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Pontiac GTO Strut Problems

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

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#95 of 128 06 GTO throttle by dmsdesign Jul 20, 2009 (10:11 pm)
Your GTO uses a fly by wire throttle assembly and to be hones has been pretty reliable. there are mutliple systems that can seriously affect the throttle operation. You should take it to a facility that can plug in a scanner to read for codes. Chances are that you have at least 1 stored   mike
#96 of 128 go-pedal issue by elias Jul 21, 2009 (5:20 am)
i think there's a TSB for gas pedal issue , probably visible by searching alldata or an online tsb site.. (not sure if its for the same symptom you are reporting , crystal187, but sounds similar.)
#97 of 128 Who has experiened Tire shredding? by xtranaut Oct 10, 2009 (12:23 pm)
It wasn't until after I had purchased my 04 GTO and had done all the research I could do to determine that I wanted this car, that I found out about the common strut and tire shredding issues. Apparently, GM never owned up to the design flaw. Simply they put tires that were too wide for the fron end config on the car ... utterly stupid, out to lunch engineering that had to pass with their knowledge and a nonchalant, "oh well, we will just tell the mechanics to tell em nothing is wrong when they show up" attitude.   Look at the caddy CTS....what a string of design blunders in everything from fuel systems to rear ends and it took forever to get a recall on the rear gears issue.   Now that Pontiac no longer exits the CLASS ACTION suit filed on behalf of the thousands who bought GTOs and experienced tire shredding, has been dropped. When Pontiac filed bankruptcy, GM was off the hook.   I never see too much posted about this issue so it is hard to know how many have been affected by it..or even KNOW about it, until a tire blows or they go for a routine rotation, to be told their tires are chewed and ready to pop.   I am curious..what are others experiencing? My car only had 16k miles on it when I bought it so this car wasn't even a daily driver.. I ultimately inherited what will eventually happen and would have probably happened sooner if the owner had driven the car regularly.   Just wondering what the dealers are saying when you take the car in. Replies to this message: elias (Oct 12, 2009 5:33 am)
#98 of 128 Fixing suspension issues on GTOs by dmsdesign Oct 10, 2009 (8:50 pm)
There is a real stabilitiy issue in the front of the GTO, and a collapsing coils in the rear that do a real number to tires. To resolve your front tire wear, you need to dump you crappy OE front strut bushings with some aftermarket poly units like Pedders. Then you need to replace your strut bushings and bearings to keep you strut from moving around at the top. These are well documented concerns. If you need more data, email me   mike dms Replies to this message: xtranaut (Oct 16, 2009 8:10 pm)
#99 of 128 Re: Who has experiened Tire shredding? [xtranaut] by elias Oct 12, 2009 (5:33 am)
Replying to: xtranaut (Oct 10, 2009 12:23 pm) As far as I know, most GTO owners have experienced this issue, and GM has stepped up as far as I had heard. I understand part of the cause was negative-camber via the factory or due the long-compressed-springs-boat-ride from Australia to USA. I understand GM issued a TSB about this issue along with revised alignment specs. They were able to fix it on my GTO via proper alignment at 15K, and a side-to-side tire-rotation. Factory tires lasted until 25k after that. From 15K->70k miles, inner-edge tire-wear has not been an issue and the car reliably needs new tires every 25K. The initial symptom was horrible inner-edge tire wear, belts almost visible but not quite. I noticed it at 15k miles. Since the car had more than 12k miles, I paid for that work at first. Later I got a letter from Pontiac in which they volunteered/insisted that they reimburse me 100%.   So from my viewpoint, GM did "step up".   And I do plan to have pedders suspension parts installed at the next opportunity!
#100 of 128 Re: Fixing suspension issues on GTOs [dmsdesign] by xtranaut Oct 16, 2009 (8:10 pm)
