Important!: How To: Fix Yoke Clunk by Clamping Leaf Springs

Khaos

Bed Dent Club Founder
Mar 24, 2012
20,378
1,566
113
Albany, NY
Most everyone that owns a GM truck knows about the infamous yoke clunk. After putting up with it for the last few months on my extended cab, I decided today that I would fix the issue.

After doing some research, there seemed to be three ways to go about fixing it: getting the updated nickel yoke from GM, packing the current yoke with grease, or clamp the leaf springs. I chose the third option due to ease of installation and adjustment.

What you'll need:

- Leaf Spring Clamp Kit (2 pack) Part# 13-1401A from AutoZone, O' Reilly's, etc. Should be the same in each store. ($15-$20) Located int he towing/trailering section of the store.
- 19mm deep socket

Install time:

- Less than 10 minutes

Where do the clamps go?

- The clamps mount approx 6" in front of the rear axle

What does this accomplish?

- By clamping the leaf springs it helps to prevent the rear from moving when you are driving, effectively eliminating the "clunk" noise


Pictures of the clamp kit you'll need:

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Installed

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Tightened down

DuWo3xu.jpg


Visual distance from rear (estimate, no need to be exact)

B26rCxb.jpg



And there you have it. This quick fix eliminated that annoying clunk while driving. Hopefully this simple guide can help others that are wondering about this fix.
 
Last edited:

slicksierra

Feel some type of way
Mar 8, 2012
5,464
174
63
31
Central Jersey
I can't tell if my RCLB has it. Sometimes if I downshift without rev matching it clunks and if I hammer it in gear after being part throttle it clunks
 

marc

WhiteSilvy
May 16, 2013
5,303
123
63
31
canada
lol the infamous clunk got me a $1000 bucks off my 03 when i bought it because me and the guy selling the truck thought is was rear-end :rofl:
 

Bassmaster

Media Mod
Mar 8, 2012
10,302
147
63
South Jersey
Describe said clunking? Mine just started making a clunk/rattle when I hit big bumps or uneven surfaces. Looked it up and most said it's in the leafs.. Tis this the same thing?

Sent from my Galaxy S-Fawhore
 

marc

WhiteSilvy
May 16, 2013
5,303
123
63
31
canada
the clunk was very noticeable in my 03 its like the rear-end had like 1/2 a rotation of play in it .. only when driving slow when you accelerate quickly it doesn't happen (traffic jams where the worst)
 

Khaos

Bed Dent Club Founder
Mar 24, 2012
20,378
1,566
113
Albany, NY
Update:

In my application, the clamp didn't make any noticeable difference in ride stiffness.
 

ScottyBoy

The LED Man
Apr 6, 2012
1,320
21
38
What about people with Avalanches or Tahoe/Suburban with rear coils?
My burb has rear coils and I get the yoke clunk every so often. I just grease the shit out of my slip yoke when it starts clunking, and then it stops for about 6 months or so then the clunk comes back.