[Kgomoll]

It seems like ever since i have owned my 2005 CTS I have had countless problems with a wobble in my steering wheel, Finally i called a cadillac rep and she is helping me with this problem, I am takeing it back to the dealer on wednesday for the same problem, Is anyone else haveing this issue? I have had the tires balanced and the deal just replaced the 2 rear tires, It doesnt seem to help at all. Just wondering if i am expecting too much from my little car. I have owned this car for 7 months now, I have added all teh time it has been in the shop, which is about 2 months time. I only have 4k miles on it.
The wife wont drive it cause she is scared of the wobble, I must admit when turning i am scared too alittle, feels like its breaking away. Well please let em knwo if you ahve this issue and how to fix it, the dealer is no help.

 

[MileHighCTS]

Replacing the rear tires should have little or no effect on steer wheel wobble. Try the new tires on the front. Maybe the old front tires have an issue with separation of the layers of material like the belts.

 

[Coreyn]

Replacing the rear tires should have little or no effect on steer wheel wobble. Try the new tires on the front. Maybe the old front tires have an issue with separation of the layers of material like the belts.

I had this problem, and to be honest its more likely that the car is made that way. I own a 05 cts 3.6 with the 17", i did it, the loaner i had came with the 16's. The same! Enjoy the car or you ll be miserable! (Trust me)

 

[22Cadillac22]

i had at it around 50mph but it went away, or maybe i just havent even noticed it anymore

 

[haute_heir]

Hmmm... I think I have the same problem, but I have just been trying to ignore it on mine. I'm not too sure what you meen by a wobble (whether that meens a vibration or a large movement). My car feels like the control arms or something is loose. The steering will just take off going around corners, and even going straight when the pavement is uneven or has breaks. It feels like theres a certain amount of play between my wheels and my steering wheel in my car.... I have trained myself to think that its normal though.

 

[Gaspar]

ha! Its funny I'm taking my CTS to the dealership tomorrow morning because of this same problem.
The technical term is "bump steer" and its pretty common on lowered cars with wide wheels; Its caused when the tie rods are not completely in parallel with the control arm.
But today I wanted to ditch the damn car.. yesterday we had frozen rain and today in the morning I felt the car was completely loose on a two way highway!!!
I think after today's drive I have more grays.

-Gaspar

 

[dkozloski]

Back when I was driving around with a broken right rear Nivomat shock the car steered all over the road every time I hit a bump. After it was replaced everything was fine again.

 

[Gaspar]

I took the car to the dealership and the service person called to let me know they have recognized there is something wrong with the car and they will get the specialist to look at the problem when he's available.

Did you know that only the best technicians work on our Cadillacs?
Not any guy or apprentice is allowed to work on them!

Anyway I got a big DTS (or STS) as a rental... that thing is big but really comfy....

I'll keep you informed.

-Gaspar

Note: When I explained the car 'swayed' from side to side the service technician found a problem code for exactly that issue!! So take your cars in and use that keyword.

 

[haute_heir]

Gaspar, where do you take your Caddy for service?? I go to GSL, they hate me, I hate them. It's the stupidest operation around in my opinion.

 

[Gaspar]

Hi,
It's fixed!! Solution: 4 wheel alignment...(camber,caster,toe in rear and front)
That bump steer feeling is now gone...
The car is drives almost perfect.. I still feel a little bit loose rear end but its waaay better than before.

Haute: yes I took it to GSL thats where I bought it, this is my first visit so I'm not ready to comment if they're good or no. I asked to have the service done since the oil idicator is at 42% and they asked me to bring it when its about 20%, for me thats more work, but I suppose they have a reason.. didn't love their answer but nothing too serious.

Also I asked them to turn the alarm on which was dissabled and they did.

What kind of problems have you had with them? I'm insterested because I'm on my way there to check a used trailblazer for my wife.

Thanks
Gaspar

 

[haute_heir]

From day one they have been total idiots with me. I'll give you a quick overview starting from the top. My mint, 02' Infiniti QX4 w/65k kms, they said they'd give me 18 grand for. So i sold it privately, they pissed me off cuz I sold it myself for $10 grand more than that. Delivery day, I show up at 9 am to pick up my car, just like they said.... and they can't find where the car is, they don't even know if it's been delivered yet. My sales guy was nowhere to be found and just the day prior he said it was delivered a few days before that and they just needed to prep it all up. I got the car 4 days later! I brought it in at 4k kms, before I drove to Vancouver because the car was pulling, and it kept saying 'check coolant level' (it was full). The service guy commented on my age and said I was driving an old mans car, bla, bla, bla. Not his position to comment on anything as far as I'm concerned. I go to get the loaner car, and he announces that I'm not old enough to drive the cadillacs so I got stuck with an Impala. I go and pick the car up, and they didn't have time to do anything but fix the loose headliner! They did nothing, not even wash the car!!!
My first service last week; I told them not to rotate my tires (20"rims), they did anyways, my car vibrates like shit now (not balanced right???!!!), they put the tacky next service sticker on my windsheild and now its all smugged from me peeling it off, and I had to wait another 20 mins when i picked it up because you have to tell them ahead of time if you want them to wash the car before you pick it up... why don't they just wash every car!

My opinion, they are idiots and shouldn't be selling Cadillacs on that lot, I told the GM that, and I told GM Canada that as well as Cadillac 1-800 support #. My stories may sounfd like I'm being finniky, but theres more detail as to their stupidity and ignorance. I won't buy another car from there, I probably won't buy another GM, but I do like my car itself, just not the 'run of the mill' GM sales, support, and service, (not if I'm buying a Cadillac anyways).

