Hey guys, I have an 03 CTS and sometimes when I am driving in a straight line and I brake to about 15 mph and turn kind of sharp to the right or left, I feel a shudder through the steerign wheel, almost as if something is loose somwhere in the steering system of the car. Normal driving its fine, but its when I do a bit of spirited driving and make a sharp turn. It gives me an uneasy feeling as if the front end is damaged. I took it to the dealer a while back for this problem, but they never found anyhting. Does anyone else know what I am talking about? The steering just dosnt feel tight all the time. Thanks
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: NHTSA Bulletin Number: 030235001
MFG Bulletin Date: 20030201
Component: STEERING
Details: NOISE/CLUNK OR LOOSE FEELING FROM STEERING COLUMN. *TT
Date added to datbase: 20030417
It seems like this is my problem, as it feels just like all the steering components just become loose. Thanks Big Chicken for that website, it was a great help to me, I am noting down all the TSB numbers and will take it to my dealer. Anyone else experince what I am experiencing?
Caddy Man your steering shudder may be more than a TSB.
Recall Alert: CADILLAC CTS Owner Notification Date: Mar 20, 2003 Number of Units Potentially Affected: 47835 Component Description: STEERING NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V115000Schedule an Appointment Description of Recall Campaign: SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT MAY BE LOOSE. AN IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED BOLT COULD LOOSEN, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING SHAFTS CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT AND ENSURE THAT IT IS TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 18004588006.
Caddy Man your steering shudder may be more than a TSB.
Recall Alert: CADILLAC CTS Owner Notification Date: Mar 20, 2003 Number of Units Potentially Affected: 47835 Component Description: STEERING NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V115000Schedule an Appointment Description of Recall Campaign: SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT MAY BE LOOSE. AN IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED BOLT COULD LOOSEN, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING SHAFTS CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT AND ENSURE THAT IT IS TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 18004588006.
Thanks once again Big Chicken, Im definitely going to take my car to the dealer and get it checked out.
I thought I felt something like this the other day and decided to research it. After a million threads about warped rotors I found this one and a few more.
The opinions on fixing this are:
1. Get a new steering rack ($600)
2. Fluid Flush or some way of getting air out of the PS lines.
Any tips on the second one? I only felt a shudder a few times the last week so don't (yet at least) want to drop $$$ on a new rack.
I had really bad steering wheel shake (I mean really bad). It was happening only during braking, not during driving. It was caused by rotor runout alone. I am a machinist. It is easy for me to measure. It was only a little past the book callout, but seemed so bad. I had this rotor runout vibration problem on other vehicles before. Fix it by having the rotors turned down. In Mesa, AZ, it is hard to find somebody that will turn them right. You need to check the runout after you put them back on.
If you problem is only during braking, give this serious thought. Some of the other things mentioned are expensive and drastic.
I have a word doc on my fix. If anybody is interested, pm me, and I will send it to you.
That's the thing it isn't while breaking it's when you go 5 miles and hour and try to turn. The shake is not even that noticeable, just a slight quick vibration and then it goes away. I doubt it's the rotors. I agree that all the fixes seem pretty expensive so I think I'll let this one sit because it happens once a month and really isn't that great a nuisance.
