Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Pontiac GTO
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
my 05 has 17s - the tires prone to the problem. no strut-rub but the negative camber from the factory greatly reduced the tire lifetime. proper alignment at 15k allowed me to get 25k out of the original tires.
-mike
You can inspect both the tires & struts yourself, after cranking the steering all the way to the right or left. I recommend you and any GTO owners do this early & often. If belts are visible through the two front tire treads, do not drive the car except maybe at 5mph to the nearest tire shop.
WHERE IS GM IN ALL THIS?????? :mad: :mad: :mad:
the car has been great. fortunately, the build date put it after the bad front strut bushings and before the bad mcph. strut leak. so far, no rubbing of the tires. however, there is no doubt that the clearance on the cars w. 17s is very very small. what i don't understand is how some cars had incorrect camber and others had proper camber. i have seen this mentioned on other boards as well. i am happy to see that nhtsa has opened an investigation, since every gto must be inspected for camber and tire wear. it will be interesting to see how this progresses, since with fewer than 45,000 of these cars over three model years, the actual number of cars which eat tires is a large percentage of the total. we will see.
Any thoughts on shifting an automatic (see my e-mail of last week)
What brand of tyres were fitted over there.
Anyway, check this vid out.
It's an AWD Turbo V8 HSV Coupe on the dyno.
Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OKz3pJJPvg&mode=related&search=
You Goat guys out there will like this.
It shows the Monaro 427.
Beautiful,sigh....
I reckon Clarkson,(Top Gear) would have filled his shorts
driving the beauty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-F0amUKE0A
There are also a couple of weak points in the GTO suspension: the fluid-filled radius rod bushings and the strut mounts. The bushings and strut mounts tend to leak and collapse, respectively, throwing the alignment off. Oh yes, factory alignment is terrible - perhaps a condition of the long boat ride.
Put all of these together and that's why the GTO's equipped with 17" wheels tend to have these "strut rub" issues on the front tires...
--Robert
(moderator on a large 2004-2006 GTO site)
Ours are sold here with Bridgestone Potanzas.
Never a problem.
Post a link to your site Rob, I'd love to have a read there.
The Monaro is coming...
http://www1.autotrader.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/E0986C40ABDB6D14CA2571AE0- 00F79BC
Scroll down to the bottom of this linked page for a photo shopped look at what it may look like.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/category/holden-ve-commodore/
http://www1.autotrader.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/967FEB6209C18172CA2572960- 016B1EC
Everybody here on the forums raised heck about it.
225s on a 3700lb 350hp car?
The Fbods came with 245s or even 275s, so 225s were ridiculous.
I think if Pontiac/Holden had move the offset out about 5mm
this strut rub wouldn't be an issue.
it is not an issue with my Ronals that have a 42mm offset.
Same combo-Quicksilver/Black/M6.
Took the 0%.
Ronal R41s will go back on when I find a tire quieter than the KDW NTs.
Guys-------should I buy the car at the end of my Lease???
Guys------anything new about the Tire Strut Problem???
Robert------GTO Forum Guy ---are you still a member here??
What is for sure is that GM is ramping up the Camaro project to take on the Mustang. You'll likely see the production car at NAIAS next January, with production to start Q4 of 2008 and first on-sale date being February of 2009.
The GTO may be built in Oz alongside a new Monaro (although this is now unlikely if the G8 is taking 30k-50k of capacity per year down at Elizabeth). Or it may be built at Oshawa alongside the new Camaro. Or it may not exist at all. It does seem that Pontiac is headed down a RWD path (there is a new smaller RWD platform coming, known as Alpha, that will eventually replace the current FWD G6 and RWD Solstice. Coupes, sedans, hatches, roadsters, and convertibles will be spawned from this. Pontiac, Caddy, and Holden are the primary launch customers, with rumors of Opel, Saab, and Saturn also getting Alpha vehicles.
My guess is, if we don't see a GTO concept by NAIAS, or hear of a new Monaro for Holden, we're not getting anything anytime soon...
--Robert
one of the moderators over at the web site for LS1 GTO's (and LS2 GTO's
There are 2 or 3 possible causes (and solutions) for this problem.
1) improper alignment - look at the revised specs on http://www.peddersusa.com (Pedders USA is the American arm of the Australian suspension company that makes parts for the Commodore, Monaro, and GTO)
2) Blown front radius-rod bushings... these are fluid-filled bushings which have a tendency to burst. Replacing the OEMs with something else (I chose Whiteline bushings, at half of the cost of Pedders) will also help improve brake feel, believe it or not.
c) Blown front strut mounts/bearings. This may be related to the front springs being compressed for the long boat ride over, and the strut mounts and bearings taking the brunt of movements (and causing the mounts to collapse). The Pedders solution is high-quality and reasonably priced.
I would be vigilant, be proactive if you feel necessary, but have no hesitation in keeping your car (particularly if you've had few/no issues with it). There are less than 2000 new GTOs' on lots across the country - they will pretty much be gone by the end of July (except for the common colors and autos - some of the more unique colors/combos, and 6-speeds, are getting rare). The GTO is a great vehicle which deserved a better chance than it got from the press (the lame-o C&D "Gotta Have It" factor review) and the buying public (who never took the time to get seat time in the car to realize what a tremendous performer and bargain the car is).
There was an old advertising slogan... "If you don't get it... don't get it." Which certainly applies to the GTO. I still feel the car will be a collectable years from now... I certainly plan to hang onto mine...
Yes , I will probably buy the car. I live in NYC, and there is nothing like it here. Everybody is always looking at it and afficionados always want to talk to me . It is an interesting car.Yes Pontiac let a great tradition die ..Too bad...
Some questions[of course];
1. Are Bridgestone Potenzas tires a "safer" fit due to the bushing problem?
2. Will there be difficulting in getting GTO "Parts"in years to come since the car is discontiued?
The Ford Mustang Shelby GT/GTH specs . do not match the 2005/2006 GTO . The Shelby GT500 is a "machine" but I hear dealers are getting $80,000.00 for them .Otherversions will be extremely expensive ....KR/Boss /Snake......so the GTO is stillthe best street machine for now. The Dodge Challenger will never be built..Chysler out of business.....The Camaro will come out in 2009/2010...if at all......$4.00 gas prices will kill it.So I am keeping the "LAST GTO' :shades:
Truthfully, to address strut rub, at a minimum you should change out:
a) radius rod bushings
b) front strut mounts and bearings
c) get a decent alignment
Do those three things (and check periodically) and you'll do fine. The OEM radius rod bushings are fluid-filled and weak/fail early and often. You will note improved brake feel with upgraded bushings. The factory strut mounts tend to collapse quite frequently and early - possibly due to the fact that the front springs are compressed for the long boat ride, and any bouncing/moving around while on the boat will put pressure on the mounts.
I'm about to change these items (along with rear radius rod bushings and inner control arm bushings) on my GTO, as I'm about to cross 20k miles in the next few days. I'm also contemplating changing out the front struts and springs, as well as the rear shocks and springs - it's just a bit pricey and I'm making sure I can afford to do it this month.
Regarding parts availability, the LS1/LS2 and the six-speed and two different auto trannies are common parts with other GM cars. It's when you run into some of the suspension components, interior, and GTO-unique parts where you might see shortages down the line. Fortunately (or unfortunately), there are a number of totaled GTO's out there, so you can find parts in automotive recycling (a/k/a junkyards). GM will still bring parts over (this will accelerate with the G8 also being sourced from Oz early next year). And then there are aftermarket companies like Pedders (suspension) and JHP (pretty much any Holden or HSV part) who specialize in servicing the GTO aftermarket. I don't think you'll have major problems finding parts for a number of years...
The problem: key would not turn to "start" in the ignition -- steering wheel remains locked. Tried all the book stuff: reset key, jiggle steering wheel, changed ignition CB, checked battery OK. Called where I bought it and got "Gosh, we don't know anything about that!" It will be covered by warranty.
Another subject: got the SLP Bobcat mod over a year ago. I can't get enough of it -- the sound, especially. It's really too droney for my wife, on the highways at around 2200RPM, but everyone should own 455hp (dynoed at 456) before they croak. I'm really impressed with SLP and their authorized installers.
Apparently there is a pin which "homes" upon the intial turning of the key (before any electronic checkpoints are triggered). He said this pin is made of very hard metal, while the cylinder in which it rides is very soft metal. The pin had grooved the soft cylinder metal in such a way as to restrict the pin from "homing" and unlocking the steering wheel (and proceeding to the electronic system checkpoints).
I mentioned your comment regarding warmer states and he said that it was a plausible theory because the cylinder metal was so soft that it could, indeed, be sensitive to higher temperatures resulting in metal softening and the problem I had.
He offered his email address, if anyone's interested.
How do you tell if the radius rod bushings are ruptured? Can you feel it on the road (and what does it feel like) or can you look for it without getting the car on a hoist?
Chris
If you lie on the ground in front of the car, you should be able to see the RRB's (stockers are black, aftermarket are red (Pedders), blue (Noltec), or purple (SuperPro) bolted to the front support under the car. It may not be apparent that they're leaking until they're removed, but if they're collapsed, you should be able to tell...
Some interesting GTO suspension component pics here:
http://www.peddersusa.com/GTO OE Bushes.htm
I've got another link I'll dig out and post with other pics...
As far as the looks go, I love it! The idea of driving a car that wont stand out to the police is a dream.
Thank you
Evan
Thanks. On smooth roads I don't notice anything but on uneven roads I feel some wandering but have always thought it was just the road. What do you think?
Chris
Fortunately it is under warrantee and they are providing me with a new GMC Envoy.
If this is a know issue you would think they would have the parts available.
I have had a 2005 6 speed for 2 years and have no problems except for an accelerator part replaced under warranty. I love the car. I drive it everyday and often take my kinds somewhere, who fit in comfortably. I drive in the city and get 16-17mpg, my worst was 14 when there was some road construction going on. On a highway trip I get 24-25mpg.
Chris
Thank-you for the reply. You've given me some encouraging news about my dream car. It's a depressing fact to know that a 6.0 liter making 3 times the horse power of my current vehicle gets BETTER gas mileage! :P
I am leaning towards an '05 or '06. Mainly because I want the 6.0. Out of the three years, is there any one in particular to stay away from? Also, I've read the reports of the issues with the struts blowing out and tire rub. Since I am looking to purchase used, is there anything in particular I really need to watch out for when going the pre-owned route?
It is dissapointing to me that GM would allow a known problem to exist without having the replacemnt parts readily available.
Do I now assume that in the future I will have problems getting other GTO specific parts? If so, this doesn't bode well for future ownership of this amazing vehicle.