You are here: Forums Coupes & Convertibles Pontiac GTO Pontiac GTO Strut Problems

Pontiac GTO Strut Problems

128 messages,  Last post on Nov 20, 2009 at 9:34 AM

You are in the Pontiac GTO Forum. Your Host is claires

What is this discussion about? Pontiac GTO, Engine, Suspension, Coupe

Messages Page 14 of 14 1 ... 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#123 of 128 Re: even with the suspension wart, probably the best car I've owned [dmsdesign] by elias Nov 10, 2009 (9:48 am)
Replying to: dmsdesign (Nov 10, 2009 8:36 am) To be clear, the tire-wear issue occurred quickly for my 05. Luckily I noticed it at 15000 miles, just before the front inner edges had worn through to the belts. And just in time to rotate the tires side-to-side and get 25k out of the factory set. Also, pontiac insisted on paying for the re-alignment at 15k. Replies to this message: xtranaut (Nov 10, 2009 1:07 pm)
#124 of 128 Re: even with the suspension wart, probably the best car I've owned [elias] by xtranaut Nov 10, 2009 (1:07 pm)
Replying to: elias (Nov 10, 2009 9:48 am) I will agree with all counts on this car being one of the most enjoyable to drive, in combination with interior and road comfort.   Th obvious design flaws are there. The first GTO should have looked like the 06 from the vented hood to the larger tire and rims as standard equipment. VDO and Oil omission is just idiocy to me in a performance car.   But over-all build (The Commodore) is very good. Paint looks better than average and the interior is a real selling point (especially for those who expected the new GTO to look more progressive-retro in it's comeback)   My son came down from Nashville this past week. He is doing a ground up custom on an S-10. I showed him the car (which he had never paid much attention to after seeing it's debut in MT) His first response was, "that's a nice looking car." (as if to attempt a polite compliment to something that didn't really knock his socks off).   I said, "it's time to drive it" and gave him the keys. He opened the door and his eyes got wide. He said nothing, then sat in the drivers seat and turned the key. He perked up and tuned into the car. From then on, his opinion changed about what this car was.The first impressions were obvious. No Overdrive tranny ! 4 speed automatic? This IS your dad's GTO. Where are the oil and VDO gauges?   Then the conversation moved to the suspension debacle. For him, not a big problem to fix. He is a born mechanic and spontaneous engineer but he couldn't believe that GM could royally screw up the way they did and try to ignore it.   For as much as he liked the car, he said that for someone like me who has to depend on finding the right mechanic to do the work and pay the price, he would almost get rid of the headache and get a Honda or something.   That remark didn't surprise me. It's coming from a mechanic who has seen the reality in the cost of owning hi-po cars...even when you are not modding them and just correcting stupid manufacturer mistakes. He was also being my protective son.   And then...what about a trade for a car in the same price range? How do you know the repairs won't be just as bad? When you at the point where you have put just the necessities in the car and you have another 50% to go, you start to get real cautious about what you spend. Do I trade it now or spend the extra money that I will never get back...and will that just be the end of that and on to more?   So, my car rides much better and all bt passed the pencil test. The strut is still the OEM design with the cup at the bottom and that is the only remaining problem besides rear coils. But that job for the front will cost me in excess of 2 grand.   Were this not my everyday car, I wouldn't be so stressed about it but you never feel comfortable about knowingly riding in an unsafe car.
#125 of 128 Re: Alignment is Required after work [xtranaut] by roadrunner70 Nov 19, 2009 (5:04 pm)
Replying to: xtranaut (Nov 09, 2009 9:04 pm) xtranaut, i purchased the pedders rub kit, and its first rate. i have the instructions, and unless your going to replace the struts, you don't have to compress the springs. the work will be done this w/e. although the car is almost 4 years old, it only has 11k miles on the odo, and the tires are almost worn, partly due to the rought pavement in south florida and partially due to heavy throttle foot, and yes, i have the dreaded inner tread wear on the passenger side. still, overall, a low tech repair, and one which is do it yourself friendly, not like an electronic, fuel inj etc. problem. i also just orded new tires, bf goodrich g force sport (summer) . they were about the least expensive tires i was willing to pu on the car, and hopefully, once the alignment is done next week, will last. rr70 Replies to this message: xtranaut (Nov 19, 2009 5:48 pm) elias (Nov 20, 2009 4:12 am) xtranaut (Nov 20, 2009 9:34 am)
#126 of 128 Re: Alignment is Required after work [roadrunner70] by xtranaut Nov 19, 2009 (5:48 pm)
