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Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Steering/Suspension Questions

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  • paopao Member Posts: 1,867
    I had my brakes done by my local mechanic at 64K.....and the last time they were inspected....I had well over 50% left on the pads...and that was back in March......what can I say......I have checked the torque each and every time they have been rotated or a wheel removed...or insured and watched the tech hand torque the wheels.....as a min....but yes...I still have me OEM rotors at 97K.....and it gets driven just about every day between Ashburn and Alexandria....70 miles round trip....
  • jdsparrow1954jdsparrow1954 Member Posts: 2
    they just told me that i have a problem with my 04 malibu max, something to do with the intermediate shafe/ and rack, how much is this going to cost me, its now off warranty, can anyone give me asome idea?
  • paopao Member Posts: 1,867
    I would ask what the specific problem is and does it have to do with the clunking issues common in the front suspensions of the Malibu..there is a technical bulletin out on the same....the issue maybe you havent documented it before for your vehicle....again..get specific answers....what is wrong..what parts....etc

    if it involved steering column replacment...another commmon issue with the malibu.....beleive someone else had it done for around $800......
  • csandstecsandste Member Posts: 1,866
    Look on these back posts. I paid $800 for the steering column. I think (Kurtamaxxguy?) paid about $500 for the rack. Don't know if there's an intermediate shaft between the two, the equivalent of a pinion or what else is in there to break.
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    I had a rack estimated at around $450, but finally another dealer put in the replacement gear per Majorguard. That fix lasted for around $3 - 4K miles, and now the popping is back.

    At this point I'm giving up on it in CA and waiting until I relocate to a colder climate (very soon now - the noises are more obvious when the vehicle is cold). It's still under my Majorguard warranty, so perhaps the dealers there will have better luck.
  • fasilidfasilid Member Posts: 7
    don't be so sure on the tranny. Mine is getting clunky when I accelerate after the car has coasted and downshifted to second gear.

    Maxx4me, you wrote that last November. I haven't found any replies to the transmission issue that you describe. I feel as if my '05 Max LS transmission is behaving a bit differently lately and what you describe sounds like part of what I'm experiencing. Did you have it checked out? Any trouble found?
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    I have not had my tranny checked out. After renting Chryslers for 2 weeks, it is amazing how much better GM transmissions are. I still am wondering if my issue had something to do with the chain and sprocket swap out I did as part of the "whining noise" TSB. I remember my Service Manager telling me that they could not get it as tight as they wanted, and that there still was a lot of play, even with the new design. My Maxx (at times) does poorly downshifting to a lower gear when I need more revolutions to get up a hill, or after making a turn on to another street. My tranny struggles to bump down to second gear to allow a smooth transition, and seems stuck in the 3rd/4th gear after the car coasts around the turn.
  • maddmaxxmaddmaxx Member Posts: 81
    e2helper, what computer(s) control the NW7? I'm interested in revisting the posibility of upgrading to the NW9, but am concerned the wiring harness is different or the computer controls just aren't there. Anymore light you or anyone could shed on this subject?
  • ubermaxxubermaxx Member Posts: 1
    Hi - as you no doubt already know, our Maxx way understeer. Here is a simple solution. Tire pressure change. Front 32 rear 28. Try it and see. Let me know what you think.

    I do believe you will enjoy much more neutral handling and also much improved straight line stability at speed.

    UberMaxx
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    Good idea. I do the same though front is 34 and rear is 32-31 (I use GY tripletreads).

    Maxx puts a fair bit of weight on the front tires.

    Not the first time a car has required unequal front-rear pressure to handle its best.
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    Ever since moving to Oregon and encountering colder temperatures the front end of my Maxx has been popping and clunking when the wheel is turned.

    So back to the shop it will go and see if this time they can fix the problem once and for all... ;)
  • maddmaxxmaddmaxx Member Posts: 81
    I had mine serviced about 3 times. The last time I was told there was a TSB about a clamp that would hit the rack with turns. After that fix, I've never had a problem.

    One thing about going over 30psi, I've notice irregular wear on the center tread of my tires.
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    I'm getting a clunk when I accelerate from a stop. I'm thinking it is the steering gear moving slightly. Any thoughts?
  • paopao Member Posts: 1,867
    I have that clunk as well....slight but noticeable.....but again...Im not worrying about.....will turn 105K on the car this week.....and still original front end on it.....so I would say at this point there isnt any long term reliability problems associated with the front end noise at this point...
  • swavekswavek Member Posts: 6
    My Maxx has 28K. I had this clunk too,week ago went to a dealer and had it fixed under warranty. They wrote: found noise coming from RF motor mount.. lubed mount no noise heard now.
  • mfletou1mfletou1 Member Posts: 508
    Pao and I bought our Maxx's around the same time, and at the time lived pretty close to each other. We CERTAINLY have had different experiences!

    Ours is now out of warranty--years--but has only 28k. Its very poorly built. I will never buy another GM product. Ever. Live and learn. We've had oceans of brake problems--its on its third set of rotors, and we've been through "resurfacing" 6-7 times, I lost count...but now that its out of warranty, welcome to the world of steering problems.

    THANK GOD I bought an extended warranty. Paid like $1000 for a GMPP 7/70 with a $200 deductible. Our Maxx just had a new ISS, new keyless as the whole system died for some reason, and tomorrow will get a new steering rack. Dealer hopes that it will solve the steering problems.

    I give credit to the dealership for being honest and not sending the car home without getting it fixed, at least. Hopefully this will be the end of it.

    We'd love to get out of this car and got a decent CarMax offer for it, but we still owe and really can't afford to drive something better--a bigger people mover--right now. So we're probably stuck with it for a while. Hopefully nothing else goes wrong. Its the daily driver for my wife and baby, so...reliability is important.

    Me personally---I now drive a Toyota Camry Hybrid. Its been a very different experience...
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    Hmmmm, motor mount...I had not thought of that, thanks swavek.
    Hey Matt: pao and I miss your banter. Like you, I think my GMPP is going to pay off great dividends. I'm guessing that between my currnt 42k and 101k warranty, they'll be puting in a lot of steering columns and gears. Hope all is well.
    pao: a slight correction to my earlier post; my clunking is not just when I accelerate from zero, but as I turn the wheel slightly during that acceleration.
  • paopao Member Posts: 1,867
    I can certainly say we had the different experience with the two cars.....you said you are on your third set of rotors....is the dealership replacing them...or are you using true aftermarket rotors....I had the same problem on an 03 KIA Sorento..the rotors warping....went to true aftermarket rotors instead of ones thru the parts department and never had a problem since.......sorry for all the issues with yours.....seems sometimes its the luck of the draw...at least the dealer seems to be working with you

    I admit most of my miles have been highway....but got almost 34 MPG the other night on a 200 mile trip on I-81....have replaced all fluids and done the 100K maintenance...and still running well...looks like brakes will be next.....only got about 45k on this set.....
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    little off topic; sorry; but I wanted to close out: I went with AC Delco rotors on the front when I got my brakes done. Seem to be just fine (as you would expect with something new). Wasn't going to try and put on OEM rotors again. Cheers.
  • islandpeteislandpete Member Posts: 94
    Hi ,has been a long time between posts.Have been following each with interest. Relating to the front end clunk, my Maxx approaching 20K Mi has had it's share of problems early on from the gas tank replacement , steering column replacement and warped rotors etc. Still love this car. Addressing the front end "clunking". Awhile back I had it in for a brake problem (pulsing) which was fixed(turned rotors down) and had them check out what I thought was excessive front end bounce when hitting road ruts at low speed. You could feel the floor vibrating multiple times. They said they could not find anything wrong when they tested it. Have been living with this. The last two weeks, I have been getting a similar clunking like maxx4me described. If I turn the wheel slightly when pulling away from a curb you can feel a very slight clunk. This ocurrs turning right or left. Taking it in to the dealer this Thursday armed with the TSB TSB #060232007 -- KNOCK, CLUNK OR RATTLE TYPE NOISE FROM FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS AT LOW SPEEDS. *KB (NHTSA ID #10020816, MAY 01 2007) Stay tuned :shades:
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    yeah, that one is definitely the steering gear island pete. When they replace mine with a GM redesigned gear, it took out 80-90% of the rattles when going over washboard or gravel roads at low speeds. The noise I describe now has to to with the column, since I also get the noise while the car is still and I turn the wheel to the left a few degrees.
  • paopao Member Posts: 1,867
    agree....did you get them locally..do you remember the cost by chance.....
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    Yesterday, TWO of us (an '05 Malibu driver, and '04 Maxx myself) went to a local dealer for the same steering clunk problem. The dealer seems to be a good one, as they had rack parts for, and fixed, both cars that day.
    In my case both the columm and rack were replaced - 4th time the columm has been serviced, and the third time for the rack.
    The dealer's alignment seems to be dead on and there is very little noise now.
    Hopefully this problem will stay gone until trade in time next year.
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    is that the 4th time and 3rd time (respectively) that they were replaced???

    pao: I got them at my local shop (that has the same name as the metro stop that resides across the street, that is the last stop on the line that is the same color as the middle of a traffic light) ;)
  • islandpeteislandpete Member Posts: 94
    Just got back from the dealership and Yes maxx4me ,it was the gear and was replaced. No clunking on the trip home. Service writer said my TSB nunber was not a good number. This is how it was written up on the customer copy.
    Found steering rack making noise internally
    Replace Steering Rack and perform toe adjustment

    Parts 1 15858368 Gear
    1 15858368 Core Return
    A bit confused at this because it states the rack was replaced but only the gear was mentioned in parts.
    Was so glad to have my car back and the Service writer just said the steering gear was replaced. Why do they say "Replace Steering Rack"? Kicking my self for not reading the copy before leaving. Any answers from anyone. :confuse:
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    Same rack parts were replaced on mine (order said "installed new steering gear", as well as additional 22687711 shaft kit.

    Sounds like dealers get credit for returning the replaced part.

    My _guess_ is the tech removes the intermediate shaft, pulls out the rack gear, replaces any worn bushings in the rack housing, then puts in the new gear, re-attaches the shaft assembly and lubes as needed.

    This problem was referred to 6/29/06 by mhelsel, entry #27, and yes, it's been a long running issue with this car model.
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    I'd be interested in knowing if that is possible as well (though I remember reading somewhere it was not).
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    A new mid-shaft section is on the way. I figured that would have been replaced when my entire steering column was replaced. Oh well; my service writer still wonders why GM doesn't fix this problem once and for all.
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    Yep, that solved the problem; no more clunking noise when accelerating or turning left. My journey with my GMPP has begun. Given that they took over 8 hours with my car, I wonder if they would have charged me the book rate, or an hourly rate to replace the intermediate steering shaft?
  • csandstecsandste Member Posts: 1,866
    GM wrote me yesterday, sending a form to be reimbursed for my steering repairs. Hopefully it covers all 04-05 models.
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    the midshaft (universal joint) part was replaced in my fix, along with the rack gear. Maxx has been much less poppy and clunky since.
  • pkd01branpkd01bran Member Posts: 10
    That's the most sensible idea that I've ever read about the steering messes on these cars; the overall design has the stressor(s) in the wrong place(s) versus where the [electric] power assist is provided. If you're right, then one would presumably just have to keep replacing/repositioning/relubing parts periodically, and very expensively: Intermediate Shaft replace, Steering Gear replace, I-Shaft reposition, relube Inner & Outer Steering Shaft, whatever.
  • pkd01branpkd01bran Member Posts: 10
    It's probably been posted elsewhere hereabouts, but all folks with the Steering Nightmares should be aware of GM Technical Service Bulletin TSB 06-02-32-007B dated May 21, 2007 (which superseded TSB 06-02-32-007A) which has at least 4 things in it that the dealer could do depending upon what they supposedly find in Diagnosing the Steering Nightmares. I had Steering Gear replaced 9/2006, Intermediate Shaft replaced 10/2007, re-work on Shaft 11/2007. It's not cured yet.
  • pkd01branpkd01bran Member Posts: 10
    The letter I got (dated only "December 2007") from GM is only about loss of ". . . power steering assist" due to, only, ". . . electrical input signals within the steering column assembly." It extends warranty to 7 years/70,000 miles for that ONLY. If anybody out there got a letter in December or any other time that talks about other parts or extending warranty on other parts, Please Post About It. Thanks!
  • jamessanders20jamessanders20 Member Posts: 1
    I got the same letter and took my car in to get fixed thinking this would fix the popping nice but was told that it is the intermitite stering assist and they want to charge me. I have had the whole front end replaced under warranty but I guess not that part. GM will pay before this is done.
  • bwolterbwolter Member Posts: 51
    Dealer replaced my entire steering gear and column. After 6,000 miles, the whole thing started all over. The clunks and noises are all back and worse. And, now, my cruise control does not work. This is a 2004 Maxx. Worst car I've ever owned. I'll try to keep it going another year and get rid of it (3 years putting up with it).
  • csandstecsandste Member Posts: 1,866
    First year blues have always been a hallmark of GM cars. One column replacement on my 05 Maxx which is being reimbursed. 06-07's are even better.

    Have had two first year Korean cars, an 01 Elantra and an 07 Optima. Both were/are virtually repair free. You can get the first year right.
  • kwuennenbergkwuennenberg Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2004 Maxx. We have experenced the failure for about a month. The steering failed sometimes. Our Maxx is out of warranty. I contacted GM via GM.com and they responded with a Customer Relationship Specialist. GM did pay for replacement of the steering column at no cost to me.
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    As E2 commented, the '04 Maxx, (save the SS version), has a traction control system that cuts power to reduce wheel spinning.

    Moving to Portland OR gave me a chance to test this out.

    What happened? If the Maxx gets on a hill of glare ice, and you do not have chains or studs (or see below), you will go absolutely nowhere. The traction control will either cut all power to the drive wheels (without braking anything), or (should you turn traction control off) the wheels will spin uselessly.
    The SS would have fared no better since the entire road was glare ice.

