Hello I have a 2005 cobalt ls2 coupe with 100k miles my steering wheel shakes bad between 50-75 mph intermittently. Some days not at all and some days it shakes so bad I don't feel safe driving on the highway. It's not the tires/ wheel balancing already replaced and ballenced no change its not the breaks and rotors already replaced and no change. I jacked the car up everything seems ok nothing feels loose. I have had this problem since the car had 50k miles on it but now it's a almost everyday thing and it's really shaking bad. I already had the power steering motor recall done but that didn't change anything. I'm really going crazy and really want it fixed any ideas?! Thank you so much for any help!!!!
05 cobalt steering wheel intermittently shaking
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white balt
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Check your rims are any of them warped or bent?
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Hey yeah hah I drive a lot. No the wheels are all within spec they all ballance out fine. I was thinking possibly the steering column itselft. I Dono it's about a $700 part that's a lot of money to spend on a wild guess. Grr I don't know what too do. The problem is intermittent so it makes it harder to diagnose.
---------- Post added at 05:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:45 PM ----------
But I can be going 70mph on the freeway and it's fine then after 20 or so minutes it starts to shake like crazy and gets even worse when you brake. But it's not the rotors if it was the pedal would pulsate and it wouldnt be a intermittent shake.
---------- Post added at 05:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:45 PM ----------
But I can be going 70mph on the freeway and it's fine then after 20 or so minutes it starts to shake like crazy and gets even worse when you brake. But it's not the rotors if it was the pedal would pulsate and it wouldnt be a intermittent shake.
Mhedrick33
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Id say check your wheel hubs but if its intermittent idk???????
Kanix
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Sounds like the samething i have and just replied to another post earlier today. well ur on the right track w/ the steering column... not sure exactly what its called for the part but i did find a video on youtube. just go onto youtube and look up "steering noise from 06 Cobalt" should be the first vid. that pops up. let me know if its the right sound/thing going on w/ ur car.
I have the exact same problem as Mattt6511. I thought my wheel had come loose, or a belt in my tire was finished. Our Cobalt is a 2007 sedan. We have had it for 1 month, and it's happened 2 times in the 10 or 15 times it's been on the highway. The one time I was going about 65mph, and the other time 75mph. It comes out of nowhere...Starts off small and quickly get worse. I got into the right lane, went down to 50mph and it was still shaking. Pulled off highway and went into a parking lot to inspect. Everything looked fine. Went back out on highway and it was now driving perfectly. Called dealer where I bought it. He said to bring it in this Thursday (January 24 2013) I will post here the results of dealer inspection.
GMCustomerService
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Hello Skoo,
I apologize for your inconvenience. Hopefully the dealers will diagnose what is causing this to happen. Please be sure to post if you have any additional questions on your Cobalt.
Vanessa
GM Customer Service
Hello Vanessa,
Thanks you for your reply.
Went to dealer today. Everything checked out ok. The mechanic replaced the rotors because he did not like the aftermarket rotors the previous owner had installed. Made sure wheels were balanced. He said to bring it back in if it happens again.
If Mattt6511 has his car checked out, I hope he posts the results of his inspection.
PS- My power steering unit was replaced before, and one of the main steering mechanisms( forget which part). That stuff was done before I purchased the car, and was done by the mechanic that looked at it today.
Rob
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GMCustomerService
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Bass_Waves
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Hmmm gm customer service do be responding quite fast on this foru.m
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Kanix
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Shaking in Steering Wheel...
It's your Steering Gear Box Located under your dash. I have the same issue along w/ noise on my 06 ls. which i also have 104k miles on it. but it's been doing it since about/around 80k miles. it's a $500-$550 part to get too. and youtube has a video about it which i found and it's identical to the play i have from the vibration and the noise that comes w/ it. something to do w/ a plastic gear in the gear box going bad.
here's the link: STEERING NOISE ON 06 COBALT - YouTube
It's your Steering Gear Box Located under your dash. I have the same issue along w/ noise on my 06 ls. which i also have 104k miles on it. but it's been doing it since about/around 80k miles. it's a $500-$550 part to get too. and youtube has a video about it which i found and it's identical to the play i have from the vibration and the noise that comes w/ it. something to do w/ a plastic gear in the gear box going bad.
here's the link: STEERING NOISE ON 06 COBALT - YouTube
2005 Chevy Cobalt Steering Column
Ok so a little ticked right now... about three years ago my i started feeling a vibration in my wheel at certain speeds and when braking. Well did all the initial suggestion etc... i even bought new rims... didnt help. so i took it to the GM dealer , they said that the steering column needed a piece fixed on it... so $300 or so dollars later i take my car home... Nothing changed still shaking just as bad. So i take it back and tell them its still doing it and say that there is no way this was tested... Because they told me they did and the shake was gone. Well then they tell me yea that its still shaking bad so they look at it then tell me the steering column needs replaced. So now i am a little ticked bc i paid money to just have it fixed... well needless to say i pay for the new steering column. Now a couple years or so later its back to doing it. What the heck , this has to be some type of defect in the column their is no way! I cant afford another stinking steering column for one especially if i am going to have to have it replaced in a couple years! Someone please point me in the right direction. I just feel im getting screwed over here!