Replying to: dmsdesign (Oct 10, 2009 8:50 pm) Mike   Please send me this information on the struts and coils. I went to a local dealer here in Houston and they acted like they had never heard of the issue and wanted 199. to "check it out". I told them to go pound sand. Now i have to drive 25 miles to get another dealer who originally sold the car to take some responsibility. This car is starting to be a real pain in the a--   The bulletin that was issued to owners must not have stated the severity of the problem because as I understand what the dealer who sold me the car to say, the car had a corrective alignment and something done to the rotors ?? That was at 389 miles after the purchase of this car in 04. It has 18k miles on it now.   There is no appearance of unusual wear on the tires and they are the originals I think. I am sure they have been rotated in this time but the fronts have low tread. With my hand, I do a check n the inside of the tire and feel no evidence of rubbing.   What I am wondering is, aside of the bushings in the strut, if just replacing the strut with something better (is there such a thing?) and changing the FRONT tires to a 235 (or just this alone) be a remedy??
#101 of 128 Fixing suspension issues on GTOs by dmsdesign Oct 16, 2009 (8:30 pm)
Here is a link to show you what typical strut bushings look like:   http://rides.webshots.com/album/520157103jcDVac   Please do not do the 235's The reason is Pontiac went to the 245 because it is heavier than the Monaro in Au, and needs to extra load support of a 245.   Align issues are totally resolveable. You just need to install some non GM stuff. Now I will also tell you, with a 2004 GTO, front struts are TOTALLY gone by 50k. this info comes from the Monroe, who makes your struts.   mike dms Replies to this message: xtranaut (Oct 16, 2009 9:12 pm)
#102 of 128 Re: Fixing suspension issues on GTOs [dmsdesign] by xtranaut Oct 16, 2009 (9:12 pm)
Replying to: dmsdesign (Oct 16, 2009 8:30 pm) Will a dealer do the work with Pedders parts? Will a dealer still do the work and pick up the tab for this or do they have the mindset that this is ancient and forgotten?   If I had the struts replaced, (Monroe) would the new bushings and bearings be sturdy stuff or do I still need to get the complete Pedders package? And if so, What will that cost me?   How important is it that I do the coils? I hadn't even heard about that problem.   The alignment was what GM did for the original owner at 389 miles that Elias mentioned they did for him. It was teir answer to the strut rub. Now, I dont show any wear and I cant see any evidence of my tires rubbing the strut but honestly, did an alignment really do anything to correct that issue??   I saw your pictures. Its like seeing crime scene photos. Just tell me what I should do step by step -- or what I should tell the dealer svc word for word to get this issue resolved. I'm freaked about driving the car now and thought that because i bought a car with low miles that looked new, I wouldn't have to spend a lot of money.   I guess I'd better wait to buy tires.
#103 of 128 Response by dmsdesign Oct 17, 2009 (9:52 am)
Most GM dealers will only do GM parts. Since yours is a 2004, your factory warranty is up. If you have GMPP, you do not have to do the work at a GM dealership. You just have to find a service facility willing to jump thru the hoops.   I would say,if you are running Oe coils, your rears are most likely .75 inch collapsed. this is typicial. Front coils ususally do not sag much, but both front and rear OE coils have pretty low spring rates   Potentially, setting up a GTO front alignment to GM specs may not be good enough mike Replies to this message: xtranaut (Oct 17, 2009 10:23 am)
#104 of 128 Re: Response [dmsdesign] by xtranaut Oct 17, 2009 (10:23 am)
Replying to: dmsdesign (Oct 17, 2009 9:52 am) The car is GM certified so it has an extended year warranty on it which is what baffled me when I took it to Pontiac and they started quoting prices to me for checking it out.   So it is useless to take it to GM because the suspension parts that GM uses to solve the problem are exactly what causes the problem??   I am still confused on this because MONROE makes the strut and shock so aren't the bushings and bearings MONROE'S? Shouldn't Monroe be replacing these defective parts? I saw one of the comments is that MONROE says the GTO suspension is toast by 50k. Is that their admission or does it simply point the finger at GM for selecting the wrong suspension to use for the car, in essence, an engineering flaw?   There are plenty of hi-po shops around here who would love to change out the suspension on this car but it's all about money and I had hped I was buying a car with only normal problems that I could enjoy driving without turning into a bank account. (I coulda had a hemi ha)   So what is the best long term fix? PEDDERS mounting PARTS for the existing struts and coils (what kind) ? And if I got GM to "fix" this, how long should I expect their stuff to last without a problem, do you think? Becuase if I could get GM to fix it and have that fix last for 50k I would probably be ready to sell the car by then anyway. i don't keep cars for more than 50k.   What do you think?

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