GMC Sierra DIY Drive Shaft Removal Procedure

GMC Sierra DIY Drive Shaft Removal Procedure. This whole video was made due to my truck being stuck in gear. Tried everything to get it unstuck but nothing worked. Had to get it out of the way so it was necessary to remove the drive shaft and pull it out of the way.

If this happens to you or you need to disconnect your drive shaft for other reasons, then this video is for you. It's actually very easy and can be done with simple hand tools. 

The first thing I did was jack up the track and place jack stands under it so I didn't get crushed. 

Secondly, I disconnected it at the rear differential joint. This was easily removed by loosening the 4 bolts shown using a 7/16" socket. 

Before completely removing them I made sure to tie up the drive shaft so it didn't smack me in the face. I used a flathead screwdriver to pop off the little clips around the universal joint and the retaining rings. Once these are removed the drive shaft comes right out. 

Pretty simple. I did end up buying a new universal joint as the old one was a little rusty. It was fairly inexpensive at auto zone. 

Amazon link to new U-joint: https://amzn.to/2Hdz5gw

"SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM" Dash Warning Light-What to do about it

This warning is telling you that at least one of your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors are faulty. These sensors are located inside the tires and cannot be replaced without removing the tire from the rim. If one of them are bad, then the others are sure to follow. The batteries go bad on them and need to be replaced. Best time to do it is when you get new tires.


One thing you can do if you don't want to pay extra mark up fees is to find out what kind of TPMS sensors your vehicle takes and then order them. You should then communicate with the tire dealer/installer that you wish to install those specific sensors in your vehicle at the time of tire change out.




It's also best that you don't try to save money in just changing one of them out. You may as well get them all changed since it's likely the others will go bad before too long as they are probably all around the same age. During the last decade or so it has become law that all vehicles be equipped with TPMS sensors. These sensors are battery run so they go bad often times around the 7 to 10 year mark.

Error Code P0521-GMC Sierra/Silverado Circa 2010 Models

Just bought a brand new pre-owned vehicle from the dealership and my check engine light came on and I couldn't believe it. I took it down to the local auto parts store and got a digital readout for the error code. This came up as P0521 which was oil pressure related. I figured I'd start with the basics or start with the cheapest fix first. So I checked my oil. Sure enough it was low. I went and purchased the correct oil and filled it to the correct level. Sure enough, after starting again, the check engine light had disappeared.

If you are not used to trucks or cars with bigger motors, often times you will find yourself adding more oil to them than you would have in the past with vehicles containing smaller sized engines. Below is a diagnostic code reader if you want to save yourself a trip to the parts store to have the code read out.



One of the things to be aware of is not to overfill our oil. This can cause engine problems as well. If you are just topping off you oil make sure to just add a little at a time to avoid overfilling. Take your time and check the dipstick often. It takes a minute or so for the oil to settle and accurately read on the dipstick. Also, check your owner's manual to see what kind of oil your vehicle should take. Another helpful tip or the a reason that your vehicle may be running low on oil is that it could have a leak somewhere. Does your driveway or place you park have fresh drops of oil on the ground?


If you detect oil drops coming from your vehicle you may just start with the simple stuff first before tearing into it too far. When the vehicle is cool, make sure the oil filter is hand tight and also make sure your oil pan plug is in tight. If you've taken your vehicle in to get an oil change they may have left something loose.