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Buick LeSabre Steering/Suspension
I have a 2005 Buick Lesabre with less than 10,000 miles. The car has a consistent vibration at highway speeds even though we have tried a new set of tires and a complete rotation and balancing of the tires. The dealer indicates there is no problem with the car; however, the vibration persist. Is anyone else having this problem?
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Comments
The tires needed to be Road Force balanced using a Hunter 9700 balancer. If your dealer doesn't have one, find a dealer who does. This adjusts for the uneveness in the tire's rolling height when under pressure. In other words, many tires don't roll round; even if they're balanced they crush differently on one part than another under the car's weight. So they essentially roll as if they are not round.
Park Avenue and some LeSAbres and Sevilles went to Michelin tires (Symmetry) to get away from tire imperfection. The company swapped tires on Park AVenues to put on Michelins to fix the problem.
Also, the wheel alignment affected my 03 with 16 wheels and Michelin symmetrys that it came with. I had a good service manager who used the vibration analyzer to be sure it was wheel and tire speed related. I told him that after he had really carefully balanced them, it seemed to oscillate on uphill pulls but not ont he downhill pulls o smooth interstate in Tennessee. He felt the alignment wear on tires and took it in. The rear were out of toe and the front also. He set them to what he considered the middle even though they were within tolerance. GM paid for alignment touchup up to 12000 miles. So get back with alignment complaint andget them to print it out. Also do Force Balancing.
Fixed it. Ain't perfect, but no car is. They stayed balanced until 35K and I paid to have them rebalance @ $7.50 each.
What tires were on the car and what ones did you replace with?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Do you have a cabin air filter installed? Did it come with the car? I just purchased a 2005 Limited Prestige with the Celebration package, but no cabin air filter.
Jim.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Was the car aligned correctly?
Has the car been driven with the vibration analyzer attached to various parts to diagnose the vibration type?
Were the wheels force-balanced on Hunter 9700 by someone who knows what they're doing? Preferably a GM dealer who knows what's needed for trouble-shooting the vibrations in the stiffer frames with lighter parts in today's modern cars?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The injectors are kept clean by the detergents in quality gasolines, which is most brands. Use a few tankfuls of only a top tier http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.htmllink title
The transmission probably benefits from a drain and filter change between 36 and 50K. But the shop manual doesn't recommend that early a change; I think it's 100K unless you use it in hillclimbing, taxicab service, etc.
The flush concept is another money maker in my opinion. They don't take the pan off and drain the fluid in the pan and change the filter. That's the preferable method even though it drains about 60% of the fluid that way. I doubt that the flush method which means easily connecting a nice machine that pushes fluid through is better at getting all the old fluid out.
I drain and change my own fluid and do it about 36 K just for preventative maintenance. Find a local, reputable established local shop from friends or family. Pay them to drop the pan, change the filter, and refill with Dextron III. Cost of filter at PepBoys $18; fluid, $15+; the old gasket is reused because it's rubber and contains metal to conduct heat to the bottom of the pan to help cool the transmission.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Now I am noticing that the steering wheel is tighter than normal. I can still make turns with no problems but something doesn't feel right (in addition to the vibration).
I've had the tires balanced and aligned so now I'm thinking it might have something to do with the steering/suspension but I'm not sure as I don't know much about cars.
Any help would be appreciated.
My LeSabre has been in the dealer's shop several times and they can't seem to find what the issue is. The Stability Sensor light comes on and off periodically and the front end while making turns, in either direction, makes a stretching sound. Almost like a rubber band being stretched too far.
I had another mechanic look at the front ens suspension and he said it was NOT the struts and the front end looks good. I am wondering since it is when turning, if it's something with the steering or could it be the idle arms, u joints, stability bar or something else they may be related to the steering housing.
Help!!!I can't continue to let my child drive this car like this worrying that they will break down somewhere.
Thansk,
Sandy
Thank you,
2 HUNDRED
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
gmpartsdirect.com has
link title
Identify the part or parts and look in their listing under rear suspension.
I'd sure do some asking for parts at local advanceauto and autozone and others. The replacement brands should work just as well.
Good luck. What happened to yours?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
another 10-20000 milkes.I was lamenting to Medley's Alignment(after I did the front end inners and outers and rear outers I had to get it aligned)he said he could get
them for me for $80 apiece.Heck of a lot better than $128.By the way it drives like
a New Car.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I tried have Mich. Harmony tires new rotor, Every kind of wheel balance possible. I drove this car for 3 years no one could find the problem. I spoke with a BIG old tire store they suggested the shocks and struts. Now it drive like a buck lesarbre.
Do you think the strut replacement is the better move this time? It almost feels like the car is too heavy...strut sympton?
You need to diagnose first. An engine code is just the symptom. What is causing a problem. I don't know what P0496 is indicating that is a gas tank problem. It means "flow during nonpurge." I take that to mean a leak in a hose, a gas cap that's not on tight or is not sealing, or a purge valve that's not working right.
