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Strut breakdown please 1997 Deville


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Hi all. 

I bought Front struts, springs, mounts, bearings, bellows, and lower rubber for the front of my Deville a few years back.

The upper plate and upper rubber are not available. I went to my local yard back then and stripped a set off a donor. Well I have trouble now. I never got to install them until now.

I did not disassemble my original struts(Whole reason why I got donor parts)

I assembled them and installed them. But something is not right. When the steering wheel is turned it makes the springs snap. I traced it to the driver side(hopefully only side).

I removed the strut from the car but before I touch it I want to be 100% certain it is correct.

I will post a picture as well as the strut mount touches the upper spring plate when turning. I am rather stumped but it seems to only go together one way.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated

Note. The mount that I am using is ACDELCO 901040 {#19294100} It is listed for with electronic ride control. Does this mean RSS, or Air ride? 

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I finally got a chance to disassemble the strut I removed.

I found no problem. I also disassembled the old strut. Was identical.

So one of 2 things, either something is not right with this unit, or it is the other strut still on the car. Grr.

I am posting a few pictures of the close contact and contact between the upper spring plate and the bottom of the strut mount.

It rubs when turned. Both original and new strut

First pic is old strut spindle side 

2nd is new one

3rd is new strut where it rubs on the upper spring plate.

4th is old strut rubbing in same place

Next task is to turn the wheel on the car and see if the passenger side makes noise

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GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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I can only offer this, did you get the orientation correct between the strut, spring and strut mount?  There should be an illustration in the manual

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

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identical to the one I took off, nearly to the T.

I thought maybe the strut bearing was upside down somehow, but it matched identical and only sensibly goes on one way.

Maybe by the weekend I can check the other side

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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When I speak of orientation i speak of where the spring, seat, mount and strut sit from above, looking down at the strut, that they are each sitting in their required location 'on the circle'.  Refer to the manual, not the old strut, the old strut might have worn and moved.  

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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It seems like the manual is brief on it. I did snap a picture though.

I will note that the lowest rung of the spring is at the lowest point, and the highest rung sits within no more than 1/4" of the end of the upper plate.

The upper lined up by where the lower sits. 

I am sorry I am scratching my head here. IIRC I ran into this when I had a shop do my Seville (same year) I had to take the car back for it to be corrected

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GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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I think this paragraph is your key.  Also, #2 above "Important"

Screenshot_20200820-231727_Samsung Internet.jpg

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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I figured it out today.

No part mentioned in the manual on it though. There is a small recess in the upper spring plate. (see pic)

With the mount centered, and the strut centered, the recess has to be centered. It is so small that when rusty it almost does not exist

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GM FAN FOREVER

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This is good to know, thanks

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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wish it was in the manual. Once reinstalled I hear nothing yet.

The ABS pump is dead though. Cannot drive it until that is fixed

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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  • 4 weeks later...

well I finally got the car back together. I hope all is good tomorrow.

If so I want to send it for alignment and detailing. The ABS was a pain to fix but the lights are currently out. 

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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18 hours ago, rockfangd said:

well I finally got the car back together. I hope all is good tomorrow.

If so I want to send it for alignment and detailing. The ABS was a pain to fix but the lights are currently out. 

What did you do to repair the ABS?  Reflow the solder connections on the EBCM coils?

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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No. The Pump fried. 

I replaced just the pump. Found a like new looking unit on Ebay. 

Today sucked though. Still has a creaking noise in RF while turning. Not horribly, and not snapping though. Hoping it will wear in as it is installed properly.

ABS lights were out this morning, but came back on tonight. I am thinking the battery is weak. Just over a year old.

If  I clear the ABS lights while running they stay out.

I sent it to have it detailed and aligned. Honestly at the moment don't care when I get it back.

Mondays🙄

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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Odd that you would get a creaking noise while turning with a new strut bearing. 

Could the creak not be due to rotation but due to a shift in the entire strut because it is not seated at the top where the three nuts are?   It is kind of a quirky set up, I had difficulty last time.

When does the ABS light come on?, when you turn the key on?  What code is set?

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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I can recheck that but am pretty certain they are positioned properly. Sometimes the dampening material atop the mount gets stuck up there and causes the new one to not sit properly. I did clean both sides under the tower.

ABS lights come on upon startup. 1243. Stalled ABS pump. I almost feel like the Amperage is dropping too low right now and causing the code.

The old pump was actually fried though. Stunk and was locked right up. Replacement spins nice and sounds fine

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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Well am now driving it.

Stupid battery terminals were loose again. At least 2 turns each. Grr.

Creaking is slowly getting less noticeable. 

Finally got ABS and Traction lights off last night. Drove all day today without a problem. I ran the pump manually for about 30 seconds.

Alignment seems off since alignment got done. Just my luck.

Car looks like new with the detail job done

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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