2003 CTS new front struts, rear Monroe shocks

[gemmichelle11]

Hello, I am a new poster. I found this forum on Google, because I was searching for information regarding the changed ride of my 2003 CTS since the struts and shocks were changed at 75,000 miles.

It never had any problems, is my personal car. It had a wonderful ride, I thought. It drove straight and smooth, no vibration or shaking, no pulling. It could easily put me to sleep as I drove home from work. My DH drove it one day and said he thought it needed struts on the front. I called our dependable brake and alignment man, whom we've known since the 70s and has been in the business all his life.

He put on the front struts and rear shocks, replaced the left front tie rod and did a front end alignment. Ever since, which has been a few weeks, the car "bucks" in the rear, which tosses my head around and even bucks me from side to side. Also, the front end vibrates to the extent that my hands tingle after driving only 15 miles to work.

I took it in for the mechanic to drive with me. He drove it about 8 or 10 miles and said on the way back that he did not like the ride at all, and wished he had driven it prior to putting on the shocks and struts. He noticed the vibration in the front, and doesn't like the bucking from the rear.

He was going to call Monroe, and wants me to bring it in tomorrow for another alignment and a rotation.

Does anyone have any information that could help get my original ride to my CTS? It's a wonderful car, and we said we would keep it to 100,000 miles, but I am ready to trade it because of the annoying, uncomfortable ride. I would appreciate your responses regarding my dilemma, so perhaps this can be resolved.

Thank you very much.

[Bruce Nunnally]

My first thought would be to return the car to GM original equipment to replicate the original ride and handling.

That said, your current setup should not vibrate, buck, or toss. So I would go back to the suspension shop for checkout / repairs.

For discount original equipment shocks and struts you can try gmotors.com or rockauto.com.

[Cadillac Jim]

It sounds to me like he replaced the struts and shocks with generic models from a general replacement catalog and perhaps disabled the electronic suspension control. Cadillac shocks and struts are generally good for over 100,000 miles and they old ones were probably not bad.

Ordinarily I would recommend getting a mechanic that had more experience with Cadillacs, and that recommends service based on OBD trouble codes and drivability complaints rather than a look at the odometer. Since this is an old friend, I would suggest that you have a long talk with him before you find someone else. In particular, ask him if he kept the compressor-driven automatic ride control on the rear and the electronic suspension control are on the new shocks and struts. Monroe makes OEM quality replacements, economy replacements that omit the leveling and electronic control, and generic replacements, and you don't know what was put on your car. If he persists on calling on long years of experience with the likes of 1980's Fords and Chrysler Town Cars or disparages things like leveling and electronically controlled suspension, I would go elsewhere. These things are necessary for your Stabilitrak to work properly, and Stabilitrak is more important to your safety than air bags and seat belts combined.

[gemmichelle11]

Thank you for your replies. I will follow your suggestions. To me, knowing nothing about mechanics, all I know for sure is I can say something seems wrong. I've never experienced such an uncomfortable ride, alot like one would have in an amusement park. I thought Cadillac might have some specialty in the suspension, and that our man would have come across in his years of experience. I do hope he does his research to resolve my complaint.

I am fond of the car and would like very much to have it back to its orginal ride. I really can't continue to drive it this way.

After tomorrow when he checks it out again, I'll see what he suggests. I do appreciate you taking the time to respond.

[Logan]

Aftermarket struts are typically much stiffer then the OEM ones. This is to compensate for the looseness the bushings will have after X amount of miles.

[gemmichelle11]

Thank you, Logan. I recall a Road Runner I drove in in 1974 with the jacked up rear end. I hate to make this comparison, but this has a ride similar to that of the Road Runner. Bouncy, like I'm on springs or something. It's just wrong for a Cadillac ride to be compared with that of a Road Runner. The bulging discs in my neck can't handle it.

[Bruce Nunnally]

In particular, ask him if he kept the compressor-driven automatic ride control on the rear and the electronic suspension control are on the new shocks and struts.

Keep in mind this is a CTS. The base suspension does not have level control. The luxury and sport suspension have level control but via nivomat self-leveling shocks. But none of the 3 suspensions have rear level control via air compressor.

[gemmichelle11]

I left my CTS at the shop so it could be checked out. I will know something later on. Thanks for your input. I'll let you know what happens.

[BodybyFisher]

I left my CTS at the shop so it could be checked out. I will know something later on. Thanks for your input. I'll let you know what happens.

Did you use Monroe struts in the front also?

