ok so i did search and couldnt find anything close enough to the issue im having.

(before i start all the info on my car is in my sig [09 ss/tc coupe])

i put on some sportlines springs about two weeks ago, and had the wheels realigned and everything after the install (all professionally).
since then whenever i start to brake i am getting an awful rattle coming from the steering wheel which i can also feel down in the brake pedal.

i cant remember clearly, but there might have been a slight rattle similar to this one before putting on the sportlines. apparently it was suttle enough that it never bothered me or seemed like an issue.

im pretty sure the sportlines have caused this issue somehow. not sure how, which is why i am asking if anyone knows what could be going wrong here (ie. common problem)?

i saw on turbo tech racing, that there is a steering wheel spacer which they suggest you put on after lowering the car to eliminate steering wheel jounce. could this be my possible solution?

any suggestions are helpful.

 

did you take it anywhere in the past three weeks to get any work professionally done
?

sorry my bad i didnt read it fully.....BUT it sounds like the professionals took your car for a joyride and warped the rotors! Sorry to hear that!

 

nope. i know both the guys that did the work and was there for the entire time they did it in the garage bay.

i was just out in my car, and i noticed i can slightly feel/hear the rattle while going over some bumps. weird thing is, is that sometimes it wont rattle at all when breaking. its the strangest thing.

it usually only really starts to rattle as i break from between 30-15 mph. anything lower or higher and you cant notice anything.

 

steering column rattle is far too common with all years of cobalts. it was some kind of parts manufacture defect from the company that makes the column for GM.

you might be able to bring the car to the stealership and see what they say.

 

bleh... i dont trust the dealership. too many horror stories, plus its not worth my time to bring it in and they tell me there going void my warranty because of all my mods, and then just try to blame it on something to do with that.

the only difference i saw compared to other people is that i am only getting these rattles while braking.

 

I also have a similar problem. Comes and goes periodically, but only occurs at a speed similar to what you have mentioned. I have an 08 LT with 40,000 kms and stock suspension, so mods arent the issue with mine. Sounds like its from withing the steering column as well. Taking it into GM soon for an oil change so I'll get them to take a look. I'll let you know if I find a solution. Good luck.

 

its a defect in the steering column.

there was a NHTSA notice about it.

it will happen under semi hard braking and over small bumps. right?

ive had the same problem since i bought the car.

 

exactly. Any luck with GM fixing it under warranty???

 

yeah, any info on what needs to be replaced/fixed?

it just seems weird that this problem occured like immediately after putting on the sportlines.

 

yeah lemme find some.

and i think the springs just amplified the problem. i assure you what you are talking about many of this community have been plagued with.

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Chevrol...006/tsbs.shtml

 

my bet is your discs are warped, raise your car...leave it in neutral place a dial indicator gauge on the disc set it to 0 and spin it see the runout. if this is chineese to you heres a simple explanation discs are most likely warped

 

warped rotors.

 

how the hell would my front rotors just warp out of no where though?

im talking this was no gradual come on of a rattle. it wasnt there one day, the next day it was and it hasnt gotten better or worse since. i really doubt its my rotors, but i was planning on replacing them soon anyways to match the rear rotors. so if it is somehow magic overnight warped rotors, ill know when i replace them.

 

They didnt torque the lugs with a wrench ,probably used the torque gun and reamed the lugs on.
Usually they dont even hand start the lugs and Ive seen alot of so called professionals do that over the years.
This will cause the rotors to warp(uneven torque on the lugs)

 

More than likely it is the steering column. Gm used a steel worm gear on the motor that drives a nylon gear for the gear reduction. That nylon gear wears and causes a rattle over bumps, under certain braking condtions and steering conditions. It is a very common problem. We see it at least once or twice a week. There are other possible causes such as i-shafts, sway bar links and control arm bushings. Make sure they tightened the sway bar links when they did the work, although that noise would occur more often than just braking. I can give you the the gm procedure to determining if the noise is from the column or other parts.
Tom

 

I had this problem and i took it in to the GM dealer and he said warped rotors. went to NAPA or somewhere and got rotors for the front, changed them out and problem went away.

I did have a problem with my steering column and when this came, it locked up the steering wheel making the car super hard to turn and a lil message poped up on the DIC.

Try changing your rotors first. rotors is not covered by warrenty but the steering column is if new rotors does not fix the issue.

 

yeah you know what probably did it...

my winter wheels have these pain in the ass lug nuts that barely squeeze in. now if you put them in directly straight theres no problem, but if you are off by the slightest they will not screw on correctly.

so the guy who did my sportlines (my so called professional, who is actually a friend of mine who is a meineke mechanic that has his own garage and lift at his home), was having a tough time with the front lug nuts. i was right there with him trying to get them on right, and he finally just got it on and torque it on ok. i have a feeling it didnt go in right and he might of over-torqued it. you know i was right there next to him too i should have just told him to chill with it.

 

you probably noticed it after the upgrade because the suspension is tighter now. It could be one of two very common problems with the cobalt, the steering shaft or the steering column. Of course, is could be both. GM will replace it under warranty.

 

I have replaced the front rotors for a steering rattle over 40 MPH.

I had the upper column replaced first (known issue with the EPS/nylon gear) and it reduced the rattle. Then the rotors and it was silent for about 6 months. I will have to check if the rotors are actually warped with a straight edge soon. I just don’t believe they would keep getting warped.