CarComplaints.com Notes: The Cobalt was introduced to replace two of Chevy’s smaller cars, the Cavalier and Prizm. But the compact’s fresh start that Chevy was hoping for was riddled with issues, most notably widespread power steering failure.
front passenger caliper sticking after applying brake
I’ve had this issue going on for two or three months now. I don’t remember for sure if it started in October or November of 2016. There is a wobbling occurring in the front end of my car. I, originally thought at first, this was a result of my cooling fan motor going out. This is located behind my radiator. My husband, son, and I recently replaced the motor on Friday, December 30, 2016. It wasn’t until Thursday, January 5, 2017, that I found out the wobbling wasn’t a result of the cooling fan as it occurred on my way to the doctor that morning.
Here is what occurs when my car acts up… This only happens on the interstate after I’ve been driving between 60 and 70 mph for 15-25 minutes. The wobbling slowly occurs at this point and the longer I’m driving the worse the wobbling gets. I can feel the wobbling at first through the floorboard and eventually through my steering wheel. If I try to increase my speed the car seems to struggle to increase in acceleration. My instant reaction is looking for the nearest exit to calm my car down. I have never tried to continue driving to see if the wobbling ever quits. As the nearest exit approaches, I tried to slow down by slightly applying my brakes. When this happens, my brakes feel like they are locking up. So I let off on my brakes and allow the car to slow down on its own. As I’m taking the exit I slightly apply my brakes again and at this point no locking up feeling appears so I continue to pump my brakes slowly. While this is happening, the wobbling gets much worse until I get the car to come to a complete stop.
Now here is the most frustrating part I’m currently dealing with. This wobbling only occurs randomly and only on the interstate. The wobbling does not occur when I’m driving through town. This also doesn’t always happen in the same area on the interstate. But it does occur it’s always at high speed.
On Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, I took my car to Vannoy’s Tire Mart on 9th Ave, Pensacola, FL. They looked at it for a short while and said it had to be a mechanical issue. I never received a message on my dashboard of any error. I even stopped by an automotive shop and the owner checked my computer and no errors showed up.
During this past weekend, I consulted with my husband and three other guys we know and thought we had narrowed it down to a bad alignment and rubber joints.
I went today, Jan. 10, 2017, seeking a 2nd opinion from Vannoy’s Tire Mart on 9 Mile Road, Pensacola, FL and to have them check for bad alignment and rubber joints. The guy there was extremely helpful by sitting down and listening to what I had to say about the wobbling. He even tried to recreate it and couldn’t. He has heard about the “death wobble†but hasn’t heard of anyone that has successfully figured out how to fix it or even what causes it. He did check the joints, boots, struts, brakes, balanced the tires, alignment, and some other things that I don’t remember the name of right now. Everything came back normal.
This car is and has been for the most part in great condition. The only major issues that I’ve had was a problem with a relay that my ex-boyfriend fixed in 2013, new tires in 2014, and replaced cooling fan motor in 2016.
The only other thing I have yet to check is my fuel filter. I have no idea if this would cause the wobbling. I am running out of ideas and suggestions on this matter. I just know something isn’t right. There has to be a reason for the wobbling or at least a solution to fix it. I don’t have the money to replace this car right now or anytime in the near future.
Update from Jan 17, 2017: Despite being told by two different Vannoy's locations that my calipers were in good condition, my husband finally test drove my car on Saturday, January 14, 2017 and felt the vibration that I have been feeling at random times. As of right now, it's the front passenger caliper that's sticking. We won't know more until this weekend when we get it on jacks to see how much more or little damage has resulted from this.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
front passenger caliper sticking after applying brake I’ve had this issue going on for two or three months now. I don’t remember for sure if it started in October or November of 2016. There is a wobbling occurring in the front end of my car. I, originally thought at first, this was a result of my cooling fan motor going out. This is located behind my radiator. My husband, son, and I recently replaced the motor on Friday, December 30, 2016. It wasn’t until Thursday, January 5, 2017, that I found out the wobbling wasn’t a result of the cooling fan as it occurred on my way to the doctor that morning.
Here is what occurs when my car acts up… This only happens on the interstate after I’ve been driving between 60 and 70 mph for 15-25 minutes. The wobbling slowly occurs at this point and the longer I’m driving the worse the wobbling gets. I can feel the wobbling at first through the floorboard and eventually through my steering wheel. If I try to increase my speed the car seems to struggle to increase in acceleration. My instant reaction is looking for the nearest exit to calm my car down. I have never tried to continue driving to see if the wobbling ever quits. As the nearest exit approaches, I tried to slow down by slightly applying my brakes. When this happens, my brakes feel like they are locking up. So I let off on my brakes and allow the car to slow down on its own. As I’m taking the exit I slightly apply my brakes again and at this point no locking up feeling appears so I continue to pump my brakes slowly. While this is happening, the wobbling gets much worse until I get the car to come to a complete stop.
Now here is the most frustrating part I’m currently dealing with. This wobbling only occurs randomly and only on the interstate. The wobbling does not occur when I’m driving through town. This also doesn’t always happen in the same area on the interstate. But it does occur it’s always at high speed.
On Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, I took my car to Vannoy’s Tire Mart on 9th Ave, Pensacola, FL. They looked at it for a short while and said it had to be a mechanical issue. I never received a message on my dashboard of any error. I even stopped by an automotive shop and the owner checked my computer and no errors showed up.
During this past weekend, I consulted with my husband and three other guys we know and thought we had narrowed it down to a bad alignment and rubber joints.
I went today, Jan. 10, 2017, seeking a 2nd opinion from Vannoy’s Tire Mart on 9 Mile Road, Pensacola, FL and to have them check for bad alignment and rubber joints. The guy there was extremely helpful by sitting down and listening to what I had to say about the wobbling. He even tried to recreate it and couldn’t. He has heard about the “death wobble†but hasn’t heard of anyone that has successfully figured out how to fix it or even what causes it. He did check the joints, boots, struts, brakes, balanced the tires, alignment, and some other things that I don’t remember the name of right now. Everything came back normal.
This car is and has been for the most part in great condition. The only major issues that I’ve had was a problem with a relay that my ex-boyfriend fixed in 2013, new tires in 2014, and replaced cooling fan motor in 2016.
The only other thing I have yet to check is my fuel filter. I have no idea if this would cause the wobbling. I am running out of ideas and suggestions on this matter. I just know something isn’t right. There has to be a reason for the wobbling or at least a solution to fix it. I don’t have the money to replace this car right now or anytime in the near future.
Update from Jan 17, 2017: Despite being told by two different Vannoy's locations that my calipers were in good condition, my husband finally test drove my car on Saturday, January 14, 2017 and felt the vibration that I have been feeling at random times. As of right now, it's the front passenger caliper that's sticking. We won't know more until this weekend when we get it on jacks to see how much more or little damage has resulted from this.
- lmmyers83, Milton, FL, US