Was anything done with your tires at the time the strut job was done? Did they rotate and balance them? The sudden vibration is odd unless something was done with the tires. Maybe the wheels were not torqued correctly.

[gemmichelle11]

BodybyFisher, I don't know what type struts were put on the front. The vibration in the front is felt in the steering wheel.

He did an alignment, but not a rotation. I'm not certain if the tires were balanced or not. He is going to realign and a rotation today.

The tires were brand new, December will be 2 years. We had bought nice custom wheels with the new tires. We bought the tires and wheels at a tire store. In 2006, when we bought the CTS, it drove like a dream, and I was so impressed.

The ride is ruined right now. My boss drove me in the company pickup, a Chev. Z71, and it rides better than my Cadillac. It's a nightmare, and I don't even want to drive it anymore. Imagine sitting on one of those bouncy balls in the gym...no kidding. It's got to get fixed.

[BodybyFisher]

Don't panic yet. There must be a reason for this.

Your tires sound over-inflated or like they need a road force balance. Something happened maybe there is rust on one of the flanges. There is no reason for your car to ride harder than the original ride. Did he use the correct struts, did he use heavy duty or handling struts? Lets face the fact that the rear should not have been negatively impacted so much be a SHOCK change.

Let us know what happens

[jking220]

BodybyFisher, I don't know what type struts were put on the front. The vibration in the front is felt in the steering wheel.

He did an alignment, but not a rotation. I'm not certain if the tires were balanced or not. He is going to realign and a rotation today.

The tires were brand new, December will be 2 years. We had bought nice custom wheels with the new tires. We bought the tires and wheels at a tire store. In 2006, when we bought the CTS, it drove like a dream, and I was so impressed.

The ride is ruined right now. My boss drove me in the company pickup, a Chev. Z71, and it rides better than my Cadillac. It's a nightmare, and I don't even want to drive it anymore. Imagine sitting on one of those bouncy balls in the gym...no kidding. It's got to get fixed.

This post is confusing

The tires are brand new? or 2 years old?

Your CTS has factory original rims or aftermarket? Were they just changed, or changed 2 years ago.

If the change was as drastic as "drove like a dream" to "its a nightmare", I cant say I would be taking the car back to that mechanic, no matter how good of a friend they are. Like others have posted on here, a good CADILLAC mechanic is different than a good mechanic. These cars are very different and "finnicky", if thats a good word for it.

If I got the car back again and it was not fixed, I would probably take it to a dealer so they could atleast look at it. If it was something the mechanic screwed up, Ide probably look into taking him to small claims court and getting it fixed by someone who knows what they are doing.

JMO

[BodybyFisher]

What caused you to have the struts done in the first place? How was the ride with the OLD struts?, could this vibration been there BEFORE the struts were done?

What kind of aftermarket wheels and tires are you using?

[gemmichelle11]

STSS, I'm sorry, I do make confusing posts sometimes. The tires and wheels were purchased new in 2006, when we purchased the CTS.

It drove fine until DH drove it and said it needed struts. Yes, it was as drastic a change as coming out of the shop with new struts and shocks. From "dream" to "nightmare". Evidently, our man is not an expert on Cadillacs. I have learned a new lesson, and this one is hard to swallow.

Unfortunately, I will have my father staying with me for almost 2 weeks, and he has been anxious to see my car. I am feeling quite ill that he is going to experience this disaster of a ride. I have until next Wednesday to get it corrected.

I won't go to small claims court, though. I'll suck it up and just take it somewhere else. I've dealt with this man since the 70s. I don't blame him. I should have just asked him to have a look at it to determine if struts were necessary, and he would have decided it only needed a left front tie rod. I'm old enough to know I should leave well enough alone. Live and learn.

[gemmichelle11]

BodybyFisher, no vibration, ever, prior to this. I don't remember what kind of wheels we have, or the brand of tires. There hasn't been any problem with them from day 1.

[BodybyFisher]

STSS, I'm sorry, I do make confusing posts sometimes. The tires and wheels were purchased new in 2006, when we purchased the CTS.

It drove fine until DH drove it and said it needed struts. Yes, it was as drastic a change as coming out of the shop with new struts and shocks. From "dream" to "nightmare". Evidently, our man is not an expert on Cadillacs. I have learned a new lesson, and this one is hard to swallow.

Unfortunately, I will have my father staying with me for almost 2 weeks, and he has been anxious to see my car. I am feeling quite ill that he is going to experience this disaster of a ride. I have until next Wednesday to get it corrected.

