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GM found a fix for the supercharger rattle!

225K views 680 replies 168 participants last post by  CavemanB52 
#1 ·
And GM isn't going to do anything about it for us! But they will for the ZL1!



Original:
 
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#5 ·
So it looks like finally GM is going with solid bushing that W4M has been reccomending for years.
Pretty much, yeah. They knew about this otherwise, why would they use a solid isolator? 2011 models and up should have been using the ZL1 supercharger. Instead, we get the shaft.

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Not even for the 2013 V huh??
Apparently so, but hopefully not, see above response.

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GM and or Cadillac Customer Service please chime in and explain the reasoning behind not doing such for the 2009+ CTS-V?????????????????
I'm willing to bet they already have hundreds upon hundreds of the V superchargers so it's easy for them to just give us the shaft and give the ZL1 guys the new and improved.
 
#4 ·
GM and or Cadillac Customer Service please chime in and explain the reasoning behind not doing such for the 2009+ CTS-V?????????????????
 
#7 ·
Now I'm not trying to be critical but there are a crapload of us dealing with this. I second the post about asking the GM reps who pop in here from time to time with gracious responses about issues we have to understand that we are voicing to GM that this needs to be a retrofit into our cars. Or.....warranty the blower for life. I'll take either one.
 
#8 ·
I still don't know why such a big deal is made about the isolator. Yes, if its rattling to loud, it's embarrassing. But it also seems like the rattle lessens as miles pile up. Also, how can it damage the blower? It's a contained are, correct?

Enlighten me please.
 
#11 ·
Yep. Eventually the stock isolator will get worse and worse until it takes out your blower. It's cheaper for GM to fix the few blowers that go out before 100k than to do a recall on every single one that makes noise. Im glad I didnt listen to the GM b.s. about it be "normal" and had it replaced with a solid isolator when I did.
 
#12 ·
Pretty new to the CTS-V sceen so sorry for any noob questions. Does GM replace the existing isolater if you have the supercharger rattle? Also, if going with a solid isolater fixes the issue, how much does parts and labor run? Obviously GM would not do this, but how much would a local LSx shop charge for somthing like this?
 
#13 ·
The supercharger comes from Eaton. GM therefore feels the supercharger is a non-serviceable part. Further, they feel that the sound is normal. Therefore, they are only occasionally replacing superchargers.

The replacement solid isolator is an inexpensive part. Installing it voids the drivetrain warranty even though it solves the problem, so install at your own risk. Others can comment on the install cost but I don't recall it being very high.

w4m was right all along. :thumbsup:
 
#15 ·
A fix, or was this a Cadillac specific item? Anyone know if the ZR1 has the same rattle? Also, it is interesting that the ZL1 was put on quality hold that could delay shipments for weeks.

I have installed the solid coupler and it definitely eliminates the rattle nicely.
 
#18 ·
Here is a pick of the supercharger snout shaft wear thanks to the spring along with a pic of the stock couplers beside the solid one. These are the original snouts with stock pulley from my car and my friend's. His had pretty harsh wear, even at 5000 miles and mine was even worse at 25,000 miles (when I swapped). I would hate to see what 50K or 100K would be like with the spring coupler in place.





 
#19 ·
Here is a pick of the supercharger snout shaft wear thanks to the spring along with a pic of the stock couplers beside the solid one. These are the original snouts with stock pulley from my car and my friend's. His had pretty harsh wear, even at 5000 miles and mine was even worse at 25,000 miles (when I swapped). I would hate to see what 50K or 100K would be like with the spring coupler in place.







Say it wore down to pencil thickness. How would that affect the operation of the engine/supercharger?
 
#20 ·
I would not want all of that metal wearing into the bearings, that is for certain. The internal shaft is also what limits the spring movement in the coupler. As the shaft wears, it moves a lot more, which is the sound people complain about. Now, considering the very cheap plastic used, if the spring did not absorb the hit well from the supercharger spin, I could see the coupler disintegrating after time. Compared to the solid coupler, the stock one feels like a McDonalds toy.
 
