Have We Solved The Steering Vibration On The Freeway?

[jdavis12]

Where did everybody go? This post is on page 3 for the first time in months!
Update: With the lemon law option in my back pocket, I bit the bullet and purchased a set of 18's (take-off's from a new CTS) and would ya believe it......the shimmy is almost gone. Now, I say almost as I still get what is described in an early TSB on the 18's as flat spotting related to nylon belts but the vibration/slight shimmy goes away after a few miles whereas before with my 17's, it never went away. The jury is still out but for the first time in over a year, I actually enjoy driving my CTS.

[Mr Snappy]

Originally Posted by jdavis12

Where did everybody go? This post is on page 3 for the first time in months!
Update: With the lemon law option in my back pocket, I bit the bullet and purchased a set of 18's (take-off's from a new CTS) and would ya believe it......the shimmy is almost gone. Now, I say almost as I still get what is described in an early TSB on the 18's as flat spotting related to nylon belts but the vibration/slight shimmy goes away after a few miles whereas before with my 17's, it never went away. The jury is still out but for the first time in over a year, I actually enjoy driving my CTS.

AAARRRGGG !!!
I posted earlier about my vibration issues. I bought the 18" wheels and tires from another dealer and had them shipped to me. I never had the stock 17" set-up on long enough to figure out if I had the problem with them...I don't think I did. My car is going back to the dealer tomorrow for the shake

I took it back a few weeks ago and they reballanced the wheels. Things seemed much better, but the issue came back and is getting worse every day.

I did not know about the TSB on the tires. This make sense to me and I even told my co-worker, who bought his CTS the day after I bought mine, that I thought that the issue may have to do with flat-spotting of the tires. The reason I thought this may be the issue is that I noticed on my Corvette that if it is parked for a long period, I get flat-spotting and you can feel it in the steering for a few miles. On the Corvette, it always corrects itself after about 10 miles.

My CTS is definately the worst when I first take off in the morning. But, unlike the Vette, it never seems to go away completely.

I will make sure I mention the TSB on the tires. Can anyone tell me if the problem went away with a tire change? Not a rim and tire change, but just a tire change?

This whole thing is starting to get me bummed out on my first Caddy purchase. It is the kind of problem that completely overshadows how great this car is otherwise.....aaarrgg !

[Mr Snappy]

A not-so-funny adder to my above post.
I took the CTS in today to address the shimmy/vibration/shake issue again. This time, I let my service tech know that there is a TSB on the flat-spotting issue. Hopefully they change the tires and this will fix the issue.

The not-so-funny part is that they gave me a loaner 2009 CTS with the stock 17" rims. You guessed it, it has the vibration as well. Not as bad, and I could have lived with it, but it was definitely there.

This issue is starting to scare the crap out of me. I have never had a car with a chronic problem.....I hope I don't now

[jdavis12]

Originally Posted by Mr Snappy

A not-so-funny adder to my above post.
I took the CTS in today to address the shimmy/vibration/shake issue again. This time, I let my service tech know that there is a TSB on the flat-spotting issue. Hopefully they change the tires and this will fix the issue.

The not-so-funny part is that they gave me a loaner 2009 CTS with the stock 17" rims. You guessed it, it has the vibration as well. Not as bad, and I could have lived with it, but it was definitely there.

This issue is starting to scare the crap out of me. I have never had a car with a chronic problem.....I hope I don't now

I had the OEM 17's and the dealer initially replaced the tires after not being able to balance the issue away. The tire replacement did not change the problem, even with an upgraded Michelin tire. I have driven several dealer and Enterprise CTS's with 17's and have experienced varying degrees of the vibration/shimmy. All of the veh's with 18's and sport suspension I have driven were perfect.
The TSB (dated late 2007) only references the 18" tires. I'm not completely satisfied after changing to the 18's but the fact that the shimmy goes away after a few miles and I'm left with only a slight vibration is worlds above what I have been dealing with for over a year with the steering wheel dancing all the time. I still strongly believe there is something wrong with a suspension part or hub and am amazed that GM has not assigned the appropriate resources to address this "popular" problem.

[Mr Snappy]

Dealer called:
They told me that the right front tire failed the latest "Road Force" test and were replacing the tire. They claimed they tested all 4 and this was the problem. We'll see. I am guardedly optimistic, but will probably have to wait until tomorrow to get the car.

[lavaman]

Originally Posted by Mr Snappy

AAARRRGGG !!!
I posted earlier about my vibration issues. I bought the 18" wheels and tires from another dealer and had them shipped to me. I never had the stock 17" set-up on long enough to figure out if I had the problem with them...I don't think I did. My car is going back to the dealer tomorrow for the shake

I took it back a few weeks ago and they reballanced the wheels. Things seemed much better, but the issue came back and is getting worse every day.

I did not know about the TSB on the tires. This make sense to me and I even told my co-worker, who bought his CTS the day after I bought mine, that I thought that the issue may have to do with flat-spotting of the tires. The reason I thought this may be the issue is that I noticed on my Corvette that if it is parked for a long period, I get flat-spotting and you can feel it in the steering for a few miles. On the Corvette, it always corrects itself after about 10 miles.

