Have We Solved The Steering Vibration On The Freeway? - Page 39

CadiJ · #**571** (**permalink**) 03-13-09, 08:52 AM

Yes however, this "vibration" thread is the longest thread in the forum - clearly highlighting that there is a design flaw with (some) CTS's

jdavis12 · #**572** (**permalink**) 04-14-09, 02:49 PM

What happened to everybody? Problem resolved or are we just living with it?
After getting 3 new tires at the dealer and roadforce numbers in the 8-12 range, my steering wheel shimmy from apparent flat-spotting was better but not gone. I then pursued Michelin under the warranty provisions, proved my point through a local NTB tire shop and received 4 new tires only to make matters much worse! After going back to the dealer, they road-forced and could only get the numbers down to the high 20's! - clearly proving the tires provided by Michelin were faulty. Here's the kicker....Michelin would not help me, stating they had already provided replacement as a "courtesy". I'm still in the process of fighting that battle as they need to back up their own products, especially those directly from them!
The saga continues with GM replacing 3 of 4 again resolving 80% of the heavy shimmy I had with the direct Michelin replacements. Still have the shimmy between 60 and 70 mph that gets better after 15 or so miles but still feel a vibration. No question the tires are a problem - wondering whether there is a combination of tire/suspension components that ultimately don't jive with each other.
I'm still a very frustrated owner hoping someone figures this out soon.

Jimls · #**573** (**permalink**) 04-14-09, 05:06 PM

Hello JD, still here. I also had 2 tires replaced from the dealer and road force balanced about 3 months ago. My shimmy is very strange and seems to have a mind of its own. Overall much much better but still very mildly present at certains times but at other times it is not. On some highways you can sense it while on others you wont feel a thing, like I mentioned very strange. I can honestly say that mine is liveable, overall my car is rock solid and quiet. Your experience with Michelin does appear to point to the tires as being responsible. I will keep it as is until its time to replace the tires, one thing for sure it wont be Michelins.
Jim

WNBAMiamiSol · #**574** (**permalink**) 04-14-09, 07:00 PM

JD wondering whether there is a combination of tire/suspension components that ultimately don't jive with each other.
That was my guess on the car the dealer took back. I went thru 5 sets of wheels & tires with the vibration ever present. The same set of wheels and tires were tried on a different CTS (FE2) and gee, no vibration. When they RFB's each set, they were successful in getting the numbers below 9 on 2 or 3 sets. Yet the vibration remained. All I can say is thank God the dealer stepped up and took the car back.

b4z · #**575** (**permalink**) 04-14-09, 10:20 PM

Does your passenger seatback vibrate a lot at speed when you guys are having this problem? Both my '04 and '07 SRXs have a jiggle at speeds over 65mph.

CadiJ · #**576** (**permalink**) 04-14-09, 10:27 PM

Hi everyone. I am just completely "done" mentally with my CTS. I still have the driveline vibration I am at the 2nd step with Lemon law. I have a 2009 DI with vibration between 45-70. Not steering wheel shimmy, tires are perfectly rfb'ed.

I have all my paperwork showing the problem exsists. Is it a huge vibration - nope but should I be expected to put up with any vibration in a brand new car, NO WAY. Cadillac's point of view is that anyone that reports this vibration is way too "in tune" with their car and the paperwork they submitted said, "this is normal vehicle feedback of the road..."

Not to mention when they did the "fix" on my car they installed the washers AND reprogrammed my transmission it resulted in worse MPG's I feel this is a change to the car that I bought (entered into contract) and wil be very interested to see what the state att. general has to say... The "fix" didn't help what so ever, in fact I think its worse.

I am a car guy, first time Cadillac person and I have to say I am in tune with my car, yep absolutely I am a car guy and every time I am in my CTS I am completely let down with the vibration...

Anyone else have updates?

WNBAMiamiSol · #**577** (**permalink**) 04-14-09, 11:33 PM

CadiJ
Be thankful you are in Florida.... the older fellow who took my Lemon Law call in the Attorney General's office assured me that 99% of what he saw come across his desk was decided in the consumer's favor. I am sure that is not the case in all states.

