[stangbat]

Wow, Paul B. They had my car done in a day. Maybe 6-7 hours.

I brought the car in, they diagnosed it and ordered an axle. I then drove it until the axle arrived and I brought it in for the fix.

 

[Atlas the bolt ⚡]

I had a similar issue -- don't know if it was the same sound -- on my '19 Bolt about 6000 miles in. You can hear the sound in the short video here:

The ping / creak was occurring at lower speeds (and usually in warmer weather), and primarily when there was differential stress on the rear suspension - bump on one side, not on the other, etc. After a couple visits, the dealership finally concluded that the noise was coming from the rear axle. They said it is a "double walled" axle, and that one of the walls was flexing into the other under certain circumstances, which made the noise. They apparently had to call GM Tech Advisory Center to help with the final diagnosis (my repair form (see below) indicates "TAC 9-5417628243" associated with this repair). Replaced the whole axle (under warranty) on recommendation of GM. Just got it back, and noise is gone (thank goodness). Hope that helps someone.

View attachment 26978
[/QUOTe

I called one dealership and they told me that the bolt does not have a rear axle and when I took my bolt for the battery replacement at my local dealership, I mentioned the axle again and he said the same thing that there is no axle and that I should change out the shocks? The ticking and popping noise is the same exact noise I hear on my 2017 bolt. Should I contact GM customer support or should I go to the dealer again? axle is still under warranty until August of 2022

 

[Atlas the bolt ⚡]

Thanks for posting the video, I think this is exactly the sound I’ve been hearing on ours as well, and in the exact same wheel area. Problem is, I think I’ve begun hearing it on the driver side front as well. But all the same, I’ve finally eked out some time in my schedule to bring it to the dealer next week. The sounds have gotten worse in this warm weather.

I had a similar issue -- don't know if it was the same sound -- on my '19 Bolt about 6000 miles in. You can hear the sound in the short video here:

The ping / creak was occurring at lower speeds (and usually in warmer weather), and primarily when there was differential stress on the rear suspension - bump on one side, not on the other, etc. After a couple visits, the dealership finally concluded that the noise was coming from the rear axle. They said it is a "double walled" axle, and that one of the walls was flexing into the other under certain circumstances, which made the noise. They apparently had to call GM Tech Advisory Center to help with the final diagnosis (my repair form (see below) indicates "TAC 9-5417628243" associated with this repair). Replaced the whole axle (under warranty) on recommendation of GM. Just got it back, and noise is gone (thank goodness). Hope that helps someone.

View attachment 26978

 

[stangbat]

I called one dealership and they told me that the bolt does not have a rear axle and when I took my bolt for the battery replacement at my local dealership, I mentioned the axle again and he said the same thing that there is no axle and that I should change out the shocks?

Of course it has a rear axle. If they are too lazy to look under the car, take a pic with your phone and show it to them. Even if you have no idea what an axle is, it should be pretty obvious that there is one on the car.

 

[NauticalNeilP]

I have same rear axle issue on my 2019 Bolt, although the dealership claims they cannot find the problem and there is no safety issue. For those of you who had this replaced under warranty, was it the 3 year bumper-to-bumper warranty or the "powertrain" warranty? My dealership tells me that even if they do find the problem, it won't be under warranty ... hmmmm.

 

[Atlas the bolt ⚡]

I have same rear axle issue on my 2019 Bolt, although the dealership claims they cannot find the problem and there is no safety issue. For those of you who had this replaced under warranty, was it the 3 year bumper-to-bumper warranty or the "powertrain" warranty? My dealership tells me that even if they do find the problem, it won't be under warranty ... hmmmm.

The axle is under the powertrain warranty and I had mine replaced on my 2017 not too long ago but the dealership gave me the run around until I wrote a bad review and then the head mechanic contacted me and asked me to take my car in again. He used a tool to listen to where the creak was coming from and sure enough it was the axle and they replaced it immediately. Don't let the dealership fool you. It's not the shocks and it's not anything else other than the axle. If I find out what tool the guy used I'll post it to this reply

 

[shrox]

The problem with our Bolt wasn't found until a tech rode with me to the road by my house, then walked behind the car as I drove slowly over the craters and he heard it.

 

[Atlas the bolt ⚡]

The problem with our Bolt wasn't found until a tech rode with me to the road by my house, then walked behind the car as I drove slowly over the craters and he heard it.

Yeah they test drove mine and said " Change the shocks and see if the problem goes away" so basically they wanted me to spend money on a part I know I didn't need and to top it off they said " Chevy bolts don't have an axle, they have independent suspensions" I was beyond irritated and frustrated at that point where I just left and left a terrible review

 

[Atlas the bolt ⚡]

The axle is under the powertrain warranty and I had mine replaced on my 2017 not too long ago but the dealership gave me the run around until I wrote a bad review and then the head mechanic contacted me and asked me to take my car in again. He used a tool to listen to where the creak was coming from and sure enough it was the axle and they replaced it immediately. Don't let the dealership fool you. It's not the shocks and it's not anything else other than the axle. If I find out what tool the guy used I'll post it to this reply

The tool they used is called a " Chassis Ear" to listen for creaks etc. So tell the dealership to use that and they should be able to pin point that it is indeed the axle

 

[Atlas the bolt ⚡]

The axle is under the powertrain warranty and I had mine replaced on my 2017 not too long ago but the dealership gave me the run around until I wrote a bad review and then the head mechanic contacted me and asked me to take my car in again. He used a tool to listen to where the creak was coming from and sure enough it was the axle and they replaced it immediately. Don't let the dealership fool you. It's not the shocks and it's not anything else other than the axle. If I find out what tool the guy used I'll post it to this reply

It's under powertrain warranty which is 5 years or 60k miles. I called GM myself and asked when my powertrain warranty was up and they told me everything. So if your car isn't over 60k miles then you should be solid to get a brand new axle. Remember the dealership hates giving away free things so they will try to avoid it as much as possible so don't let them trust me I should know because I went through it all. About 5 trips to the dealership which was unnecessary

 

[stangbat]

I got my car to make the sound by rocking it back and forth in front of the service advisor. It pinged every time the car rocked. Couldn't miss it.