First I'd get a better opinion than your nephew if he thinks the gas tank has to be dropped on an 05 Buick leSabre to service the pump and sender unit. The access cover is in the trunk; remove the carpet and you'll see it.
Second, the charcoal cannister is underneath the rear of the car. I don't recall just where. I'd start with that. I'd do a visual check of hoses. Then I'd see if the purge valve is operating properly which may require a computer or Tech II to operate to see if it's working. I recall some people needing a replacement purge valve on some cars.
I suspect you'd save money by taking it to someone who can check what's happening with their computer. Do not throw parts at it.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I haven't hit any potholes recently, alignement was fine at the last checkup (August). Tie-rods, rack, etc less than 1 year old....
Could this be caused by uneven wear on my treads? If so what is the soultion? Will the wear pattern even out eventually, or do I need new tires?
If you actually want to chase the problem, switch the two fronts left and right and see if the pull moves. That tire should have been on the the opposite rear tire if the rotation was done right. A bad belt wouldn't be noticed until it was on the front again.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
- Tires new & balanced
- Suspension aligned
- Transaxle & CV joints - new
- Front shocks - new
- Motor mounts - new
My mechanic (AAA Service center) informed that because the car is so old, it will take a while (10k) miles for the new parts to sync up with the old frame. The vibration will therefore continue until the parts sync up. :mad:
Any advice/comments would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Have the tires and wheels been checked with a RoadForce balancer? That will show up belt problems and quality problems in the tire and wheel.
Hub?
Tire rod ends, inner AND outer?
Mounts (4? or 6?) holding the engine cradle to the front of the unibody? On several Bonnevilles I've read about problems with rust around the rubber bushings--I don't recall just how it occurred. Search for engine cradle or stub frame bushing?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The tires & wheels were checked with a computerized diagnostic system. I'm not sure it it was "RoadForce." The Service center is billed as state of the art for what its worth. Its a real AAA car care center - not just a private garage endorsed by AAA, so I believe its on teh level w/ top quality gear.
2 transmission mounts were replaced (not motor mounts) The diagnostic report i received from the techs did not mention a problem with rust around the bushings, however It is worth investigating.
The tire rods & bushings are all new as well.
2003 Buick LeSabre Custom
93000 miles
1. I have a grinding or moaning sound in the front end, when driving about 30-50 mph. Even a slight turn to the right, stops the sound. Outside this speed range, the noise is greatly reduced or gone. Two people suggested it is likely a CV joint/axel. I was thinking it might be a wheel hub.
2. I get lots of vibration when braking. Pads and rotors were changed out a little over a year ago, and rotors don’t look worn down.
What do you think? Thanks in advance for your help.
Fronts?
Rears?
The moaning could be wheel bearing. If you turn left on a curve, the sound should get stronger, rougher, louder. Then you turn right on a curve, and the load is taken off that right wheel, and the noise is almost gone. My second bearing, a replacement, gave those same symptoms a few weeks back. No play in bearing for wobble nor any in and out play.
GM's spec on in-out play is .05 inch. That's not the wobble that most people like to test, it's straight in and out.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I jacked up the front, and had very little wobble on both sides, but no discernible in-out play.
Here are some pictures I took, showing how greasy the left (driver) side is. The right side is free of grease and oil. Maybe this is an indication of something.
I'll try the pictures again.
You paste that address into the post here, select the whole thing, and click on the IMG button in the row of buttons down below the post composing box.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt209/tbcab/axle7.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt209/tbcab/axle6.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt209/tbcab/axle5.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt209/tbcab/axle4.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt209/tbcab/axle3.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt209/tbcab/axle2.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt209/tbcab/axle1.jpg
The coolant can leak from the bypass pipes for the heater on the side with the water pump. That coolant mixed with oil seeping down from the valve covers which can develope seeps may be mixing to give that gooey look.
You also can have oil coming from the oil pressure sensor above the oil filter. Some have trouble with that giving a 130 lb. reading as it fails and some get a seep through the plastic part of the unit.
You need to wipe everything clean and start over watching where the material comes from. Usually it's gravity bringing it from higher up.
I've read that there's a leak detection powder to spray on the area and then the new oil tracking down shows up really well. And there's an ultraviolet additive for the oil and with a cheap LED ultraviolet light, you can see where the new oil is coming from.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Figured I'd ask here before I get started and find out I'm short an essential part
Thanks in advance.
-dew
Also, do not let the left wheel drop completely. The rod for the height adjuster is on the suspension part; letting the arm fall free when taking the shock off overextends the sensor that it connects to.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Thanks again!!
I recall something about the nuts used on the old shocks. They corroded to the bolt of something. I had to replace one of them with a corrosion plated
bolt from the local hardware store.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Re the bolts...as I was researching this project, definitely saw some cautionary info on the risk for breaking some of the bolts, and that it was a good idea to have a handful of M8x1.25 bolts on hand just in case.