[Dan Manusos]

I just bought a 2013 Used Volt with about 36,000 miles on it. Been driving it for almost a month with no problems.

About a week ago I started to notice a slight pull to the left. I took it in for an oil change (was at 27% and I want to know for sure when it was changed.)

My trusted mech that I have been going to since 2005 says the right strut is bad. Shows me how when it was on the lift, you could grab onto the tire and lift it about an inch. He says the left one is OK for now but they should be replaced in pairs.

Also the left side driveshaft or something like that is damaged from a pot hole or what not.

Here's my question: Waaaaay back in Auto Shop in 1982, I was taught that the wheel is supposed to be able to be lifted and have that much play. The teacher told us it was a scam to make you get new struts.

Whats's going on here????

 

[Barry]

I don't know about the strut test, but I'd say the mechanic is pretty bold if he's trying to scam a Marine.

 

[Loboc]

Back in '82, there were very few American cars with struts. They mostly had wishbone suspension with shocks. And yes, the ball joints back then could have a lot of play and still be in specification. (Dodge for example was something like 1/4 inch.)

Struts are part of the suspension unlike shock absorbers. Struts shouldn't have that much play. (But the test is more sophisticated than just lifting the tire. Requires a dial gauge.). Sounds like the car hit something like a pothole very hard on that side.

If the mechanic shows you both sides and one side is really sloppy, then, I'd take his word. No need for further testing. Yes, replace both sides at the same time.

 

[Dutch]

maybe this will help? Do I need new struts

 

[Dan Manusos]

I don't know about the strut test, but I'd say the mechanic is pretty bold if he's trying to scam a Marine.

Ha! So is he. Has was in almost the same time I was. We are of the same era.

 

[Dan Manusos]

maybe this will help? Do I need new struts

Thanks. None of that applies to my car. I even did the bounce test on my Black Volt and it is the same as my Sliver Volt. When my daughter gets home from school, I'm going to try it out on the Red Volt 2013 with 65,000 miles on it.

 

[bjrosen]

You say you've used the mechanic for 11 years, in that time did he ever do any major work for you or was it just routine maintenance? If you've had any serious work done you should have a good idea if he's competent or not. If he is then take his word for it, if he isn't find another mechanic. The world is divided between people who know what they are doing and those who don't, when you find someone who is really good at what they do you hang onto them for dear life because the incompetents far out number the quality people.

 

[Fyodor]

I haven't done any suspension work since the days of the Hydrolastic Mini, but i'd think just the fact that one side is different from the other means there is something wrong. Your mechanic seems trustworthy to me.

 

[voganni]

That's pretty low miles for struts to fail, and they don't usually cause the car to pull. But hitting a pothole sure will. The car will usually pull to the side that hit the pothole, as it typically changes the caster slightly which causes the pull. Happened to me when I hit a curb with my Miata. I had to replace the lower control arm, it got bent slightly and the alignment shop said they couldn't align it out.

 

[quirkySquirt]

Is your Silver Volt the one with the problem? Cause if it is, it might just be due to an infant strut that's still growing into it's adult form. I mean, it's still 2016, it's still got 87 years before it reaches full maturity for MY2103. ;-)

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

[quantumorbit]

Look at this video for explanation on Volt's suspension.

 

[1612202]

You did say that there is a pull to the left. Slop in the front end can cause the pull.

 

[11715]

I just bought a 2013 Used Volt with about 36,000 miles on it. Been driving it for almost a month with no problems.

About a week ago I started to notice a slight pull to the left. I took it in for an oil change (was at 27% and I want to know for sure when it was changed.)

My trusted mech that I have been going to since 2005 says the right strut is bad. Shows me how when it was on the lift, you could grab onto the tire and lift it about an inch. He says the left one is OK for now but they should be replaced in pairs.

Also the left side driveshaft or something like that is damaged from a pot hole or what not.

Here's my question: Waaaaay back in Auto Shop in 1982, I was taught that the wheel is supposed to be able to be lifted and have that much play. The teacher told us it was a scam to make you get new struts.

Whats's going on here????

I had the struts replaced under a recall on my 2012 several years ago. You might want to see if it is still available.

 

[wormite]

I just bought a 2013 Used Volt with about 36,000 miles on it. Been driving it for almost a month with no problems.

About a week ago I started to notice a slight pull to the left. I took it in for an oil change (was at 27% and I want to know for sure when it was changed.)

My trusted mech that I have been going to since 2005 says the right strut is bad. Shows me how when it was on the lift, you could grab onto the tire and lift it about an inch. He says the left one is OK for now but they should be replaced in pairs.

Also the left side driveshaft or something like that is damaged from a pot hole or what not.

Here's my question: Waaaaay back in Auto Shop in 1982, I was taught that the wheel is supposed to be able to be lifted and have that much play. The teacher told us it was a scam to make you get new struts.

Whats's going on here????

I experienced exactly the same thing with my trusted mech. I started looking into this because of some road noise. And my tire is cupping a bit. My mech asked for $1200 for replacing the front struts. I wonder if the OP ended up doing it. Or is this a scam...

 

[wormite]

I think I found the solution to this problem.
Refer to this thread:

Struts replacement?

Hi all, My volt 2013 started to make a cyclic noise after a rotation done at big O. So I took it back to them. After taking one of the guys around the block trying to show the problem, I couldn't really re-produce it. (The sound is still evident whenever I'm near my home, it's just the road...

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