Ok so a little ticked right now... about three years ago my i started feeling a vibration in my wheel at certain speeds and when braking. Well did all the initial suggestion etc... i even bought new rims... didnt help. so i took it to the GM dealer , they said that the steering column needed a piece fixed on it... so $300 or so dollars later i take my car home... Nothing changed still shaking just as bad. So i take it back and tell them its still doing it and say that there is no way this was tested... Because they told me they did and the shake was gone. Well then they tell me yea that its still shaking bad so they look at it then tell me the steering column needs replaced. So now i am a little ticked bc i paid money to just have it fixed... well needless to say i pay for the new steering column. Now a couple years or so later its back to doing it. What the heck , this has to be some type of defect in the column their is no way! I cant afford another stinking steering column for one especially if i am going to have to have it replaced in a couple years! Someone please point me in the right direction. I just feel im getting screwed over here!
Update: Not long after the rotors were replaced, the wheel shake happened again. I think the callipers are not releasing all the way and are heating up the rotors. I never went back to dealer( to far), and will take it to my regular mechanic.Will post back when after he inspects it.
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Bass_Waves
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If its causing it to stick. You could have many things wrong. Air in the brake line system. Seizing calipers. Causing heat to the rotors which causes warpage. Brake pad wear increased 10 fold. Also seized pins on the calipers. A good clean up and anti seize does the trick to fix that.
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GMCustomerService
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Hi there,
Sorry to hear that you're still having trouble with your vehicle. We understand your decision to not go back to the dealership since it's too far. Hopefully your mechanic is able to correct this issue for you. If you ever need information about other dealerships in your area don't hesitate to ask!
Amber N.
Chevrolet Customer Care
Distraught
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intermittent vibration cobalt steering column
My 2005 Cobalt has been experiencing more frequent occurrences of vibration on highway. After driving about 20 miles on expressway going over 60 mph, sometimes my cobalt will feel like I hit some rough road and I experience vibration in the steering column which progressively gets worse and I pull off the highway and shut off the engine. When I restart the car and return to 60 mph the vibration is no longer there. I am convinced it is electrically related because shutting off the engine and restarting seems to temporarily correct the problem. This car was recalled in 2011 and steering issue was supposedly fixed. I'm guessing from online research that it might be the power steering assist motor or control module or both The module is over $1000 to replace. Has anybody pinpointed this problem?
My 2005 Cobalt has been experiencing more frequent occurrences of vibration on highway. After driving about 20 miles on expressway going over 60 mph, sometimes my cobalt will feel like I hit some rough road and I experience vibration in the steering column which progressively gets worse and I pull off the highway and shut off the engine. When I restart the car and return to 60 mph the vibration is no longer there. I am convinced it is electrically related because shutting off the engine and restarting seems to temporarily correct the problem. This car was recalled in 2011 and steering issue was supposedly fixed. I'm guessing from online research that it might be the power steering assist motor or control module or both The module is over $1000 to replace. Has anybody pinpointed this problem?
roosterk0031
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I'd try pulling the power steering fuse (assuming there is one I haven't checked) it shouldn't be that hard to drive without PS. My kids 2 girls (>120 lbs) and a son have been driving a 1998 stratus without it for 5 years.
savatreatabvr
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I've got 169,000 on my 05, time for you guys to catch up!
I'd be past that if I hadn't traded my 06 LT in for my 09 SS. It had 90k, the SS has 117k.
Distraught
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As a followup I just did the brakes, both front and rear as I could hear worn brake noises coming from the rear when I stopped. The rear shoes were shot. The front disk pads however were barely worn and seemed like they were rusted so bad on the slides that I think they were stuck and inoperable. Installed new rotors and pads and liberally applied the brake grease on the slides so the pads would move like they were supposed to. Have taken it out on the highway five times and as yet have not experienced any shaking. I'm thinking the shaking probably was related to worn rotors and faulty pads