[Houd]

Years later I stumble onto this thread as I have been having similar problems with my 2012 Chevy Cruze LT for over the last year or so... I had to restart this thread because I won't get any answers posting it on the original one as it dates back to 2011...

Dealer has had a look at it almost ten different times, replacing all sort of braking parts from cleaning the brakes to new brake pads and rotors all while covering it under warranty.

However, ever since my warranty has been up, currently at the 70 000kms mark, it has been more difficult to get them to cover for repair costs.

They will take the car in for hours, do something to shut it up for a few weeks and the clunking noise is back no matter what. My latest episode was when they told me that they couldn't find what was wrong with it after opening a technical case with a GM engineer ,but they suggested ordering this long list of parts to replace … Parts were well over 1000$ and they almost didn't want to cover the cost, had to bug them for weeks to get them to finally extend the warranty as it’s an ongoing thing. They admitted at this point it is guessing game so I wasn't going to pay for anything out of my pocket if it doesn't guarantee the issue is fixed.

I have an appointment next week for new calipers… if that doesn't work their last attempt will be putting a different rim on my car as mine has a small bend , maybe that’s the cause of the noise…

Was anyone able to fix this permanently, and if not has anyone reached out to GM ( i already did and was told to bring it into the dealer where they will keep covering the cost till it is fixed) and maybe got them to take the car back or offer them a deal on a new one, etc...

It's a shame as the car is only 2 and a half years old, and sounds like it's 6-7 clunking to a stop everytime i drive for more than 10 minutes...

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Houd]

As far as I am concerned, the ABS brakes on my 2012 2LT really suck, clunk like crazy if mother nature doesn't put an even coat of ice under both wheels at a stop sign. To get around this, downshift, and very slowly press on the pedal than quickly ease off so the darn front end doesn't rattle apart.


Not the first car with ABS, over 30 years worth, others would just buzz, mostly felt on the pedal, my dealer says, dey all do dis. Tend to agree with them, with mandatory ABS, sure cheapened them up. But not a problem at all on dry surfaces. You do not specify the conditions of your road, suppose to guess? Are you ABS being activated?


With front end clunks, extremely difficult to determine what and where behind the wheel, get a trusted driver and with run along side, not on a busy highway or road, and really helps to determine the source of the noise, can actually see the wheel move forwards and backwards with defective ball joints. Can also be defective control arm bushings. Really not very much to the Cruze's front suspension. With the 04 Cavalier, was defective upper strut bearings, but once in my hand, were really sloppy.

Another was a broken upper spring coil, really not enough to lower the vehicle. Troubleshooting should easy unless you have an idiot working on your car. Sure ran into a bunch of morons, idiots would be a compliment with defective rear disc calipers. Like ain't getting any codes, your calipers are fine kind of absolute idiotic statements. Other problems are loose tie rod ends, but can feel the slop in the steering, broken stabilizer links, eyes work for these.

Bushings should be sprayed with silicone, dey don't do dis with an oil change and advertised grease job, last much longer.

Typical brake problems are a low pedal or shimmy when coming to a stop. Cruze used these crazy pad cradles with steel clips, where rust builds up underneath binding the pads, can't release and warp the rotors.

May have to give you the same advice a GM rep gave me on this board, find another dealer, with me the third one was okay. But no problem after my warranty runs out, will do it myself.

My Chevy dealer wanted $$$$ for upper strut bearings, cost me 40 bucks and about two hours of slow easy work. And I am slow!

Thanks for the thorough reply NickD.

I should have specified that the clunking noise comes from the front right side, on whatever type of roads ( summer, icy, snow, etc... )

They checked the ABS and said there was no errors in the codes and had a very detailed look at the brakes l as well as the surrounding area and reassured me that everything is working the way it's supposed to be without any physical faults visible. The noise is what is puzzling them to the point of ordering random parts to scratch them off the possible cause list...

I appreciate the tip on how to get around the noise however I'd rather them adress the problem rather than roll up their sleeves and basically say suck it up...

The noise comes from the brakes even when the ABS is not activated...

If the issue is not resolved in a few weeks I will have to bring it to another chev dealership and see if they can find what is wrong with it as you mentioned....

 

[Houd]

Gotcha, I'm gonna wait before i start drilling holes myself as I am not a car guy when it comes to repairs and all, plus i want to see if they will be able to come up with a fix as they are having the same problems with equinox models but are able to solve the issue on the equinox. Might just have a defect on my hands...

 

[Houd]

Hey Houd,

Very sorry for this! I can imagine how frustrating this may seem, and I would be happy to get you in touch with the right care team in your location. If you need any kind of assistance with this, please feel free to reach out to me via private message and include your VIN, current kilometers, contact information and the preferred dealership you have been working with. I'm happy to help the best way possible.

Patsy G
Chevrolet Customer Care

Pm'ed, thanks!

 

[Houd]

Just got the car back after it spent the night getting parts replaced, got a long list of new parts put on, including break pads, calipers, brackets, etc...

I couldn't hear the noise for the last 2 weeks before bringing it in as temperature dropped to -10 to -25 celsius... noise seems to stop when it's really cold out ( mind you I haven't driven it on any long trips for it to act up either ).

This might have to wait till summer but hopefully the noise will be gone by then... (crossing fingers)

 

[Houd]

A long list of parts? Did that include a new console lid?

Negative, mine never gave me any trouble, what's wrong with yours? or was wrong ?