I won't go to small claims court, though. I'll suck it up and just take it somewhere else. I've dealt with this man since the 70s. I don't blame him. I should have just asked him to have a look at it to determine if struts were necessary, and he would have decided it only needed a left front tie rod. I'm old enough to know I should leave well enough alone. Live and learn.

You keep saying DH, who is DH?

Listen, there is NO mystery to doing struts at all. HOWEVER, if they did not put the SPRINGS on the front struts correctly, you will have problems. I don't know if its true on the CTS but on my car the STRUT, SPRING, STRUT MOUNT NEED to be in a specific alignment.

I have done my OWN struts and springs there is NO magic here. Your car should be riding better without a doubt. Something is obviously wrong here. RELAX, don't get upset, you WILL get it straightened out..

[gemmichelle11]

Thanks, BodybyFisher, I appreciate your consideration for my anxiety. FYI, "DH" is abbreviation for "Dear Husband".

I hope to have good news for you all tomorrow. You're all so nice to contribute your knowledge to the discussion.

[BodybyFisher]

BodybyFisher, no vibration, ever, prior to this. I don't remember what kind of wheels we have, or the brand of tires. There hasn't been any problem with them from day 1.

Monroe is not a bad strut. You might have a bad strut that is not compressing causing your rear to jump. The vibration could be caused by so much, let them look it over, they might have not torqued the wheels correctly or tight enough. Maybe the tires needed balancing and the tighter struts is transferring that 'out of balance' better....

Replacing struts is VERY straightforward, unless they messed up in some way.

Relax, no need to get upset by this. I am sure it will be resolved. In the future come here before you do any work and we can help.

[gemmichelle11]

In the future come here before you do any work and we can help.

Now that I found you out of necessity, you can bet I'll check in before letting anyone else touch my CTS!

I enjoy talking cars, ever since I was young. My dad and his brother always had cool cars, and I loved to ride. I'd ride with Dad and would say, "Put it in passing gear, Daddy!" I like visiting him during his city's "Cruise Night", and he has visited us on our "Cruise Night" and car show, too.

It's so nice to have found someone who has offered to help!

[BodybyFisher]

Well it sounds like we all have a lot in common. Good luck with this, you WILL get it straightened out. Don't fret. Where are you located?

[gemmichelle11]

North Texas is where I call home now.

My man just called. I am going to get the car. He aligned, rotated, balanced the front. He spoke to the Monroe people and they told him what to check. He has ordered another shock for the rear, because they believe maybe one of the rear shocks isn't working correctly. He spoke to Monroe warranty dept. about it.

I have the car now, and will drop it off tomorrow again. I couldn't tell anything about the front end, since it was stop and go driving through school traffic.

He was so nice and took the time to patiently explain everything. He apologetically said, "I didn't mean to mess up your car." I told him, "There is no blame. I don't blame you. Thank you for working with me." He said, "Thank you for being so patient." Then he added that, if this doesn't work, our final option is to return to factory equipment, to which I agreed would probably be best.

My drive home and back tomorrow will tell if the front end vibration issue is resolved, and we can focus our attention on the rear shocks. I hope, I hope it is a shock. It does feel funny to me. Yesterday, just idling out of the parking lot, the car sort of rocked from side to side a time or two.

All my buddies here, please direct some of your good thoughts to me and my CTS. We need all the help we can get!

[gemmichelle11]

What kind of aftermarket wheels and tires are you using?

I have Fuzion tires and Ricco wheels.

[BodybyFisher]

Good he is replacing one of the struts, that is what I thought he would do, as I mentioned above. Let us know if its better

[Bruce Nunnally]

Hopefully it will be all better once you get it back then.

[gemmichelle11]

Your tires sound over-inflated or like they need a road force balance

BodybyFisher, I understand why you mentioned air pressure and also asked about the brand of tires. When I first presented my CTS with my complaint, the first thing that was done, was the assistant checked the air pressure, which was 33-34. Also, when I spoke to a co-worker, who is 86 years old, he mentioned to me about his wife's car, low profile tires and rough ride.

Update this morning. The front end is riding smooth, with no vibration! I'm so satisfied with the results! I'm very thankful that the efforts have positive results so far!

I'll be taking it in sometime this morning for the rear shock replacement.

I just want to tell you guys that I think you're great! Very knowledgeable and eager to share! I appreciate you all so much! It is so helpful to have support and to be able to get good advice.

Special thanks to caddyinfo.com.