GM Campaign on front suspension, lower control arm boots

[zete]

Interestingly enough I just got a letter asking me to get the front suspension repaired under what looks like a recall, but probably is more like a "customer satisfaction campaign".

I talked to the dealer and they got a huge shipment of parts for this, so they can deal with the G8s that are affected. Here's the first paragraph.

We have learned that your 2009 model year Pontiac G8 may have a condition that we would like to repair before the extreme cold temperatures arrive. The sealing boots on the front suspension lower control arm ball joints may not seal correctly in extreme cold temperatures. The material of the boot may become rigid in cold temperatures and could allow contaminants to enter the boot. This could cause premature wear of the ball joint, which could result in a clunking or rattling noise when the vehicle is driven over rough roads, wheels out of alignment, and/or premature tire wear.

Of note is that this will be done at no charge only until Nov. 1st, 2009. So they really want those G8s in and fixed. I guess they finally found the problem with the clunking suspensions. And I guess "cold weather testing" in Australia didn't cut it .

This was from GM Canada. I wonder if a similar campaign is happening in the US? I hope this addresses some of the folks who had problems with their G8's front suspensions.

[Hitman1970]

Have not got that in Alabama yet? Not sure if I will either based on climate.

[zete]

Originally Posted by Hitman1970

Have not got that in Alabama yet? Not sure if I will either based on climate.

You think they would do it. It's not like you couldn't decide to go on a skiiing trip up to New York State or go for some ice fishing in Minnesota. They might be starting up here and moving south as they get the parts.

The tech on the phone was funny: "Woah. They shipped a lot of parts. This new GM is awesome. No waiting for parts and explaining the delay to customers!" He was gobsmacked.

It's a 3.5 hour repair, so I'm figuring they're replacing the suspension pretty much. I'll ask when I go there early next week.

[T-Type]

There's also talk that a recall on the lower control arms is coming too. GM should be putting out something shortly.

Lots of G8s have been having lots of trouble with the ball joints.

[Neanderthal]

Holy schmoley.

Gotta love those Chinese parts.



They're Australian?





Gotta love those hot-weather parts!!!

[JT87]

Originally Posted by T-Type

Lots of G8s have been having lots of trouble with the ball joints.

That's the one drawback of casting the ball joint into the control arm.

[tom3]

Originally Posted by JT87

That's the one drawback of casting the ball joint into the control arm.

Oh my. One less part number for GM to worry about. One more headache for the future owners down the road when stuff starts wearing out.

[JT87]

Originally Posted by tom3

Oh my. One less part number for GM to worry about. One more headache for the future owners down the road when stuff starts wearing out.

Agreed. I'm pretty sure the suspension design on the front of the G8's is the same as the Camaro, meaning it has two ball joints on each of the front corners. There's no easy way to install a pair of ball joints and make them removable in a setup like this. However, they either need to make them more durable or find a creative solution.

[caddycruiser]

Large scale, constant problem, much discussed and aggravating owners for some time. Like the strut bushings, only more so, causes a variety of front end issues from noises to shaking...and SO many have run into it. Some more than once.

It's a weird one, again because the home market Oz cars have had nothing appreciable happen despite using exactly the same parts down to the bone, and GM's only explanation thus far has been the cold & moisture. No letter yet here in Delaware and no front end noises after 11k miles here in Delaware, but weird shakes, and given that others including Jersey have been notified, I hope to see something soon.

Then we'll see how things go after all of these are inspected/replaced with parts that don't seem much or any different than those coming off.

Originally Posted by JT87

Agreed. I'm pretty sure the suspension design on the front of the G8's is the same as the Camaro, meaning it has two ball joints on each of the front corners. There's no easy way to install a pair of ball joints and make them removable in a setup like this. However, they either need to make them more durable or find a creative solution.

Home market Oz cars have had no such big scale occurrence of such an issue, despite identical parts and not nice roads, but also a lack of our winters. The Camaro has a lot of bits and designs that are unique, hence the essentially Zeta II, front end included--the jury is still out on what may crop up with that car, if anything. So far I've only read of front end clunks->strut bushings, on a few via forums.