    So now my Maxx has chains (for really severe, emergency conditions), and will soon have a pair of Auto Socks (the latter are much easier to put on and far less likely to damage the Maxx), to deal with the continual rain-snow-rain-snow freeze-thaw winter conditions Portland Or. is throwing at us this year.

    BTW, most other cars I was with couldn't get up that icy hill. The only ones that did had AWD and traction tires, or chains.
  • blumaxxblumaxx Member Posts: 20
    Just got back from chevy dealer. Found out that the reason the steering was making noise, it needs a new rack and pinion, still under warranty, but why should it go out so fast? We have over 31,000 miles, and have had the car since sept. '06. We drive alot, use it for work, but still, is this early for the r&p to go out? Robin
  • gpuckgpuck Member Posts: 1
    Has anyone had to replace the Ball joint/control arm yet? My passenger side is bad and I am considering changing it myself. Any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks,
    George
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    I've had 3 Racks replaced on my former '04 Maxx, along with one steering columm, one intermediate coupling between rack and columm, and both front struts. The intermediate coupling seemed to be the weakest link as once that was replaced, most of the popping noise went away.

    Front Suspension issues have been with most of the Malibus and Pontiac G6's for some time. The fragility of that part of the car, and the potential expense (racks are $450 if not covered by warranty), made me decide to trade it before my Majorguard expired.
  • maxximus_edmaxximus_ed Member Posts: 6
    Wow!

    After browsing through all 172 posts I feel a little despondent. :( I bought an 07 MAXX last Dec 21 with 34K KM on it. It has 48K now. From day one it had a high pitched squealing sound whenever I did a left turn. I brought it in to do some other warranty work and mentioned the sound to the service tech. Got a call later today to say that the whole rack had to be replaced. No knocks, rattles, grinding or anything except the squealing. Apparently the thought that the electric steering would be fixed or replaced with hydraulic in the 07 's was just that, a thought.

    Very disappointing. This is the newest car I have had in 28 years. Thought I would have years of trouble free driving. Hopefully this will fix it permanently.
  • novatucnovatuc Member Posts: 3
    Hi everyone, been following this line ever since I bought my Maxx. Wish I'd found it before I bought my Maxx. I have an '06 with 40,000 kms and I have the front end clunk when driving slow and turning. I also have the power steering cut out when making parking type moves, which is exactly when you want the power steering to cut out. I have extended warranty to 80,000 kms so eventually I'll be going in for work. It just doesn't bother me that much yet. Other than that, love the car, lots of space, good power and great mileage for what it is.

    Now the question. If I am not mistaken, the Maxx SS had hydraulic power steering. I wonder if the rack and power steering pump from the SS could be made to fit on the regular Maxx? For a little work, that would solve all the problems since I have never noticed any mention of a Maxx SS in this topic of the forum.
  • comem47comem47 Member Posts: 399
    Anything is possible if you want to throw enough money at it. I think it would cost quite a bit of $ and work to go from electric steering to hydraulic (pump and all the related plumbing) and you lose mpg when you do it. If my wife's '06 steering ever goes we'll stick with the original (been working great so far ....30K miles).
  • maxximus_edmaxximus_ed Member Posts: 6
    Well, I got the rack replaced last week and I can't say I notice any difference in the quality of the drive though. The only difference I can notice is that the squealing sound is gone. Made another appointment today. When driving on a straight stretch you can see that the steering wheel is not straight across. I heard an advert for this dealer and they advertise themselves as being recognized top Chev/Caddy dealer in Canada. Why couldn't they get it right the first time? I'm expecting to be past the 60,000 km meaning no more warranty, before the end of this year, so I'm going to keep my fingers crossed.

    On the plus side I do enjoy driving the car. Handles great, has plenty of power, quiet and comfortable. This is probably the nicest car I have had next to my 1980 Trans Am that I bought out of the showroom.
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    Aside from being hydraulically driven, The rack on the SS has limited travel, to keep those oversized wheels from grinding out the fender wells. As a result, the Maxx SS has a huge turning circle (over 43 feet).
  • maxxfannmaxxfann Member Posts: 1
    Hi Maxx owners.
    I live in Canada and am considering purchasing an 04 Maxx LS. I was just wondering if anyone has driven a Maxx in heavy snow and if so, how does it handle snowy driving conditions?
  • tas7107tas7107 Member Posts: 6
    Has anyone had this issue? Today while driving my '06 Maxx, I floored the accelerator to pass a car and the info center throws up a "Power Steering" message and the power steering was out. When I got off of the gas the message went away and the steering was normal. I am able to repeat this issue now. Any fixes, remedies, cost? Got 43k miles one Mr. Maxx now. Thanks
  • comem47comem47 Member Posts: 399
    Never heard of that but remember the standard Maxx is electric steering (like an electric motor vs a hydraulic pump giving the assist). Possibly a loose connection when the motor twists under acceleration?, Dunno.
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