CadiJ · #**578** (**permalink**) 04-14-09, 11:37 PM

Yes he is a wonderful help.

What really stinks is if this issue goes up in front of a "non car person" during trial and they drive my CTS and think, hmmm this car feels normal "to me" and they think I am crazy for being picky over what they consider to be a "small" vibration... I just don't think it is right -- at all -- for me to buy a brand new car with any vibration... I'll keep everyone posted.

WNBAMiamiSol · #**579** (**permalink**) 04-15-09, 07:15 AM

Remember, as my cousin advised me, the key phrases to use are "fear for my life," "fear serious injury" and "fear not being able to safely control the vehicle."

E-luzion · #**580** (**permalink**) 04-15-09, 08:27 AM

There are tons of pages here.. but out of curiosity... has anyone tested to see if the draft shaft is balanced?

Maeztro · #**581** (**permalink**) 04-15-09, 09:42 PM

I too suffer from the vibration...I cannot read through all the pages in this thread...but maybe someone can answer this for me. It really kicks in at 45mph. Is it a 'speed' phenomenon or is it an RPM phenomenon? I haven't tried but if I shift in to neutral at 45 would I expect it to go away? Or is it vibrating because that speed has hit a sweet spot with the car?
TIA
M
(or is that the million dollar question?)

DMill · #**582** (**permalink**) 04-16-09, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E-luzion

There are tons of pages here.. but out of curiosity... has anyone tested to see if the draft shaft is balanced?

"Draft shaft"? Was that a type-oh? ... If you mean drive shaft, then yes, that has been done ... but still without satisfactory results.

Nyuni · #**583** (**permalink**) 04-16-09, 01:58 PM

I occasionally have a (very slight) steering wheel shimmy on my 08 (FE2, 18", All Season Michelins), but I find that if I drive a long distance (30+ mins), the ride smooths out to perfect. The tires have all been road force balanced, and I'm convinced the Michelins that come with the car are just utter crap - the compound must flatspot way too easily and takes forever to "roll out" and result in a smooth ride. Meanwhile, the sensitive steering gear of the CTS amplifies whatever little tire imperfections there may be right into the steering wheel.

Has anyone else tried a different brand/model of tire instead of the stock Michelins? When my current tires are ready to be replaced I'm certainly planning on looking at another brand.

jdavis12 · #**584** (**permalink**) 04-22-09, 11:30 AM

Has anyone else tried a different brand/model of tire instead of the stock Michelins? When my current tires are ready to be replaced I'm certainly planning on looking at another brand.[/quote]

That's exactly what I'm interested in finding out - whether anyone has tried another brand as no question, in my case, the tires are 80% of the problem. On my original, an '08 FE1 with 17's, the dealer replaced my tires with the Michelin Sport A/S which is their top of the line performance tire with directional tread. I thought it would help but did not - same Michelin structure I'm guessing. I am at a point with my '09 after several OEM tire replacements and RFB's that the spend on a good set of Bridgestones or other proven brand would be a good investment in my sanity.....I'm absolutely exhausted dealing with this issue and being reminded of it everytime I drive.

AJC · #**585** (**permalink**) 04-22-09, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyuni

I occasionally have a (very slight) steering wheel shimmy on my 08 (FE2, 18", All Season Michelins), but I find that if I drive a long distance (30+ mins), the ride smooths out to perfect. The tires have all been road force balanced, and I'm convinced the Michelins that come with the car are just utter crap - the compound must flatspot way too easily and takes forever to "roll out" and result in a smooth ride. Meanwhile, the sensitive steering gear of the CTS amplifies whatever little tire imperfections there may be right into the steering wheel.

Has anyone else tried a different brand/model of tire instead of the stock Michelins? When my current tires are ready to be replaced I'm certainly planning on looking at another brand.

I think you hit it dead on. I had my dealer do a 4-wheel alignment and the shimmy was 98% gone. I do get it occasionally but very light on some black top roads and only at speeds between 65 - 75 mph. I do not have any shimmy on cement roads at any speed. I notice if my car sits for several days it will shimmy very lightly at first but will go away after some miles. I think you could be right about the tires and the sensitive steering gear. I think GM spent too much time in Germany trying to mimic the BMW road feel and over did it.