#23 ·
Hello all,

If this is a widespread concern, I am happy to document it for further consideration by my superiors. I am unfamiliar with this forum as I am filling in for Katie until Wednesday; are there other threads regarding the supercharger rattle you've described here? What model year(s) is this prevalent in? I would like, if you all are interested, to document your username(s) if you own a CTS-V with this concern.

Regards,
Sarah
Cadillac Customer Service
 
#24 ·
Sarah,

First thanks for chiming in on the weekend.

Here are some links:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/253724-so-does-zr1-blower-rattle.html
[URL="http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/241378-been-hearing-mild-rattle-coming-engine.html"]http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/241378-been-hearing-mild-rattle-coming-engine.html
[URL="http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/252112-supercharger-rattle-rear-diff-whine-new.html"]http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/252112-supercharger-rattle-rear-diff-whine-new.html
[URL="http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-appearance-mods/228030-wheels-ultraview-paint-sc-rattle-thoughts.html"]http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-appearance-mods/228030-wheels-ultraview-paint-sc-rattle-thoughts.html

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Few more:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/212227-no-more-idle-noise-part-throttle.html
[URL="http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/191164-i-think-i-have-isolator-rattle.html"]http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/191164-i-think-i-have-isolator-rattle.html
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/187859-welcome-newest-member-supercharger-isolator-death.html
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/212896-cts-v-coupe-issues.html
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forum...ssion/223372-isolator-pulley-damage-done.html


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http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/228710-fyi-those-changing-solid-isolator.html
[URL="http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-performance-mods/237387-supercharger-isolator-coupling.html"]http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-performance-mods/237387-supercharger-isolator-coupling.html
[URL="http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/179364-isolator-issue.html"]http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/179364-isolator-issue.html
[URL="http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/190745-supercharger-replacement-2009-cts-v.html"]http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/2009-cadillac-cts-v-general-discussion/190745-supercharger-replacement-2009-cts-v.html

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#36 ·
Sarah,

First thanks for chiming in on the weekend.

Here are some links:
Very helpful - thank you! Users who mentioned experiencing the supercharger rattle on those threads (and this thread) had been added to the document I spoke of earlier. Hopefully, those who review the document will move on it.

All the best,
Sarah Anders/cac/sm/sag
 
#28 ·
Are there any shops in So Cal/Los Angeles that can install a solid isolator for me? I just took delivery of my car and I don't even want to remotely deal with a bag of marbles in a metal can inside my engine compartment.

Who can install this part for a reasonable price?
 
#32 ·
I am on my 3rd V2. I had a 2009 V, a 2010 V and I now have a 2011 V Coupe and NONE of them had this rattle I keep hearing about. All my Vs have been very quiet. I hope GM comes up with a fix for Cadillac CTS-V owners that are experiencing this annoying issue. A $70K+ vehicle should not have this issue at all. If the ZL1's LSA has the solid isolator, GM should just allow dealership techs to install the isolator and be done with it. What's the big deal, GM?
 
#35 ·
My 2011 had this starting the day I drove it home with 4 miles on the odometer. I was also told it was something that I had to live with, but this is now a big concern of mine. Hopefully we will hear more from GM with a possible resolution. Otherwise, I will be going with a solid isolator.
 
#38 ·
Sarah - please add me to your list if it helps. My 2011 V Sedan was new in December, and I heard it for the first time late last month at ~3000 miles. In all likelihood, unless there is a TSB in short order - I will have this fixed myself in the next month or so as others have.
 
#39 ·
The dark gray circle piece with the holes in it that attached to the pulley shaft is the coupler as far as I've called it. Is that what you guys are calling the isolator? In the Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, our couplers were also known to make your supercharger sound like a rock tumbler. After market vendors such as ZZPerformance sold replacement ones that were made of a better plastic. Interestingly, the one in the picture in the first post looks nearly identical to the stock GTP piece. I wouldn't be surprised if it started to rattle too. Stock on the left (Eaton) and ZZP on the right:
View attachment 88100 View attachment 88101
 
#40 ·
The aftermarket ones are not cheap plastic and are machined from solid delrin and should not pose an issue.
 
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