Hi,
It's fixed!! Solution: 4 wheel alignment...(camber,caster,toe in rear and front)
That bump steer feeling is now gone...
The car is drives almost perfect.. I still feel a little bit loose rear end but its waaay better than before.

Haute: yes I took it to GSL thats where I bought it, this is my first visit so I'm not ready to comment if they're good or no. I asked to have the service done since the oil idicator is at 42% and they asked me to bring it when its about 20%, for me thats more work, but I suppose they have a reason.. didn't love their answer but nothing too serious.

Also I asked them to turn the alarm on which was dissabled and they did.

What kind of problems have you had with them? I'm insterested because I'm on my way there to check a used trailblazer for my wife.

Thanks
Gaspar

 

[Gaspar]

... not even wash the car!!!

Haute,
I hear you.. it was annoying to see my car not washed after they kept it for 2 full days. When I bought the car the sales guy told me everytime a Cadillac is in the shop they'll wash it. - yeah right...

Same story with me when I took posession of the car, that day I called just to confirm everything was ready and I found out the sales guy Mr. Chang. didn't work there anymore. so they asked another guy (Stewart) to deliver my CTS, it was Ok but he was in a rush since he had other commitments.

If you're not getting a Caddy as a rental they have to compensate somehow. They were very clear, you drive in a Caddy you drive out in a Caddy (I would fight them).

I wish they were more Cadillac and less GM but the service department is always the same no matter where you go... One of these days I'll have a Ferrari and will compare ;-)

-Gaspar

 

[TripleOught]

i think the whole age thing is completely ridiculous. it would have pissed me off more had i known that prior. if you are successful enough to purchase a cadillac from them and spend 30+ grand, why in the hell wouldn't they put you up in one while they work on your car which has MANUFACTURING problems (their problems to begin with).

i bought a certified pre-owned, so i don't get a free loaner, but if i had to deal with that i would definitely be contacting cadillac/gm directly. i think thats completely assanine.

 

[Gaspar]

Damn,
Wheel wobble is back...
Feels like control arms or tie rods are loose.. So that wobble + snow/ice is a freakin' exciting experience
I'm biting the bullet and buying winter tires to make the car driveable...

Just like haute I'm training myself to think its normal.

While reading other forums people recommended check tire pressure and even replace (temporarily) the tires and drive over a place where the wobble is always present... I think I'll do that... cause if its the tires I'll hunt the dealership to get replacements.

oh boy.. sometimes this car is getting me more greys...

Just venting...
-Gaspar

 

[dkozloski]

FWIW, I had new tires put on my CTS and it vibrated. I took it back to the tire dealer and they told me they had done the same job as was done when the car was new and tried to balance the wheels and tires without having any weights showing on the outside. I told them to forget that and go for the best balance. The car is now as smooth as glass but with a few small weights showing.

 

[CadiKing2006]

hey every1. this post is kinda funny. Nehow, i had the wobbling steering wheel on my CTS after i crossed 60km/h. I got the allignment done and it did nothing to it, i got tires rotated, nothing again. GUESS WHAT IT WAS??? My wheels werent balanced yes! my factory wheels had to be balanced. Well they did the road force balancing on it, in which they balance the whole unit. I paid $150CDN dollars.

Its been 6 months since then and i drive my car alot so ive put about 15,000KMS on it. Its running great and whobbling never came back. I just put 20inch rims on my car and the same had to be done for them.

Hope this helped.
sham

 

[Gaspar]

Finally no more wheel wobble!! Solution found.

You're not going to believe this...
Yesterday I put the new rims and snow tires and guess what??
The wheel wobble is now gone!! completely
The friggin RSAs are the culprit, either out of balance or tires not Ok.
I'll talk to the dealership tomorrow..
By the way I found that GM is investigating the GoodYear tyres on the CTS for cupping... Is this the beggining of a recall??
Bye
Gaspar

 

[Coreyn]

Re: Finally no more wheel wobble!! Solution found.

You're not going to believe this...
Yesterday I put the new rims and snow tires and guess what??
The wheel wobble is now gone!! completely
The friggin RSAs are the culprit, either out of balance or tires not Ok.
I'll talk to the dealership tomorrow..
By the way I found that GM is investigating the GoodYear tyres on the CTS for cupping... Is this the beggining of a recall??
Bye
Gaspar

Glad to hear someone doesnt have to drive with that annoyance. What size rims do you have and what snow tires did you get?

Thanks

 

[Gaspar]

Re: Finally no more wheel wobble!! Solution found.

What size rims do you have and what snow tires did you get?

I bought 16" and tires: Dunlop Graspic DS1
Tires and rims from Walmart. ~$800 CDN.
Not bad, Costco just for tires about $900 and other tire places for blizzaks > $1000

The tire/wheel mix is not important as long as you keep the same diameter wheel ratio. I could have bought a 17" steel rims (I don't think they exist for CTS) and a lower profile tire but this combo is way more pricey..

So I'm quite pleased.

-Gaspar

 

[Coreyn]

Re: Finally no more wheel wobble!! Solution found.

I bought 16" and tires: Dunlop Graspic DS1
Tires and rims from Walmart. ~$800 CDN.
Not bad, Costco just for tires about $900 and other tire places for blizzaks > $1000

The tire/wheel mix is not important as long as you keep the same diameter wheel ratio. I could have bought a 17" steel rims (I don't think they exist for CTS) and a lower profile tire but this combo is way more pricey..

So I'm quite pleased.

-Gaspar

I have the stock 17's on mine, the sport package on the 2005 upgrades you to 225-50-17. I have a feeling replacing mine with snow 17's won't cure my problem.. but good luck with your car!