Cadillac CTS Brake Pads

[yabadaba]

A mate of mine has just bought a 2005 (55 plate) Cadillac CTS 3.6 Sport Luxury and it needs new rear brake pads. Problem is that there seems to be 2 different types available...well according to a local car spares place anyway.

I did have a quick look on Rock auto and they list rear pads for cars originally fitted with semi-metallic rear pads and those originally fitted with ceramic rear pads. Any idea what the correct replacement pads would be for a UK model 55 plate car (build date seems to be Sept 05)?

[timewatch]

yabadaba said:

A mate of mine has just bought a 2005 (55 plate) Cadillac CTS 3.6 Sport Luxury and it needs new rear brake pads. Problem is that there seems to be 2 different types available...well according to a local car spares place anyway.

I did have a quick look on Rock auto and they list rear pads for cars originally fitted with semi-metallic rear pads and those originally fitted with ceramic rear pads. Any idea what the correct replacement pads would be for a UK model 55 plate car (build date seems to be Sept 05)?

Hi,

I would suggest you contact Bauer & Millett in Manchester as they are the only dealership around for the CTS according to Cadillac Europe,
they are excellent to deal with and I feel sure if you gave them the chassis number they would help out.

I had a CTS 57 plate, fantastic car, just make sure you have had all the re-call's done for the Diff? And don't go haulling out radios
and disconnecting electrical bit's 'n' bobs otherwise you will have to take it to Bauer & Millett to have the computer reset.

There is another Garage that may be able to reset the computer, try Autotec in Wishaw they have the Tech2 device required I believe.

Good luck, and if you require any other help just ask and I'll see if I can help, I also have a Radio/CD for this car if at any point you may require it.

Cheers

Doug

[yabadaba]

Cheers Doug, we did finally get it sorted through a combination of getting GM to email though a build sheet, by contacting Bauer Millett and giving them the VIN number and then ordering the correct parts from Rock Auto.

Bauer Millett also mentioned there were 2 recalls outstanding on the vehicle so my mate's going to have those done as soon as he can...there's actually a service place listed as being in Wimbledon that he hopes will be able to do this rather than having to take a trip up to Manchester.

Thanks for the tip on the Tech2 machine

[timewatch]

yabadaba said:

Cheers Doug, we did finally get it sorted through a combination of getting GM to email though a build sheet, by contacting Bauer Millett and giving them the VIN number and then ordering the correct parts from Rock Auto.

Bauer Millett also mentioned there were 2 recalls outstanding on the vehicle so my mate's going to have those done as soon as he can...there's actually a service place listed as being in Wimbledon that he hopes will be able to do this rather than having to take a trip up to Manchester.

Thanks for the tip on the Tech2 machine

You are very welcome!

other things I can tell you about are:

1. the roof dash illumination regulator slider switch, make sure you do the following, clean it with WD40. push it all the way up to the till the
interior lights go on, then turn off again, but make sure you give it at least half a Centimeter from the light on switch position, apparently if you don't do that the computer senses a current leak and can drain the battery or turn on the alarm intermittently, I had that problem and it's inherent in all CTS.

2. the battery, some batteries were re-called due to memory effect, this only allows the battery to half charge then go dud, I had that problem!
so check online and you will get the AC Delco battery number that was re-called.

3. intrusion sensor, this is hidden in the rear roof light, open it up and you will see it there, this causes the alarm to go off intermittently, the sensitivity can be turned down or the sensor can be turned off on the dash radio/cd computer, I always had it turned off as it only covered the interior
alarm and does not effect the external alarm, if that don't help with alarm sensitivity you will have to get the dealer to turn it down with the Tech 2 device, I had that problem too!

4. front air dam, the dirt/water deflector panel that attaches to the front air dam underside comes loose and rattles, fix it by replacing ALL of the plastic studs or automotive screw replacements, I had that too!

5. check the drivers seat fixing nuts to the floor and on the seat slider carriage too, they come loose. yes I had that too!

6. if you have a CD stack player on the dash and not sat-nav, do NOT put CD's with paper labels in to the unit as it's so hot they fall off,
someone had done that in the car I purchased, Ho Hum eh!

7. the boot lid sometimes fills with water during heavy rain, resolve this by removing to two small rubber studs at each end of the boot, this lets the water out before build up, yes I had that!

8. Re-call on bonnet, it's aluminum and if you have any internal paint crazed lines right along the front edge of the bonnet, it will have to be replaced or re painted, this is a difficult thing to do on the CTS, so they replaced the full bonnet on my car!!!

9. check the bonnet for rattles, by bouncing the soft edge of your fist next to each wing side of the washer jets, listen for vibrating rattles,
I never got to the bottom of what caused and neither did Stratstone, therefor I gave the car back after owning it for 7 months for a full refund
to the dealer I bought off, as it wasn't fit for purpose.

Don't get me wrong here I loved the car apart from the above, it was beautiful to drive, and I would buy another, but it would be the latest model as they finally seemed to get their act together with that, please avoid Stratstone at all cost's for any repairs, I've just saved you a fortune in grief !

Hope all the above helps you have happy motoring with the CTS

All the best

Doug

[yabadaba]

Thanks, will look into some of those issues you listed. As it happens, I did notice that the rear roof light is not seated correctly....one of the lugs that holds it in place is sticking out, instead of going under the headliner...so looks like someone may already have attended to the intrusion detector!

[timewatch]

yabadaba said:

Thanks, will look into some of those issues you listed. As it happens, I did notice that the rear roof light is not seated correctly....one of the lugs that holds it in place is sticking out, instead of going under the headliner...so looks like someone may already have attended to the intrusion detector!

Yes it's a very common fault, It would appear that the CTS has particular stock faults, one would imagine once you got them sorted
the car would be fine.

What does work well on these cars is the snow traction button, I was at a friends house and didn't realize it was snowing so heavily out, 10 inches
of snow too, then I remembered the snow traction button on the auto box, I was amazed! From no traction to almost full traction
have to say it got me home over 12 miles in 10 inches of snow, thank you Cadillac!!

Cheers

Doug

[Mista_V]

Really nice cars just a shame the support network for them is virtually nil, had a 2006 3.6 myself, just hope nothing big goes wrong on them! the exhaust went on mine and the only place I could find to deal with it and source parts that wasn't 2+ hours away quoted £3000, luckily the dealer I bought it from paid for mine and negotiated that figure down to.....£2300, if that is how much an exhaust costs I hate to think about clutches, gearboxes or whatever else so keep it in tip top shape!

Personally I couldn't stomach the risk so it was sold!

[timewatch]

Mista_V said:

Really nice cars just a shame the support network for them is virtually nil, had a 2006 3.6 myself, just hope nothing big goes wrong on them! the exhaust went on mine and the only place I could find to deal with it and source parts that wasn't 2+ hours away quoted £3000, luckily the dealer I bought it from paid for mine and negotiated that figure down to.....£2300, if that is how much an exhaust costs I hate to think about clutches, gearboxes or whatever else so keep it in tip top shape!

Personally I couldn't stomach the risk so it was sold!

It would have been cheaper to have one Custom made?

Stainless steel fully made was £660.

[mariner2]

I too have had pleasant dealings with Baur Millett but they are 200 miles away so I go to Evans Halshaw Wavendon(Milton Keynes) which was the original Cadillac PDI centre when Strastone were selling the CTS. I have found them very helpful and they have not only Tech2 but the link to the Cadillac S/W which Vauxhall dealers lack. Their phone number is 01908 585123, ask for Steve or Charlie

Charlie the spares mgr has made a big effort to re-source some of the spares to the UK to cut costs. Front and rear discs are now UK sourced at much lower prices than GM plus pads from Mintex.

Also batteries ae available for about £115 , physically slightly higher than the GM one but side terminala and fit fine, even the flexible cover still goes on.

For those who do not know when GM re-launched Caddy in Europe they used a Dutch firm Kloymans to handle the cars rather than Vauxhall/Opel dealers for what seemed good reasons at the time. Kloymans went bust so Caddy's were poorly supported ( i.e go to rockauto),now a Swedish company with long time GM links does the parts and they are generally available to Wavendon in 72 hrs.

Also when Stratstone started up on Caddy's they ordered several hundred at once. Many spent long periods in the compound and a number of the UK car problems stem purely from that time ( rusted discs, seized brake presure senors shutting down the TC etc. etc).

Also there is a door lock problem causd by a rush to meet the Thatcham std. but new locks are £110 so not too bad.

[Dr-Bob]

USAUtomotive had everything in stock for a 55 plate caddy inc pads....

Pete 01234 273155

[the_scorpion]

mariner2 said:

Also there is a door lock problem causd by a rush to meet the Thatcham std. but new locks are £110 so not too bad.

What was the door lock problem if you don't mind me asking?

[Tim16V]

Also watch out for those cheap circular clips that hold various hoses on in the engine bay. Leaks can occur as these rust and break...easy enough to replace with proper jubilee clips though.

[mariner2]

To answer the lock question above ( sorry for delay!)

When the CTS was launched in the UK it had to get Thatcham anti-theft approval, Thatcham was apparently not happy with the lock security against theft tools. So GM designed a plate which fits tightly over the drivers lock mechamism to avoid "picking".

Unfortunately GM mis-designed it slightly so it actually rubs on the lock mechanism which eventually causes the lock motor to fail.

The symptom is the locks pulling up slower and slower and the key becoming very hard to turn.

A new lock ass'y is only £110 from Evans Halshaw so it isn't too bad if it happens. Many cars will already been fixed. Changing the lock is about 90 minutes but is a specialized jhob. If you have a failure I may know somebody near MK who may be able to do it.

[deano555]

Hi Guys,

Just stumbled accross this thread whilst searching and noticed the mention of Wavendon for Cadillac servicing.

I have a '57 plate CTS, which is about to be due a service & MOT.

Does anyone have a rough idea what Evans Halshaw at Wavendon (Milton Keynes) charge? Or am I better just taking it to my usual garage. I have owned the car for about 1 year, it has 34K on the clock.

To my knowledge all of the recalls have been done on the car, as I took it to Wavendon about 8 months back after receiving a letter from GM regarding a recall on the rear diff and a problem with the sensor in the passenger seat for the airbag.

Also, quite nicely, I live less than 5 minutes away from them!!

[Vet Guru]

Steve at wavendon is really good and a small service should be around £200 using GM parts. Not bad for a main dealer and he is very good.

[deano555]

Vet Guru said:

Steve at wavendon is really good and a small service should be around £200 using GM parts. Not bad for a main dealer and he is very good.

Thanks for that. I called them today to get a rough idea , and spoke to Charlie, was quoted roughly £200 + VAT which I thought seemed pretty reasonable for a main dealer