General STS thread

[kevm14]

Questionable torque converter solution:
http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/M465HA.html

Wow.

Try a web search for a product called "Dr Tranny". It is a product especially designed for transmission "shudder" which sounds like what you are experiencing. I tried it in my car and it INSTANTLY fixed the problem. Prior to this, I had the torque converter replaced under warranty and when the problem resurfaced (out of warranty), the dealership said it was a different problem. I took it to several shops and all said I would have to replace the torque converter.

Source: https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/1 ... n-problems

I can't even find a source for a replacement torque converter. I thought it would be easy...

At this point I think I am most annoyed that this wasn't addressed while the car was under CPO. I have to believe it has been doing this for a long time. This was a problem with transmissions at like 20k...

[kevm14]

Questionable torque converter solution:
http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/M465HA.html

Better sources and prices:
http://www.lubegard.com/~/C-230/Dr.+Tra ... udder+Fixx
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/lbg-19680

Lubegard is a real company that I have heard of. I think I see a tube of this in my future. Maybe a trans fluid/filter and this stuff will be the ticket. That would be....easier.

I wonder if it would fix my Caprice's torque converter lockup clutch, too. lol

[kevm14]

Another commute in. I am really quite satisfied with this car so far. It checks a lot of the boxes for what I like in a daily driver type car. The brake feel is crappy, but I am afraid that may be somewhat par for the course. I could flush the system. That might help. But otherwise, it picks up and makes passes effortlessly when I want to, still very much like the suspension ride/handling, steering feels nice and as I said before the stereo is great. Urge to drive Caprice: pretty low....

I looked up anti-roll bar bushings last night and unfortunately they only seem to be available from GM (well, Rockauto doesn't have them). 4 new bushings for the front and rear is going to be like $160 shipped. Yeah, that is steep. Probably worth doing though.

I think it could also use engine mounts but I don't really think that is an emergency - it just means the idle and stuff is coarser than it should be. With a few more driveline clunks than there should be under certain transient torque situations.

I am not sure yet but I am also wondering if I could drive this transmission to 200k with the torque converter clutch like this. I've never heard anyone say it resulted in a failure. I still have my plans to fluid/filter change, plus add that Dr. Tranny stuff. But it's somewhat comforting to not think it is going to fail at any moment.

[kevm14]

I looked up anti-roll bar bushings last night and unfortunately they only seem to be available from GM (well, Rockauto doesn't have them). 4 new bushings for the front and rear is going to be like $160 shipped. Yeah, that is steep. Probably worth doing though.

Ah. Looks like Moog has either started making them, or Advance Auto has started carrying the part. Looks like rear ones are available. I need to check if I have the 17mm or 22mm rear bar. One of the GM sites said both FE1 and FE3 used the 17mm rear bar, so I wonder if the 22mm was for the STS-V (which was not available in 2005 though). I will mic it and see.

Unfortunately I do not see front ones.

[kevm14]

Oh this is interesting.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/ca ... r-mod.html

These guys are saying the AWD uses the same rear bar diameter as the STS-V?? Good on GM for upgrading that to help compensate for the extra weight in the front of the AWD. That may help explain why the handling still feels great to me.

24mm...yet I see 17 and 22. Uhh....more research needed. And still not sure about the front bar.

[kevm14]

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/ca ... sizes.html

STS

Stabilizer bar:
Front:
V6...hollow, 33-mm diameter
V8...hollow, 33-mm diameter

Rear:
V6...RWD: hollow, 17-mm diameter
V6...AWD: hollow, 24-mm diameter
V8...RWD: hollow, 19-mm diameter
V8...AWD: hollow, 24-mm diameter

STS-V

Stabilizer bar:
Front:
hollow, 36-mm diameter

Rear:
hollow, 24-mm diameter

So....33mm front and 24mm rear. Same rear bar as V. That is kind of cool. So I don't know what all this 22mm stuff is all about...

Also, the V uses a 36mm front but the same rear. I know spring rates are different but going by bar diameter alone, it almost looks like the FE3 would be more balanced.

EDIT: I was thinking about it wrong. The STS-V is RWD. So the RWD V8 regular STS uses 33mm front and 19mm rear. The V upgrades those to 36mm and 24mm. Looking at it that way, it makes sense. What doesn't make sense is why every single listing says 22mm for the rear, including GM parts sites. But GM Parts Direct lists the V8 AWD and STS-V as using the same "22mm" rear bushing so I would guess the part would be correct, regardless of what the spec indicates.

Other random specs: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/ca ... tions.html

[kevm14]

Called my old buddy who still works at Banks Chevrolet up in NH. I forgot I bought the SRX power steering pump from him like 2 years ago now. He laughed when I said I bought an STS, but he has completely flipped to the opposite end of the scale. He said he lives in a place where he can't really work on cars so you know what he does now? Leases cars. So, totally flipped over to that side of it. I mean I don't feel too bad about his reaction given that he's in a situation where leasing works best for him. He said he hasn't even bought a set of tires since 2008.

Anyway, I ordered the bushings. His listing also said 22mm rear so that must be right. It also makes sense if you look at the STS-V spec. Front goes from 33 to 36. And rear goes from 19 to 22. 3mm increase front and rear.

EDIT: I did ask about a torque converter. For some reason it is like $450. Because of course it is. At least it is available.

[kevm14]

More info:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/ca ... efore.html

This guy had temporary luck with fluid/filter in an SRX but it came back. He tried the Dr. Tranny stuff from Lubegard and that seemed to cure the TCC issue. What I am realizing is I really need to completely flush the transmission of all fluid for best results. If the car has factory Dexron III, then even more reason because I was planning on using Dexron VI. I don't know if I really feel like flushing with the trans cooler lines...but it does have a drain plug (or so I have read/seen in pictures - need to verify mine) so I could theoretically just do a bunch of drains and refills until I felt it was all flushed.

8 page thread I have not read for info:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/ca ... e-fix.html

[kevm14]

Anyway, I ordered the bushings. His listing also said 22mm rear so that must be right. It also makes sense if you look at the STS-V spec. Front goes from 33 to 36. And rear goes from 19 to 22. 3mm increase front and rear.

Actual specs from GM that say 24mm at the rear. Sigh.

https://archives.media.gm.com/us/cadill ... index.html

As long as the part fits right, I really don't care. I just don't want the wrong part obviously.

Fun fact: max engine speed is 6,750 rpm. I thought it was 6,500. HP is 320 @ 6,400.

[kevm14]

Based on at-work "showings" of the car, I would say it has been quite popular. Now about that adaptive cruise...