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Sedans Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Malibu: Steering/Suspension
156 messages, Last post on Dec 05, 2009 at 6:37 AM
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OMG! I dropped mine off, 09 Malibu, because of the looseness in the steering wheel, yesterday. Several local dealers now use Hertz for the loaner car and they put me in an 08 Saturn with the AT4. I'm insulted with GM's thinking. This is the Malibu! There are some minor cosmetic differences. The guy at the counter and I chatted and he said many think the Saturn rides better than the Malibu. Certainly not the one I got. First it has the looseness in the steering also, only worse. But you have to be perceptive to notice it. Vehicle has 25K miles, several scrapes and small dings including large scrapes and cracks in left side wheel covers. The short distance I've driven, I suspect warped rotors or more likely a bent wheel. It sure seems to have been abused. My Malibu better hold up far better or I might park it in the Senate building or White House lawn. I also noted that they can't even come close on tire pressures. One side reads 32 and the other 39 psi. The one they picked me up in was slightly upscale, real leather, but I can only suspect someone applied something they should not have. The leather was hard, almost brittle, and slick. I will say that I prefer the AT6 coupled to the 2.4, hands down. In the past few days I've seen several stupid design things about the Malibu. (and Saturn) The little piece of rubber piece that sits in the bottom of the hand grip on the arm rest, they are not attached and easily sucked into a vacuum. The rubber weather seals that run the length of the vehicle along the roof line and rear window are easily distorted out of position. Poor design. And I live in a humid climate. Only three months old and lots of black mold growing on the paint surface around the trunk lid. The area concealed when the lid is closed. This is common around here, but it likely could have been prevented if they also sprayed the clear coat there. Something I had not noticed on mine, but on the Saturn, some sort of anti-vibration device. It is located on the lower cross brace just behind the cooling fans. I will certainly have to check if mine has one. And the SB about the missing diode from the cooling fan circuitry, the dealer knows nothing of it yet. This should be of a very high priority because its absence can damage any electronic component in the vehicle. Damage that leads to an early death and something that GM should therefore be responsible of. I will search for that SB and post back details and if we start experiencing problems because of the bad design, maybe we can start a class action. Big enough that their lawyers get shut down and decide to cover it. |
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Hello all. wonder if anyone can help me with my problem. I have a 2006 Malibu LT. I recently replaced the front left wheel bearing due to the typical "howling" noise at highway speeds. Now I have another problem. I noticed a very low clunk noise while turning the steering wheel in the front end. I jacked up the vehicle and check to check the ball joints and tie rod ends. While checking the left wheel is tight with no play at all. The right side has a slight side to side play. There is no movement in either the ball joint or the tie rod end. I had my wife turn the wheel while it was in the air and I did hear a slight creak coming from the strut. While wiggling the wheel the whole steering knuckle move back and forth. Is this a problem? Any help would be appreciated. 
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Replying to: smonday (Nov 03, 2009 11:28 am) You need to describe your situation a bit more, specifically what is attached to the joint in question. It does not sound good. How many miles on vehicle?
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Replying to: e_net_rider (Nov 04, 2009 3:49 am)
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Replying to: smonday (Nov 04, 2009 1:32 pm)
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Replying to: smonday (Nov 04, 2009 1:32 pm) Again, to determine if lower ball joint is worn, you need to have weight on wheel, or put a block under the joint to support. You may have to remove wheel to get blocking into position, and then it would be best if both side are equally elevated so that the stabilizer bar is not exerting any force. 78K might not be premature if you drive a lot of rough road. Is there damage to the rubber boot? I've many times surpassed 150K without replacing lower ball joint on various vehicles. Have you had the vehicle in somewhere that they might sell front end work and they had it in the air? Unscrupulous mechanics will loosen parts a bit. After some mileage, the part breaks loose from the tight seat and you realize a problem, thus sometimes returning to that last place. Now they sell you the job, and it is much easier to do the work because the parts are already loose. |
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Replying to: gonogo (Nov 05, 2009 9:08 am) Are not the bushing separate from the rack? How were the inner and outer tie rod ends? I think he is saying he now has problem on driver side. Usually problems develop on the passenger side first.
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Replying to: e_net_rider (Nov 05, 2009 1:04 pm) I have a pickup truck for gravel roads.
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Replying to: gonogo (Nov 06, 2009 10:12 am)
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Replying to: e_net_rider (Nov 06, 2009 1:53 pm) I looked at mine with the passenger side boot off, no lube whatsoever where the shaft went through the bushing. The shaft would rock side to side. The rack is mechanical, only lube is at manufacture.
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