[TQuentin1]

Yesterday I jacked the car up to work on the brakes and rotate the tires. I had the car on four jackstands at each wheel. After finishing that work, I slapped the wheels back on and let the car back down. On my test ride, the suspension seemed VERY stiff. I blew it off thinking it was just because I rarely drive the Saturn and just was not used to how it rode. But my wife (who drives it daily) commented about how "bumpy" the ride was since I worked on it.

Is there something that gets set in the ride control that would make it feel very stiff once it has been jacked up off the roadway? The brake system was very dry (took a quart and half of DOT 3 to flush and refill the system). Is there something in the brake system/ABS that would cause this?

Thanx for your help.

TQ

 

[rbarrios]

Is there alot of rust on the suspension? maybe the struts are not moving properly along their path or travel?
you didnt air up the tires?

as the brake pads wear- they move inward- this will lead to the fluid dropping level.
I know it drops some- but not a quarts and a half worth...

many times- people top off the brakes- and when they put new pads in- they have to push out the calipers-- and the fluid begins to spill from the reservoir-..

You saying that the reservoir was empty- did you put fluid in the right reservoir?
I cant imagine the reservoir itself being that empty that it took a quart and a half.

You should have gotten some light on- if it was that low

 

[TQuentin1]

Is there alot of rust on the suspension? maybe the struts are not moving properly along their path or travel?
you didnt air up the tires?

No rust to speak of. Suspension seems to be working correctly, just very stiff since I had the car up on jackstands. I did check the tire pressure when I rotated them, and all were OK.

as the brake pads wear- they move inward- this will lead to the fluid dropping level.
I know it drops some- but not a quarts and a half worth...

I was shocked too. But there is no evidence of any leaking. I am worried that the reservoir was not full to begin with when I bought the car (new).

many times- people top off the brakes- and when they put new pads in- they have to push out the calipers-- and the fluid begins to spill from the reservoir-..

Right. When I change the pads (few more thousand miles left on these), I will be aware of overflow and siphon the MC as I go.

You saying that the reservoir was empty- did you put fluid in the right reservoir?
I cant imagine the reservoir itself being that empty that it took a quart and a half.

Only one MC on this vehicle. Clearly marked with a "DOT 3" label.

You should have gotten some light on- if it was that low

No light.

TQ

 

[rbarrios]

hmmmmmmmm- then I dont know what to say...
I too have put my Traverse on stands-- no ride issued afterwards...
Maybe you need to go for a drive- and go through a nice dip to get the shocks to move along their path of travel?
Also--- did you use a torque wrench to tighen up your lug nuts?

 

[BigTallV]

The brake system was very dry (took a quart and half of DOT 3). Is there something in the brake system/ABS that would cause this?

The hydraulic brake system is a sealed system. If you just poured in 1.5 quarts of brake fluid into the reservoir there's something seriously leaking off the fluid. Get that checked out first.

As for the ride quality issue, sounds like when you jacked up the vehicle, part of the suspension is binding. The vehicle when jacked up would have the wheels at their furthest point of travel - which is not normally the case unless you're jumping your vehicle off of ramps and such. Maybe a problem with one of the struts/shock absorber.

 

[medicrxdoc]

The hydraulic brake system is a sealed system. If you just poured in 1.5 quarts of brake fluid into the reservoir there's something seriously leaking off the fluid. Get that checked out first.

I doubt that it even holds that much. Depending on the vehicle, I won't even go through that much with a brake fluid flush (haven't done the Acadia yet)....either the units is wrong or somebody if full of it.....

 

[TQuentin1]

The hydraulic brake system is a sealed system. If you just poured in 1.5 quarts of brake fluid into the reservoir there's something seriously leaking off the fluid. Get that checked out first.

Well, you're right. That was a bit misleading. I USED a quart and a half (one quart bottle and one pint bottle about 1/3 of which I still have) to refill the system and flush/bleed the system. I probably used about half that total volume in doing this. But I was shocked that the reservoir was so low. I have crawled all over the bottom of the car looking for any signs that the fluid is leaking and can't find any. So does anyone know the way the power system works on these cars and can the fluid be held somewhere in the system besides the reservoir? Can the vacuum mechanism consume brake fluid if there is a problem with it?

Now that I have flushed and bled the system, the fluid level seems to be holding. But if it is a very slow draw, I might not see that for a while and it may be masked by pad wear.

Still perplexed where all that fluid could have gone unless it did NOT start out full.

As for the ride quality issue, sounds like when you jacked up the vehicle, part of the suspension is binding. The vehicle when jacked up would have the wheels at their furthest point of travel - which is not normally the case unless you're jumping your vehicle off of ramps and such. Maybe a problem with one of the struts/shock absorber.

I did not see any place where the suspension seemed to be binding. However, this is a gas system, and I do not know if the shocks can get "gas locked" if they travel to their max. like when the car is jacked up by the frame. Over time the ride has return to normal.

TQ

 

[BigTallV]

Glad the ride has returned to 'normal'.

Just keep an eye on your brake fluid level. Level of which shouldn't really budge unless you have a leak.

 

[dmiller]

i have the same issue after a local repair shop putting my outlook on a lift. now it rides rough. I took it to a dealer and they said my struts were frozen. The piston is not moving on either strut. So before i replace them, i need to know if you or anyone knows what could cause this. I find it particularly weird that both struts would go out the day after the vehicle was placed on a lift. PLEASE ANYONE? I noticed that you said your outlook ride went back to normal after a few weeks. Did you do anything to it ?

 

[sailfish]

Each time I have the oil changed in the Outlook and they bring it down from the lift it always rides a bit stiffer but works itself out shortly.

 

[6Sixathome]

i have the same issue after a local repair shop putting my outlook on a lift. now it rides rough. I took it to a dealer and they said my struts were frozen. The piston is not moving on either strut. So before i replace them, i need to know if you or anyone knows what could cause this. I find it particularly weird that both struts would go out the day after the vehicle was placed on a lift. PLEASE ANYONE? I noticed that you said your outlook ride went back to normal after a few weeks. Did you do anything to it ?

dmiller, :welcome:

Frozen struts?, that's a first maybe the local shop did something wrong while lifting it, I would try a 2nd opinion. Please update your signature so we know what year OUTLOOK that you have and options ,etc.

 

[dmiller]

Thanks for the advice. When I say frozed, I mean I the front end doesn't even bounce. I will get a 2nd opinion. How long did yours take to resume normal ride?This rides like a sports car, maybe worse.

 

[sailfish]

Not long at all perhaps 5 to 10 miles down the road. I noticed it on our VUE as well and it also would clear up.

 

[tpd17]

Well, you're right. That was a bit misleading. I USED a quart and a half (one quart bottle and one pint bottle about 1/3 of which I still have) to refill the system and flush/bleed the system. I probably used about half that total volume in doing this. But I was shocked that the reservoir was so low. I have crawled all over the bottom of the car looking for any signs that the fluid is leaking and can't find any. So does anyone know the way the power system works on these cars and can the fluid be held somewhere in the system besides the reservoir? Can the vacuum mechanism consume brake fluid if there is a problem with it?

Now that I have flushed and bled the system, the fluid level seems to be holding. But if it is a very slow draw, I might not see that for a while and it may be masked by pad wear.

Still perplexed where all that fluid could have gone unless it did NOT start out full.

I did not see any place where the suspension seemed to be binding. However, this is a gas system, and I do not know if the shocks can get "gas locked" if they travel to their max. like when the car is jacked up by the frame. Over time the ride has return to normal.

TQ

I had the same suspension issue. After few days mine also returned to normal. Very odd.

 

[bugmenot]

My '07 Outlook had the same issue after a transmission rebuild. It was like driving a dune buggy with no struts. After some inspection, with the help of some mechanically inclined nephews, we found that the strut would compress easy, but decompression was extremely slow. Link below is a video showing slow decompression, it starts off sideways. I remedied the problem by taking the vehicle down the highway at 65 on the rumble strip for 3 miles. It didn't respond immediately, but cleared up later that evening. I did each side a different day.

lionhosting.com/sharedVideos/SlowStrut2014-11-22.mp4