2004 Cadillac V-Series

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH THROUGH A LEFT TO RIGHT S-CURVE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. WHEN PARKING THE CAR A FEW MINUTES LATER THE POWER ASSIST FAILED AGAIN AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD CHATTERING SOUND. APPROXIMATELY 8 HOURS LATER I DROVE THE CAR AGAIN. A CONTINUOUS, LOUD WHINING SOUND WAS HEARD UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS THE VEHICLE WARMED UP THE WHINING WAS REDUCED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE WHINING NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT IN THE NEW PUMP. A SECOND REPLACEMENT PUMP WAS INSTALLED AND THE TYPE OF FLUID WAS CHANGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A GM TSB. THE STEERING PUMP CONTINUES TO WHIN WHEN EVEN A SLIGHT TORQUE IS APPLIED TO THE HANDWHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR TRAVELING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, I.E., WHEN PARKING. THE DEALER NOW CLAIMS THAT THE NOISE IS NORMAL. HOWEVER, AFTER WORKING FOR GM'S SAGINAW STEERING COMPANY AS AN ENGINEER FOR MANY YEARS, I KNOW THAT WHAT I'M HEARING IS NOT NORMAL. *TR

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IN MY 2004 CADILLAC CTS-V FAILED(EXPLODED). MY OPINION IS THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS NOT PROPERLY ENGINEERED TO HANDLE THE POWER OF THE CTS-V. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS THE SAME REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT IS IN THE 6 CYLINDER CTS MODEL. THE CTS-V HAS 400 HP AND 395 FT/LBS OF TORQUE. WHEEL HOP AND/OR AXLE TRAMP ARE THE PRIMARY REASON THE DIFF. FAILS BUT IT GOES BACK TO POOR ENGINEERING OR THE LACK THERE OF AS THE BASE MODELS REAR SUSPENSION AND THE CTS-V'S ARE IDENTICAL. WHEEL HOP CAN BE INDUCED AT ALMOST ANY TIME IN THE FIRST 3 GEARS AND IS NOT, UNLIKE WHAT THE GM WILL TELL YOU, ONLY CAUSED BY SIDE STEPPING THE CLUTCH. THIS IS NOT TRUE , AND EVEN IF IT WAS, THE REAR DIFF. SHOULDN'T EXPLODE FROM WHEEL HOP. IT EXPLODES BECAUSE OF HOW IT IS FASTENED TO THE CHASSIS AND THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT ALLOWED AT ITS MOUNTING POINTS. AS FAR AS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM TO BREAK A REAR DIFF. WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON A DAMP ROADWAY AND BEING POWERLESS(LITERALLY) TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR