Steering Shimmy

[rob c]

In message <(e-mail address removed)> - David Crist
:>
:>I have a 2000 OBW with 74,000 miles. The steering wheel shimmies.
:>The dealer said the alignment was correct and that the wheels needed
:>to be balanced. That shifted the shimmy from being most pronounced at
:>30 MPH to being most pronounced at 70 MPH. A tire shop rebalanced the
:>wheels and shifted the shimmy back to 30 MPH.
:>
:>Assuming the dealer was correct about the alignment, can anyone
:>suggest alternate theories for the shimmy?

My 94 Legacy had a shimmy that only appeared during acceleration. It turned
out to be a worn CV joint.

Rob

 

[David Crist]

I have a 2000 OBW with 74,000 miles. The steering wheel shimmies.
The dealer said the alignment was correct and that the wheels needed
to be balanced. That shifted the shimmy from being most pronounced at
30 MPH to being most pronounced at 70 MPH. A tire shop rebalanced the
wheels and shifted the shimmy back to 30 MPH.

Assuming the dealer was correct about the alignment, can anyone
suggest alternate theories for the shimmy?

 

[kstahl]

My 94 Legacy had a shimmy that only appeared during acceleration. It turned
out to be a worn CV joint.

Rob

My jello has a shimmy. Does that count?

 

[ZZ]

"Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop"

Little Anthony and the Imperials






{Not to be confused with the Chrysler Imperial)

 

[johninKY]

Rotate the front tires to the back. If the shimmy moves with the change,
replace the tires.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Well, you'd think a tire shop would've suggested this, but often bad
tires will cause a shimmy. Try rotating them and see if the shimmy
CHANGES. If it does you likely have a bad tire.

Carl

 

[kstahl]

Rotate the front tires to the back. If the shimmy moves with the change,
replace the tires.

But wouldn't it be true that the shimmy would only occur when the tires
are rotating? It would be really strange of they shimmyed when the car
was standing still.

 

[John]

Well, you'd think a tire shop would've suggested this, but often bad tires

will cause a shimmy. Try rotating them and see if the shimmy CHANGES. If
it does you likely have a bad tire.

OK, so if the tire is bad he needs to replace the tire. Or does he need to
replace all 4 tires? Remembering all the discussions here about the
difference in tire diameters and the effect on the AWD system, would this
stand to reason or can someone get away with replacing one or both tires on
that axle?

 

[David Crist]

When the tires were new it still shimmied. So, I have a hard time
thinking it's the tires. Any other suggestions?

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

bent wheel/rim - stripped lug nut(s) - frozen brake caliper

all the above less likely than a bad tire though, just WAGs really.

Carl