Replying to: roadrunner70 (Nov 19, 2009 5:04 pm) Yes, the rub kit is quality stuff and gives me peace of mind that the strut isn't going to shift all over the place. The oem bushings, bearings, all matters of strut tower mount, including the shocks, were MAJOR TOAST and this car was driven easy by a woman for 16k miles. I didn't the expect the shocks to be gone (you couldn't budge the piston and there was no oil left to leak) and frankly, I am surprised that the people who did the job weren't actually prepared for that to happen, so the only alternative for me at the moment (if i wanted to leave that day) was to put MONROE SENSATRAC struts and shocks on. To be a non-performance shock, they are surprisingly rough and translate lots of the pavement into the car. Stiff I do not mind but I really do not like sacrificing ride quality for even handling. The car was aligned and within Pedders specs to solve the strut rub problem -- although it still did not leave me a pencil thickness between the bottom of the strut and the inside of my tire. I will put this out there again and maybe you can address this -- A drift racer told me that he solves this problem all the time by heating the outside flange of that cup and knocking it in about 5 mm with a ball hammer. He says it does not hurt anything and keeps the tire from hitting the strut under adverse conditions. Replies to this message: elias (Nov 20, 2009 4:12 am) xtranaut (Nov 20, 2009 9:34 am)
#127 of 128 Re: Alignment is Required after work [xtranaut] by elias Nov 20, 2009 (4:12 am)
Replying to: xtranaut (Nov 19, 2009 5:48 pm) i understand something called 'cradle alignment' is required after certain kinds of suspension work such as the pedders/slight-drop i am considering.   xtranaut as for your comment about knowingly riding in a car that is unsafe, DON'T DO IT, dude. but you may have a different definiton of unsafe than i do, and I've been a VOLVO owner/driver too. Consider a Volvo if you want to max out on safety, dude. Anyway, seems like you are repairing your car's suspension properly. IMHO there is no evidence of these vehicles being unsafe generally or even specifically in your case. They have suspension quirks and a bunch of other little quirks too. It's low-tech stuff and it is not unsafe. I haven't heard of anyone being hurt even if they didn't realize that inspecting their tires more often than once every 15k is a crucial idea, and ended up driving on a belts-visible/shredding tire like I almost did. i'm betting the car is remarkably stable even with shredded/popped tires but am careful to check inner edges every 1000 miles. Your drifting pal might know - he may have shredded a few tires along the way! Replies to this message: xtranaut (Nov 20, 2009 9:34 am)
#128 of 128 Re: Alignment is Required after work [elias] by xtranaut Nov 20, 2009 (9:34 am)
Replying to: elias (Nov 20, 2009 4:12 am) If there was a special alignment other than a normal front-rear align, no one ever mentioned it. Perhaps I can sound a little dramatic when discussing this but I believe that anytime a manufacturer knowingly puts a car on the market with potentially life-threatening defects, designs, or materials, they are criminally negligent.   Just because we never hear of the ones that were killed or injured because they were cruising at 75 when their tire popped, doesn't mean the issue is diminshed or that the manufacturerer has any less responsibility.   I have read where some GTO owners have been met with offers of generosity from dealerships to willingly re-align for free. I have never heard of any offering to replace all the junk OEM parts and struts.   In my experience, after trying two Pontiac dealerships and one being the place where the car was originally purchased, I have only talked to service managers who say they have never heard of such a problem and if no bulletins or recalls were ever issued by GM, they are not obligated to do anything but will charge me $100.00 to check the problem out.   I don't believe the average driver checks much of anything every 1000 miles. Most drivers barely ever remember to change oil and rotate tires. I know hi-po drivers are the exception but if a dealer actually sold you a new car with that caveat, ("by the way, don't forget to check the inner tire wear every 1000 miles because the tires could shred and explode") you might think twice about buying it and move on to the car with no disclaimed suspicion.   Let us not forget the fatalities that had to occur even before the NHSTA would make any moves in examples like The Audi sticking gas pedals and and Pinto igniting gas tanks..   After five deaths, TOYOTA recalled 3.8 million Prius for a floor mat interference with the gas pedal design that caused the pedal to stick. Now if it were not for that being an admitted design flaw, people could easily dismiss this as :that isn't the automaker's fault..drivers should move their car mats or not use them"   I guess my real sense of alarm comes from so many GTO owners who have driven their cars way past the life expectancy of tires, bushings and struts that do not even know, or have never heard, about the tire-strut issue. I see them everyday on message boards asking, "what's this I hear...?" or "why is my suspension gone and my tires showing steel belts..?"   I will be glad to talk about this with anyone who wants but I think that I probably have P.O.d some folks, for whatever reason. My opinions have been well expressed and are from my personal experiences in attempting to get solid answers and solutions but I will put that to rest now.   Thanks especially to those who helped me. Mike with Pedders and the folks at Fastlane

Messages Page 14 of 14 1 ... 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Coupes & Convertibles Pontiac GTO Pontiac GTO Strut Problems