Steering Shimmy

In message - David Crist writes: :>

:>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

My jello has a shimmy. Does that count?

"Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop"

Little Anthony and the Imperials

{Not to be confused with the Chrysler Imperial)

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

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

David Crist wrote:

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.

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?

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

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

Carl

David Crist wrote: