Have We Solved The Steering Vibration On The Freeway?

[Southern]

Originally Posted by CaptainBK

Also, they have changed the seats in the 'after Aug 08' builds. There is definitely more padding. Sit in both at a local dealer to see what I mean.

I love it when they fix things that they (and the fan boys) say weren't broken.

[CaptainBK]

I never said they were broken[I wouldn't have bought a CTS if I though that], just a lot of people were asking if they changed the seats, I said "..after Aug 08' builds. There is definitely more padding." to give ppl a rough estimated build date of the change.

According to you "...The seats were "OK" (But were never great seats) for a couple of hours, but PURE MURDER after 6 or 8 hours to me." Sorry you feel that way, but I love both seat versions 08' & 09'... my fellow fanboy of all that is CTS JK

[yatesd]

Originally Posted by Southern

I love it when they fix things that they (and the fan boys) say weren't broken.

I didn't think you still owned a CTS?

It takes a very special person to hang out in forums and participate in discussions on vehicles they no longer own...

[rcliff]

I've had my CTS for about 3 weeks now and unfortunately do have a vibration in the steering wheel that starts just above 60 mph and continues until around 72. By 75-80 it is rock solid. I've read just about this entire thread looking for a clear answer (which I didn't find) and I am bringing it into the dealer tomorrow. I am hoping they have a quick and simple fix as a few others here have found. My particular car and is a AWD DI w/PDQ and otherwise seems to be a fantastic vehicle. Keeping fingers crossed...X

[CadiJ]

Rcliff -

I hope this helps. There are two issues with the CTS:
1.) Steering wheel vibration
2.) Drone vibration

For your issue the steering wheel vibration most users here report that a very good tire shop/dealership is able to solve this problem by employing a GREAT road force balance machine and tech.

For the 2nd issue above there is a TSB and Cadillac is working on an additional fix as well -- or so I was told by the service manager at my dealership yesterday.

[Jimls]

Agreed with the above.
I just got my 2008 RWD F2 polished rims back last friday. It was in 3 times for the steering wheel "shimmy" issue. My dealer finally replaced the 2 rear tires
(I questioned this but they siad that was the issue). Anyway, a few days later I have to say that the problem is 99% non-existant now. It is acceptable to my standards. What I was always aware of with the shimmy was that it was more evident on certain highways than others. (I live in the Toronto area and I found Hwy 400 to be pretty bad. ETR 407 seems the best and the car is rock solid on this highway, I had to slow down as I was going 148Kph without realizing.) My advice to other forum members would be to push your dealer to examine and replace tires as needed and get a good road force balance done-under 10lbs per each tire.
I still have a minor drone issue, it is not perfect but again acceptable especially after the dealer performed the exhaust bulletin a couple of months ago.
ps. after all the re and re with the tires last week I am sure my alignment is now slightly off as the car tends to pull to the left slightly. Time for one more dealer visit, hopefully the last unless GM resolves the drone issue, but I think they have bigger issues at the moment.
Thanks Jim

[rcliff]

Originally Posted by CadiJ

Rcliff -

I hope this helps. There are two issues with the CTS:
1.) Steering wheel vibration
2.) Drone vibration

For your issue the steering wheel vibration most users here report that a very good tire shop/dealership is able to solve this problem by employing a GREAT road force balance machine and tech.

For the 2nd issue above there is a TSB and Cadillac is working on an additional fix as well -- or so I was told by the service manager at my dealership yesterday.

I'm very disappointed to report that I just received the vehicle back and the vibration is notably worse than it was before and is now also apparent in the seat around 70mph. Dealer said that 2 tires were out of balance and the problem was fixed. I was cautiously optimistic even after reading this enormous thread. Guess this was just wishful thinking.

[CadiJ]

My dealer said he "would not" re index the shaft per the tsb as he just did that to two CTS's last week and, "it made the problem much worse..."

I don't have a noise at all but I do have the vibration at 50 is it bad - NO - not at all and I am super picky BUT it should not be happening.

