[Taylor John]

I have a 2014 XTS, airbags in the rear and magnetic shocks in the front.

I have what I swear is a bad ball joint, or a worn out bushing every time I go over the slightest uneven surface a get what sounds like a metal on metal clunk, it’s a very noticeable and unpleasant clunk. The clunk never changes, it’s always the same specific clunk. and I can not get it to replicate by pushing down on the front end of the car.

I’ll also specify the clunk comes from the driver front.

I saw the bushing in the yoke was missing some rubber so I replaced the yoke, no luck.

I replaced the driver sway bar link which had no play but it was easy to move the ball bearings around, no luck, I did use a sway bar link that specified w/performance suspension but I’m not sure if the sway bar link is suppose to be w/o performance suspension for my car. I did check the sway bar bushings (not the links) and they seem solid. How ever when I have the wheel off it does not look like the ends of the sway bar link are making contact with the link it’s self, if that makes sense.

I replaced both tire rod ends which did have quite a bit of play, so it gave me hope that they were the problem, no luck.

I took the strut apart and pushed the shock all the way in and it did not push back out on its own. Maybe this is normal for a magnetic shock?? I don’t know because I can’t find any good information on diagnosing a bad magnetic shock. And the most puzzling part is, it doesn’t matter how much the front end compresses going over a hill or a railroad, it’s still the same specific clunk no matter how far the suspension travels.

the upper ball joint does not seem to have any play and it does not look like the lower slide pin has had any metal on metal contact (wear and tear). But what do I know.

At this point I’m looking for any help (input) or other areas to look at. I don’t know much about magnetic shocks to be confident in diagnosing a bad magnetic shock. So I’m a little hesitant in spending $400+ on one new shock tower. Any help would be appreciated. I also don’t have a service suspension light yet, but maybe it is a bad shock??

 

[Excalibur]

I think a failing MRC strut/shock is usually leaking fluid.

Maybe the videos below might help in diagnosing the cause.

 

[unc43]

Probably a strut. Struts do not have to be replaced in pairs.

 

[rockit]

Mine was making more of a "knocking" noise over bumps.Dealer replaced LF strut. Noise gone. Strut was dry. Don't know how it was diagnosed. 22k miles ago in 2018.

 

[Taylor John]

Mine was making more of a "knocking" noise over bumps.Dealer replaced LF strut. Noise gone. Strut was dry. Don't know how it was diagnosed. 22k miles ago in 2018.

If you didn’t know it was the strut would you have guessed, from the knocking, that it was a bad ball bearing or worn out bushing?

 

[rockit]

Maybe sway bar end links kind of noise, but if memory serves me it seemed higher up, like almost at the cowl. I remember visually inspecting everything, including upper strut mounts.

 

[Taylor John]

Maybe sway bar end links kind of noise, but if memory serves me it seemed higher up, like almost at the cowl. I remember visually inspecting everything, including upper strut mounts.

I swore up and down that it was a sway bar link, you can feel the knock in the floor board and I did inspect the strut mount as well.

 

[Morganga]

Could it be an Axle?

 

[Taylor John]

It seems as if the shock tower is the problem.
Now I have a new problem… I cannot find the gm part number for my shock tower. It seems as if it has been superceded by a new part number but for the life of me I cannot find the right shock tower.

 

[chazglenn3]

The following is shown as available on www.rockauto.com not sure it is correct, however. I would give them a call.

 

[Maximln]

That strut appears to be aftermarket. Is that correct?

Max

It seems as if the shock tower is the problem.
Now I have a new problem… I cannot find the gm part number for my shock tower. It seems as if it has been superceded by a new part number but for the life of me I cannot find the right shock tower. View attachment 610541

 

[Taylor John]

From my understanding, BWI made the magnetic struts for Cadillac/gm but they no longer make them for my car, I cannot find a replacement strut any where and I also can’t find my parts service label.

I’ll just have to use my vin and find gm’s replacement part.

 

[Maximln]

This appears to be the replacement for it.

Amazon.com: ACDelco 580-1096 GM Original Equipment Front Driver Side Suspension Strut Assembly Kit : Automotive

Buy ACDelco 580-1096 GM Original Equipment Front Driver Side Suspension Strut Assembly Kit: Struts - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Max

From my understanding, BWI made the magnetic struts for Cadillac/gm but they no longer make them for my car, I cannot find a replacement strut any where and I also can’t find my parts service label.

I’ll just have to use my vin and find gm’s replacement part.

 

[SAMorris]

Think you need new struts. Only AC Delco/GM parts makes them. I had same issue with my 2016 XTS. Replaced struts and everything fine. Unfortunately, these are expensive parts. You can find on internet for ~$400 each then you have to pay for install or do yourself. Local Cad dealer is quoted $2,100 to replace both. Even though the XTS is on the same platform as the Buick LaCrosse and Chev Impala, these struts are Cadillac only parts.

 

[daves05sts]

Following as I am experiencing the same:

"And the most puzzling part is, it doesn’t matter how much the front end compresses going over a hill or a railroad, it’s still the same specific clunk no matter how far the suspension travels"

 

[8-Ball-G]

This sounds like the exact same problem I am having with my 2016 XTS with 73,000 miles. The clunk is more noticeable at slow speed and can happen even when the road is somewhat smooth. An auto mechanic says it is my strut, but that does not make sense to me because the strut would not be "bottoming out" on a smooth-ish road. I think it seems like it would be the strut mount.

Did you find the solution?

 

[Taylor John]

This sounds like the exact same problem I am having with my 2016 XTS with 73,000 miles. The clunk is more noticeable at slow speed and can happen even when the road is somewhat smooth. An auto mechanic says it is my strut, but that does not make sense to me because the strut would not be "bottoming out" on a smooth-ish road. I think it seems like it would be the strut mount.

Did you find the solution?

It was the strut, I replaced the strut and it was as smooth as can be, fast forward about 5 days, a old couple runs a stop sign and totals my car in a parking lot…

 

[8-Ball-G]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry about the accident. Did everything workout with the insurance?
I guess I will replace the strut. But I am having the same problem finding it online. How did you find yours? What brand did you get? My shock # is a little different than yours, and I do not know if I have the magnetic ride ( BWI 22296966 15265222 ). I wont call the local Cadillac dealer because the only time I did, they did not have my headlight bulb in stock and still would not tell me the part number.

 

[chazglenn3]

Magnetic Ride Control was standard on all of the XTS models until the 2018 model year.

 

[Taylor John]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry about the accident. Did everything workout with the insurance?
I guess I will replace the strut. But I am having the same problem finding it online. How did you find yours? What brand did you get? My shock # is a little different than yours, and I do not know if I have the magnetic ride ( BWI 22296966 15265222 ). I wont call the local Cadillac dealer because the only time I did, they did not have my headlight bulb in stock and still would not tell me the part number.

A magnetic strut will have a connector that comes out the bottom of the strut, that wire is for controlling the magnet in the strut. If you don’t have a wire coming out of the bottom of the strut it’s probably safe to assume you have struts, but if you have clunking at 73k miles you probably have magnetic ride.

From my experience the bwi part number is not the part number, your part number for a 2017 xts magnetic strut is acdelco #84677093.
The strut itself is made by bwi but acdelco has its own part number for the strut. That was frustrating trying to find the part for my own car. You will have to go to a local auto store and loan a spring compressor to switch the spring over to the new strut. Both struts are the exact same, they can be used for either side. I would also shop around with that part number, you can find the oem part for $350-$400.

As frustrating as these struts are, it is still worth replacing the strut. It’s a nice car and should ride like a nice car, I was so relieved when I finally replaced the strut.