Firestone Air Bag Upper Bracket Rattles on 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4

Question:

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4wd Found upper bracket is loose and knocks whenever load placed on rear driver side and released quickly I.E. speed bump. I can manually move bracket back and forth. How should this be fixed?

asked by: Travis B

Expert Reply:

The flat head Allen bolt that holds the upper bracket in place is probably loose. You might be able to get to it without taking the whole # F2430 kit apart but you have to be careful to not let the axle hang from freely in the process because that would damage the air bags.

You would need to remove the air fitting and the nylon jam nut that holds the bag to the upper bracket. Then you would need to compress the air bag enough to be able to get a tool up there to loosen that flat head Allen bolt.

It would probably be a good idea to clean the threads where that bolt goes on the vehicle using some spray lubricant and a wire brush. Once it is clean and dry some blue Loctite, # LT37643, can be used on the bolt threads to help prevent it from getting loose again.

Then you would put everything back together and see if that heals it!

expert reply by: Michael H