Chev states that they would have to replace the Frame at a cost of 7K. I contacted customer service at Chev and the district manager came to look at my AV and he said that Chev would not replace the frame because I have 183K and the I should have replaced the shocks. All other Chev technicians that have looked at the vehicle have stated that the shock broke after the bracket broke away from the frame. 90 percent of the mileage on my AV are highway mileage and no of road driving was ever done. Also I have only towed a waverunner a half dozen times. So point is I have not misused my AV or lack of maintenance on my behalf that could have cause this to happen. Chev should stand behind their product! If any part should last forever it should be the frame.
Anyone have any suggestions on how I could continue with Chev to replace the frame?

I hv a 2006 z66 avalanche 116k miles in immaculate condition... with same identical passenger side rear shock bracket issue... broke away from frame...currently at gmc collision shop for evaluation... service manager stated the whole chassis ( both sides) ... needs to be replaced...possibly be totalled out$$$$... i cant imagine totalling avie for just a shock mout bracket.... try & keep you posted on results

 

[BainMan]

Dang Donnie, good luck to you and the Avy!