 

[NauticalNeilP]

The axle is under the powertrain warranty and I had mine replaced on my 2017 not too long ago but the dealership gave me the run around until I wrote a bad review and then the head mechanic contacted me and asked me to take my car in again. He used a tool to listen to where the creak was coming from and sure enough it was the axle and they replaced it immediately. Don't let the dealership fool you. It's not the shocks and it's not anything else other than the axle. If I find out what tool the guy used I'll post it to this reply

Thanks! I just picked up the car and got the "we tightened everything but couldn't find the cause" and an hour labour charge for their efforts. I explained to them that there was plenty of examples of this problem online, including replacement under powertrain, and will send them references to support. If you would be comfortable sharing your repair order (with confidential info redacted, of course) showing mileage and axle replacement under warranty, that would help. Appreciate your replying.

 

[Sequimbay]

OK, I think the term "axle" is a bit misleading when you discuss the Bolt rear suspension.
I'm a retired Master Auto Tech who has worked on everything from a 3 cyl 2-stroke Saab to a V-12 Ferrari.
Most front wheel drive cars have independent front wheel suspension and either independent rear wheel suspension or a solid "Axle" rear suspension, where both rear wheels move up and down as one.
If you look under the rear of a mid 90's Geo Metro or a Saab 99, you will see a round tube going from wheel to wheel, solidly bolted to the rear wheel bearing hubs, and is attached to the car by metal suspension arms. The suspension arms are triangulated to Move the wheels up and down, but not side to side. The metal suspension arms are attached to the chassis with plastic or rubber bushings, some other cars even use actual sealed ball bearings.
The Bolt has basically the same system but instead of mounting the wheel bearing hubs to the tube axle going between them, GM has mounted the wheel bearing hubs to the rear suspension arm. And then they moved the "tube axle" between the rear tires forward and changed it to a square piece of steel and welded it to the rear side suspension arms. The whole assembly moves up and down on bushings on the front of the now one piece rear suspension arms and rear "axle". And that is why GM calls this part a "Rear Compound Crank Axle".
It is NOT an axle, it is a "rear suspension assembly". But they can call it what they want.
It works well, is simpler and a bit lighter, but does need some lube and bushing replacement as the miles progress.
Hope this helps.

 

[XJ12]

It is NOT an axle, it is a "rear suspension assembly". But they can call it what they want.
It works well, is simpler and a bit lighter, but does need some lube and bushing replacement as the miles progress.

They diagnosed mine to the bushing making the noise. And replaced the assembly because the bushing is part of the assembly and is not serviceable.

 

[Sequimbay]

They show the part #2 bushing as a separate piece, hmmm. Unless it's welded in, I bet it's available somewhere.

 

[Packard V8]

In the several threads discussing this problem, has anyone mentioned the possibility of welds failing? This is a fabricated piece, several sheet steel stampings spot-welded together. Welds being twisted, it's a possibility some are being stressed past their fail point.

jack vines

 

[NauticalNeilP]

Thanks to all on this post. With the help of the info available through the community (including the audio recording of the condition and the letter from GM to another owner acknowledging that it was covered under powertrain warranty), I was easily able to reverse my dealership's claim that "it wasn't covered by warranty". They replaced the axle (yes, I know it isn't truly an axle but given what GM calls it, it helps with the warranty claim) and things are back to (non-creaking) normal.

 

[beeguz]

Axel is a figure skating term.

Axle is what broke on your Bolt !

Well excuse me, the spelling and grammar police strike again.

 

[EVcruzer]

I wish I'd seen these comments about 6 months ago. I've been hearing the "thunk" noise in my 2017 Bolt for about 6 months but I could not locate it or discern that it wasn't something shifting in my trunk or under the trunk cover and making the noise. Worse is I could not get it to repeat and most of the time I drove without ever hearing it. Since I leave my house with a spritely acceleration, the road noise covers and "thunk". It was like a phantom. I'd tell passengers "did you hear that" and they never did. I didn't take it to the dealer for diagnosis since it cost $215/hr to diagnose and they had a big sign at the service desk saying "$215 to diagnose but you must be able to show us how to see it, hear it, smell it, feel it or we cannot fix it". When I got new tires in January, I could hear it more often, like once a week or more. Finally, 2 weeks ago, my wife was driving out of a parking lot and had picked up a rock in tire tread. Classic rock-in-tire sound. I got out and had her drive slowly, found the rock. Pulled it out and asked her to drive slowly to make sure it wasn't something else. Rock sound gone and then ... thunk! I was standing right next to the rear axle and yelled that's it. I took it to the dealer and they want $3600 to fix. Reading comments, I discovered that the Powertrain warranty covers it. Well, I'm 52k miles so under the 60k limit but I'm 3 months past the end of the 6 years. I'll see if I can find a number at Chevy to reevaluate and cover under warranty since it's been around for 6 months. Anyone have a good number at Chevy that will respond to this?

 

[GJETSON]

Anyone have a good number at Chevy that will respond to this?

Chevy Bolt EV Concierge 1-866-790-5600