I personally think its the torque converter but until there is a official fix I am holding off...

[lavaman]

Originally Posted by rcliff

I'm very disappointed to report that I just received the vehicle back and the vibration is notably worse than it was before and is now also apparent in the seat around 70mph. Dealer said that 2 tires were out of balance and the problem was fixed. I was cautiously optimistic even after reading this enormous thread. Guess this was just wishful thinking.

You are stating "Vibration" I presume you mean "Shimmy" and am basing my response on that presumption.

Since you state that your car became "worse" after the balancing. I will suggest that your problem is in the balancing. If they only changed the balance...(Nothing else altered)....(And the symptom changed), they are most likely taking the correct approach to fixing the problem but are not road force balancing to a tight enough tollerence... or the tech does not understand the correct procedure.

Take it to an informed independant tire shop. You'll be pleased with the results.

[lavaman]

Originally Posted by CadiJ

Rcliff -

I hope this helps. There are two issues with the CTS:
1.) Steering wheel vibration
2.) Drone vibration

For your issue the steering wheel vibration most users here report that a very good tire shop/dealership is able to solve this problem by employing a GREAT road force balance machine and tech.

For the 2nd issue above there is a TSB and Cadillac is working on an additional fix as well -- or so I was told by the service manager at my dealership yesterday.

Just a note of clarification to avoid future confusion. Item # 1 should be referred to as Steering wheel...... (Shimmy) not vibration. Many...many posters are interchanging the terms and incorrectly stating their symptom. Please read one of my recent posts within this thread that attempts to explain the difference.

[lavaman]

Originally Posted by CadiJ

My dealer said he "would not" re index the shaft per the tsb as he just did that to two CTS's last week and, "it made the problem much worse..."

I don't have a noise at all but I do have the vibration at 50 is it bad - NO - not at all and I am super picky BUT it should not be happening.

I personally think its the torque converter but until there is a official fix I am holding off...

I agree in that I feel the torque converter is involved. I am experiencing a slight drone when the converter is engaged, light acceleration and the engine is lugged (Running at too low an rpm for the trans gear) When I experience the drone I can move the gear select over into "Sport mode" (Trans willl then either unlock the converter or downshift... not sure which) and the drone stops. I think the drone comes from a combination of (One or more)...engine rpm, torque converter lockup, prop shaft coupler flex, rear diff mounts and possibly exhaust isolators.

It will be interesting to see what fixes the problem.

[rcliff]

Originally Posted by lavaman

You are stating "Vibration" I presume you mean "Shimmy" and am basing my response on that presumption.

Since you state that your car became "worse" after the balancing. I will suggest that your problem is in the balancing. If they only changed the balance...(Nothing else altered)....(And the symptom changed), they are most likely taking the correct approach to fixing the problem but are not road force balancing to a tight enough tollerence... or the tech does not understand the correct procedure.

Take it to an informed independant tire shop. You'll be pleased with the results.

Perhaps vibration isn't the right word. A slight shaking of the steering wheel and now drivers seat and it starts around 65mph. Maybe you're right and they don't know how to balance properly. Would a place like Firestone or STS be the right choice? How much should this cost and how long should it take?

[DMill]

Originally Posted by lavaman

Just a note of clarification to avoid future confusion. Item #1 should be referred to as Steering wheel ... (shimmy), not vibration. (snip)

Shimmy is a type of vibration as defined here; specifically, #3. So, when CTS owners say they have a steering wheel vibration, we all KNOW what they mean. Yes, I agree that Webster's may not be the almighty when it comes to applying a definition to a specific case; maybe shimmy is the better word for this discussion. But I don't think it needs to be pointed out when the majority of us call it a vibration, IMNSHO. (If you need to reply, PM me please.)

[mkelch]

Well, my dealer certainly has solved this problem...a simple rebalance of all 4 wheels and the problem is completely gone.

[rcliff]

Spoke to the service manager and he wants me to bring the car back Monday to road test with the foreman. He said they have a road force balancer and the foreman will resolve this. Keeping fingers crossed (again)