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2009 CTS 3.6L DI, 2014 CTS VSport
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If it were me i would have the joints/welds magnafluxed? this will be a spendy repair......
You can't magnaflux aluminum, dye check or X-ray instead. While it is not impossible to effect a repair, doing so in a metallurgically sound way is not trivial. It isn't practical, especially given the safety-critical aspect. This is a junkyard part, if at all possible.
 

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2011 SRX4 3.0 4WD, Luxury
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well i learned something tonight -thanks :) (y)
 

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2004 SRX, 2012 CTS Wagon
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126 Posts
Discussion Starter · #24 ·
Yeah, I didn't think the dealer really had it sitting on the shelf. Shipping a part that large will hurt, even if they would really sell it for the advertised price. This is a part where good used condition is just fine, hope you score one.

FINALLY! The third subframe sourced from a salvage yard looked pretty good. It still exhibited the poor machining process so I hand sanded the radius and performed a flourescent dye penetrant check using a black light. There was no indication of a crack. I gave the green light to install. Shoud be up and running Tuesday. I love my wagon, but this whole process has got me thinking about selling. I'm just not sure I can recoup my losses. So far I'm about $3K in this repair alone, replacing the upper and lower control arms, struts on both sides and the subframe. Also just put new tires on it a week before this started. It's got 91K miles and its my daily driver.
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98 DeVille, 97 DeVille d'Elegance
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Wonder of there's a way to reinforce with steel to help the stress from that thin area. Bad design IMO.
Sometimes you take a loss just to get away from future problems.
 

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99 ETC 13 XTS 69 Chevelle 17 Yukon
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1,466 Posts
Automotive tire Automotive lighting Automotive design Grey Hood
FINALLY! The third subframe sourced from a salvage yard looked pretty good. It still exhibited the poor machining process so I hand sanded the radius and performed a flourescent dye penetrant check using a black light. There was no indication of a crack. I gave the green light to install. Shoud be up and running Tuesday. I love my wagon, but this whole process has got me thinking about selling. I'm just not sure I can recoup my losses. So far I'm about $3K in this repair alone, replacing the upper and lower control arms, struts on both sides and the subframe. Also just put new tires on it a week before this started. It's got 91K miles and its my daily driver. View attachment 631236 View attachment 631237 View attachment 631238
Not trying to be a downer but in first picture below elongated slot there seems to be a fracture starting in that area.
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'12 CTS Performance Sports Wagon AWD
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3,786 Posts
Makes me wonder if I should ditch the BC's and go back to stock. I have considered maybe getting some custom springs made for my car and try to keep the height of the car a little higher. BC setup their suspension to be able to lower the car as low to the ground as possible. That gives a harsh ride when you go over bumps. I don't want to ditch the system because I think its better than stock but I do not like the harshness of the springs and since I have no intensions of slamming my car to the ground I can have taller springs that are not so harsh. You could also potentially add some additional support. If the top is smooth, even just JB welding a small steel plate to the top that goes beyond the small mounting tab with the mounting hole would be beneficial. The JB Weld would keep it in place and compression of the suspension is what is causing the issue so if you are able to help brace the top of that cradle it would help prevent against the seperation. Would not help against downward movement of the cradle, but based on the pictures I would be more worried about upward movements being the issue. If you wanted to prevent damage from downward movement of the cradle then you would have to find a better way to bond it to the cradle. Maybe a larger plate that allows you to bolt through the cradle in an area that is not as likely to be in the way or cause other issues.
 

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2004 SRX, 2012 CTS Wagon
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126 Posts
Discussion Starter · #28 ·
View attachment 631242
Not trying to be a downer but in first picture below elongated slot there seems to be a fracture starting in that area. View attachment 631242
I sanded the entire radius and dye check showed no crack indication. I'm hopeful. I was supposed to get the car back on Tuesday but this damn Texas weather has me stuck at home.Too treacherous to drive on the ice.
 

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2011 CTS coupe 1989 Allante
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6,056 Posts
Lived outside Ft. Worth (Azle) for several years. After one storm tried to go to work, made to stop sign and gave up, couldn't get back up driveway so parked on lawn.
Remember a news story about Dallas storing snow remover under a freeway overpass. Rotted the supports and had to close the freeway...
 

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2004 SRX, 2012 CTS Wagon
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126 Posts
Discussion Starter · #30 ·
Wow! I'm in Haslet, not far from Azle. Have you seen our weather this week? Solid ice driveway and neighborhood. Haven't been back to work since Monday. My poor SRX is frozen, but having spent 3 years in Minnesota followed by 3 more in Ohio, she's used to it.
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'14 CTS-V LongRoof; Audi RS6 Avant; '16 ATS-V Sedan gone; '10 CTS LongRoof gone
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20,924 Posts
Brrr
 

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2013 Black Diamond CTS4 Premium Coupe (sold-09 CTS4 DI Black Raven/Ebony)
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5,046 Posts
It's only ice...much less than feet of snow. Go on, give it a go and see if you can get to work. LOL
Seriously, that ice sucks. And it's probably pretty solid since it's formed by many thin layers like a hockey rink.
 

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2004 SRX, 2012 CTS Wagon
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126 Posts
Discussion Starter · #34 ·
Picked up my car today. Rides well but I still have a small knocking sound coming from the driver side front during body roll movement at about 5 mph when I crank the steering wheel side to side quickly. We put it back on the rack and checked every single bolt, nut, end link and all suspension connections(weight on and weight off the car). The only thing we found was a little movement at the driver side sway bar bushing. Ordered a set and changing them soon. Is it an easy job?
 

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2009 CTS 3.6L DI, 2014 CTS VSport
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3,331 Posts
Picked up my car today. Rides well but I still have a small knocking sound coming from the driver side front during body roll movement at about 5 mph when I crank the steering wheel side to side quickly. We put it back on the rack and checked every single bolt, nut, end link and all suspension connections(weight on and weight off the car). The only thing we found was a little movement at the driver side sway bar bushing. Ordered a set and changing them soon. Is it an easy job?
It may require loosening the subframe.
 

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2011 SRX4 3.0 4WD, Luxury
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4,728 Posts
agreed, on my srx you have to loosen the cradle bolts a bit 2''? I ant doing it LOL even though i have access to a 4 post....
 

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2009 CTS 3.6L DI, 2014 CTS VSport
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3,331 Posts
I don't put much faith in "visual inspection" of suspension components. It is easy to "see" bad components about 80K miles after they should have been replaced. Sway bar end links are cheap and easy, should probably do tie rods too. Unless you only have 60K mile on the car.
 

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2011 SRX4 3.0 4WD, Luxury
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Sweet....buy the best you can - GM OEM dont want to do it 2X
 

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2004 SRX, 2012 CTS Wagon
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126 Posts
Discussion Starter · #40 ·
I don't put much faith in "visual inspection" of suspension components. It is easy to "see" bad components about 80K miles after they should have been replaced. Sway bar end links are cheap and easy, should probably do tie rods too. Unless you only have 60K mile on the car.
90K mles. I was having the entire front end rebuilt. New upper and lower control arms and struts. If I had known the sway bar was above the cradle, I would have had them replace the bushings at that time. This whole ordeal is starting to sour my Cadillac experience...
 
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