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Coupes & Convertibles Pontiac GTO Pontiac GTO
4348 messages, Last post on Nov 08, 2009 at 9:33 AM
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Replying to: elias (Jan 17, 2008 4:04 pm) What should now do?? 1. Is there a "SECRET" Tech .Service bulletin on GTO tires,I can tell my dealer about? 2. Wheel alignment at dealer? 3. Should I tell the dealer to call" Pontiac" ...asked for Jorge? since i see his name mentionned on various "forums" 4. Tell then to replace "radius rod bushings" ?....since they are known to leak Thanks 
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Replying to: mparis1 (Jan 28, 2008 11:55 am)
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Replying to: ssguy69 (Jan 28, 2008 5:05 pm) 
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with the factory 17 settings, the inner edges were destroyed by 14000 miles, almost worn to the belt. with the latest pontiac settings posted 271828 posts ago, the inner edges were over-wornout compared to the rest of the tread after 15k miles, but nowhere near as bad as with the factory settings/tires. even so, to ensure another 10k out of the toyo proxes, i had them rotated side to side (dismounted/remounted/rebalanced.) also the rear tires inner edges get munched just as much as the fronts, if not more, despite very rarely losing traction, really. yes mparis1 this inner-edge tire wear is an inherent issue and the solution is to monitor tire wear very closely and not expect more than 25k out of a set of tires, even with optimal rotations. ps - i've been driving it for most of the winter except during/after the big snowfalls. 20 mpg isn't quite so bad compared to 40 mpg diesel, when 87 octane is 2.97 and diesel is 3.50 . (i think GTO gets equal or better winter mpg with 87 than with premium octane - try it if you are in really cold climates!? same for LS1 & LT1 Z28s...) |
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I'm still alive, just not super enthralled with Edmunds forums these days so I'm not here that often. mparis1, regarding your tires/alignment, strongly suggest you make a trip to a Pedders dealer. Being in NYC my guess is your closest one is Rocksand Racing in NJ. They can do a free 28-point inspection of your car and let you know if you have any failed bushings/components. Suspension is a weak area on our cars, stock. In particular, the fluid-filled radius rod bushings, as well as the stock strut mounts, are weak and should be replaced. Either one of these could cause camber variations, which would make your alignment move all over the place while driving, thus causing irregular wear issues. The rear springs are also subject to sagging (if your car looks like it's riding on top of the rear tires, that's probably the issue). You could push this issue with a Pontiac dealer and try to get either of these items covered under warranty. However, the replacement parts are the same as the stock parts, so you won't really be solving this problem for long. I put ~$1200 into my GTO's suspension back last June (did both front and rear radius rod bushings, inner control arm bushings, front struts, springs, strut mounts and bearings, and rear shocks and springs) and I couldn't be happier with the car. I installed SuperPro bushings, the balance of the parts Pedders, and switched to their Comfort Gas struts and shocks. Not only has the ride quality improved dramatically, so has the handling. There is virtually no body roll, brake pedal and steering feel has improved, and I know I can take corners at speeds 10-15 mph faster than I could before. I used the aggressive Pedders alignment specs http://www.peddersusa.com/images/PDFS/Pedders%20GTO%20Alignment%20Specs.pdf but I'm not seeing any irregular tire wear with a set of takeoff stock 18" Potenza's I installed on my CV8-R wheels. Suspension mods didn't kill my powertrain warranty and are something I can enjoy every time I drive the car (power mods, not as much, though I hope to get headers/catback later this year, as well as do the X-member bushings and install a diff insert and complete the suspension work). Highly recommend this if you love to drive your car aggressively...
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Replying to: hammen2 (Jan 29, 2008 6:05 pm) Did the new bushings/changes increase noise or harshness. I want to make sure my car stays farily quiet. The suspension on my '06 loosened up at about 1400 miles to where the '04's was. |
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I think my car is quieter than it was (maybe the fact that the front struts aren't just paperweights might have something to do with it). It certainly rides/corners/handles way better than stock, no rattles or harshness - quite the opposite, actually (one GTO owner compared the normal "going-down-the-road" ride of my car to his dad's Camry... 'til I took a curved onramp at 2.5x the suggested speed limit, demonstrating the lack of body roll  If ride quality/comfort/lack of harshness is what you're looking for, the Comfort Gas shocks and struts are for you. If handling and cornering prowess is what you're looking for, the Gas Sport Ryders (GSR's) are the way to go, unless you're autocrossing the car, at which point I'd go for Big Bores... |
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| Just saw 2 GTOs the other day here in NY, which was a treat for the eyes as there are so few on the road. However, once I got past the drooling I came back to thinking how obvious it is that this car's suspension issues make it basically into a lemon. It must be real love for current GTO owners to deal with the expense of tire and suspension parts replacement for such a late model vehicle. I want one, but only if GM foots the bill for replacement parts. | |
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Hats off to the Ford Motor Company...brand new show on tv ----Knight Rider ....................a 2-hour advertisement for the Ford Mustang---car--Shelby Cobra ---KR---really a great job. The GTO is history....amazing tha Ford can dwarf General Motors.......I guess it is over for Pontiac ...what do they have to offer a Pontiac G6/G8....................detuned old GTO styles in 4-doors......please Cadillac performance car is a 4200 pound behemoth with a ZR-1 corvette engine....please stop. And Chyrsler /Dodge Challenger / is going out of business...giving up dealerships/ worker buyouts ....so who knows who will be building those cars with smelly tuna -fish sandwiches in the back-seatand who will sell them or services them . Imaging the first-year problems..and no one to fix them.. So hats off to the Mustang ...it is the only muscle-car standing to takeon the Tonka Hot Wheel Toys from Japan. A sorry situation 
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I think us GTO owners are making too much of the situation. Both of my GTOs have been great, with the '06 being the better built of the two. My car rides great, handles well, etc. but it is no Camaro with a beat you up ride and flat cornering. It is more of a GT car. You need to spend some time with the car before you label it a lemon. With proper alignment none of my GTOs have eaten tires, etc. For instance I had my '04 alignment fixed because of a factory camber alignment issue and then put BFG KDW tires on at 8800 miles. When I turned the car in at 31K miles all tires had completely even wear and they had been rotated only once. The normal with the GTO is that once the accumulate a few thousand miles the sharpness in the steering goes away. If all I have to do is bushings, I can live with that. If you want me to go back and talk about the front alignment design issues with the FOX body Mustang we can do that too. |
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