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A question about struts on a 2004 Olds.Alero....
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therittz
New User
Jan 5, 2008, 11:18 PM
Post #1 of 5
(3977 views)
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A question about struts on a 2004 Olds.Alero....
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I have had my 2004 Olds. Alero in the shop 2 times within the past month due to a popping noise in the front end. I am going to explain in detail so this may be alittle bit long so please bare with me! Ok, at first when I would say be turning right into the parking lot of my job, being I was going downhill I would apply my brakes to slow down before the turn, but when I went to turn right, it seemed that the combination of applying of the brake and turning right would make a distinctive pop in which I thought of it maybe a strut issue. I then put it in the shop & they found that the strut mount was bad so they replaced it. I got the car out of the shop and then after going back to work and going over a speed bump, I noticed that there was now another sound I havent heard before which sounds like a very bad creeking noise in the front so I took it back in where it is now and the mechanic told me that it is the sway bar bushing that needs replacing and I really cant see that being the case. In my opinion, I think its the strut itself, but he says the noise Im hearing is due to that sway bar bushing needing to be replaced which in turn will cost around $225 to do. If the strut is bad, wouldnt I be able to push on the front end and tell or something like that or what? Thing is, I have an extended warranty and have already paid 2 $100 deductables trying to rectify this problem and rather than it being fixed, its actually gotten a whole lot worse and they are trying to hit me up for more money to repair!! If anyone could give me a heads up or point me in the right direction of what to look for so I can go in there on Monday and show him what I'm noticing I would be ever so greatful!! One more question... is it normal for there to be say for example from the top of the tire to the hub of car on the driver side its about 4 inches apart give or take half an inch, but on the passenger side, the side in question, from the top of the tire to the hub of car is about 3 inches apart give or take a half an inch. Shouldnt it be the same on each side? Could it be the springs themselves maybe? Any help would be appreciated!!!!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 6, 2008, 4:00 AM
Post #2 of 5
(3973 views)
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Re: A question about struts on a 2004 Olds.Alero....
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Did they align this car after fixing the strut? Should have and you should have a print out showing it within specs - if not - why?
Sway bar can break the pins at the control arm ends and you can plain see that. The broken one will make noise with a swinging bolt hitting assorted items on bumps and turns especially.
What's with the measured difference you noted? What exactly are you measuring from? Hub? Hub is the center of the wheel so please find another word.
The rubber parts of suspension parts can make squeeks but shouldn't make clunks. They can be sprayed with like WD-40 to quiet up the noise and some cars that's periodic. That creeking noise like a barn door can be those rubber bushings even when not worn they can do that. WD-40 is semi rubber friendly. Silicone is best but the spray doesn't last long - I use spray, white, lithuim grease on problem cars for this and so far it hasn't hurt anything and problem is gone for ages.
I'm more concerned about this measurement you noticed!
T
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Double J
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 6, 2008, 2:27 PM
Post #3 of 5
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Re: A question about struts on a 2004 Olds.Alero....
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just wanted to jump in here....
worked at dealers before....and with extended warranty companies also....
if its been in for the same complaint and the issue is not resolved.....contact the warranty administrator or have the service advisor due so.....any reputable company will waive the deductible
unless its just coincidental that other concerns have arisen....
used cars due break unfortunately and sometimes the repairs can be close together...
but i'm with tom....ride height should be equal....somethings not right hear...
get the service manager involved....
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therittz
New User
Jan 7, 2008, 3:01 AM
Post #4 of 5
(3962 views)
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Re: A question about struts on a 2004 Olds.Alero....
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Thanks for your reply and sorry for the wrong terminology! What Im trying to say is the amount of inches in between the tire and the body of the car. As I was trying to say the mechanic, when I asked him if it was a big deal that on the driver side from the tire to the body of the car there is about 4 inches distance and on the passenger side from the tire to the body its about 3 inches distance, he said most cars have a 3/4 inch or so difference and that is normal. My question to that is if thats true then whats the point of having shocks/struts? My opinion is the right strut has no more spring in it and I cant personally see that side bounce back so to speak when I push down on it testing the strut as Ive been told to do. And again, the sound I'm hearing (1 of them) may be a sway bar issue going by how you described the sound but the other sound is solely hear whenever I either go over speedbumps and/or when I go over maybe deeper than normal manholes and potholes, which the sound is again, a very bad creaky sound, like a creaky bed if you could imagine that. Maybe the spring is bad cause the more I think about it, its as if Im hearing the spring itself creaking. And no, as far as I know I didnt see anything about an alignment being done after replacing the strut mounts! I guess I should get them to do that too? What really gets me is I have had it in the shop 2 times for what now seems to be a sway bar issue and so far theyve replaced both strut mounts which I have to wonder if they needed replacing in the first place, but now, not only is that first noise still there, but now I have that second noise, the creaking, which I thought being in there twice it cant get worse, but I'll be dogged if it isnt 10 times worse of a noise than before! Although its a used car, I cant imagine something else going bad without it being solely the fault of the repairs that have been done thusfar if you know what I mean!Would you say that it most likely had more wrong with it than just the mounts, maybe for the right side, the mount and strut, spring or all??? Thanks for your help, I really appreciate all your knowledge!!! Hope how I explained the distance between tire and body is understood! Thanks alot!!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 7, 2008, 8:22 AM
Post #5 of 5
(3960 views)
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Re: A question about struts on a 2004 Olds.Alero....
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I agree with Jim also - get the service manager involved. This just isn't quite right. The inch off still bugs me. With this car on level ground - no funny loads, tires the same wear and pressure, steering straight ahead you should measure the same measures using the fender (lets use that) to identical points on the wheel tires respectively. Don't referance the inner body as there could be a difference in that to accomodate the engine and trans for some reason that I don't know.
the height should be withing reason - 1/4" max (that could change just with tire postion or any difference in the tires) but it would measure that close. You said it didn't bounce the same. That is the shock absorbsion part of the strut. Height is the spring. If it needs one you need both which is what they would tell you if you didn't have a warranty and what I would do if you just brought it in to my shop. That because this is a 2004. It's not new. Same goes for tires that aren't new. It's safe but the car just feels better to have the axle pair match at least.
The sway bar wearing parts - usually the pins (bolts and rubber hardware) could be elininated and you probably wouldn't notice a change in the car. Do fix broken ones. I didn't look up the price but most all are under $50 bucks for the set and for a shop are easy to do.
Funny - I worked for a dealer inn the 70s during the big Pinto recall for the gas tanks blowing up thing. I got those as the newbie and cost less to the company than existing techs there at the time.
This car need a full alignment and get a printout showing it right. If they take things apart the effect it, it needs another. Eyesight on parts isn't that good.
Good luck. No more dedectibles either for the samme complaint usless they can show you it's a new problem or damaged somehow in which case it wouldn't be warranty at all,
T
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