My CTS is definately the worst when I first take off in the morning. But, unlike the Vette, it never seems to go away completely.

I will make sure I mention the TSB on the tires. Can anyone tell me if the problem went away with a tire change? Not a rim and tire change, but just a tire change?

This whole thing is starting to get me bummed out on my first Caddy purchase. It is the kind of problem that completely overshadows how great this car is otherwise.....aaarrgg !

Absolutely...! Positively...! My shimmy is history after the dealer replaced 2 tires.

I spent my own time at my brother's Goodyear store, working with him and using his road force balancer. We determined I had tires causing the shimmy and it was not possible to balance them well enough to eliminate the shimmy. I had road force numbers greater than 10 lbs on a couple wheel/tire combinations. I made an apointment with my Caddy dealer. They confirmed the excessive road force numbers and warrantied 2 Michelin tires. I now have just a slight amount of "Flat spot shimmy" when I start out in the morning and when the tires are warmed it goes away....from then on it's smooth as silk.

I had 2 bad Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 tires. They were producing around 20 lbs of road force and for a low profile, performance tire they should be 10 lbs or less.

[firedawg911]

Here is a link to an excellent explanation how the Hunter GSP9700 road force balancer is properly used:

http://www.gsp9700.com/

Click on the GSP9700 Operation Technique video.

You can see in the video how a poorly trained operator or taking shortcuts in the process would very much determine the success of the outcome. It seems like it would take an operator quite some time to go through all of the necessary steps to properly balance or troubleshoot a shimmy problem as many CTS owners have experienced.

[Mr Snappy]

Originally Posted by Mr Snappy

Dealer called:
They told me that the right front tire failed the latest "Road Force" test and were replacing the tire. They claimed they tested all 4 and this was the problem. We'll see. I am guardedly optimistic, but will probably have to wait until tomorrow to get the car.

I am providing an update because I am sure there are people out there with this problem that are about to pull their hair out in frustration. Maybe this can help with their issue.

Got the car back at noon today. The dealer replaced the front-right tire. Car seemed completely correct around dealership. Took the CTS on to the highway and it appears that the problems is gone. It may have been my overactive and skeptical nature, but I kept thinking that there was the slightest of vibration...but I think that was truly just the natural road feel coming through.

I won't be completely convinced until I go one month without repeating the shakes...but so far, so good.

[08lava]

Great to hear!

So far all is good with mine, have not had this issue yet, only have 820 miles on it so we shall see. I do get the "flat spot" feel first time I drive it (it usually only gets driven on weekends) but it goes away pretty quickly.. I can live with that.

[st4422]

I also have the flat spot vibration for a few miles when the tires are cold. I thought the flat spot issue was associated with nylon construction. The side walls of the stock tires indicate polyester and steel. Any tire experts around?

[70eldo]

So the french (Michelin) are at fault?

In Dutch we have a saying "with the french way", saying done very hastly and ignorant to quality. I can see the proof of that here in the south of France. They way they build the houses and streets, they way they keep things clean (well, not! i.e.the showers at fitness clubs and swimming pools are to puke!), the way they repair stuff, the way they take care of their cars, the way they drive (especially motorcycles!). It's like they just don't care...

Anyway, I will put winter tires on my stock rims and will put other summer wheels on the car on day 1 when I get my car! They can keep the Michelins.

[Mr Snappy]

The funny thing is that I have always thought that Michelin's were the best passenger car tire made, but had never owned them until now. There first impression with me as an owner has not been good.

Looks like the replacements will be either Goodyears, Pirelli's, Continentals, or even Generals !

On the drive home from work, not any vibration at any speed. Only had it up in the mid 50's due to traffic, but I was getting substantial shake around 45 before. Still have my fingers crossed

[Z71]

I know this does not pertain to cars but I show you this for information. Who would think the trans would cause vibrations?

My 2008 truck started this about 2,000 miles ago after being perfect for the 1st 8,000 miles. The whole truck shudders in V4 mode. First felt like bad tires to me, dealer balanced tires, found defective Goodyear and replaced it. Still not fixed, replaced all tires with Michelin and still there. Then they found this TSB. You could be going along on cruise at 60 mph and you would feel a vibration and it would go away and come back. Never had the display on to notice it was doing it in V4 mode only. This did not cure the problem for me and waiting to hear back if GM service rep will authorize a trans replacement or just say, normal condition, do not repair.

[yatesd]

Why won't this thread die??? We might have some real problems hidden in here somewhere but I can't find them. This has become a something might be wrong, include it in here thread. Maybe we should at least change the title?

I'll add to the post. My 2005 Honda Odyssey is making brake noises again, do you think Honda is using brake pads from Cadillac?

[Workaholic]

Yates, you're a hoot thats what you are!!


My kids won't put their dishes in the dishwasher.