steering wheel shimmy issue
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 116
steering wheel shimmy issue
and it drives me nuts. '83 SC.
Have new tie rods, ball joints, and shocks and no slack or wheel wobble with the front end up checking the bearings ( no noise either)...and I've readjusted them for the hell of it.
Ay 73, or so, mph I get a very slight shimmy...below that nothing.
I've had the wheels balanced twice.
All I can figure (relatively new set of tires) is a bad tire...
Can bearings exhibit that kind of issue even tho they have no 'play' or noise?
That's the only thing I've not changed out.
Steering is very tight and responsive and no play in the steering wheel column.
Have new tie rods, ball joints, and shocks and no slack or wheel wobble with the front end up checking the bearings ( no noise either)...and I've readjusted them for the hell of it.
Ay 73, or so, mph I get a very slight shimmy...below that nothing.
I've had the wheels balanced twice.
All I can figure (relatively new set of tires) is a bad tire...
Can bearings exhibit that kind of issue even tho they have no 'play' or noise?
That's the only thing I've not changed out.
Steering is very tight and responsive and no play in the steering wheel column.
Addict
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 37,754
Likes: 15
From: Alta Loma Alone
Wheels can balance out perfectly on the machine and still have bad harmonics at various speeds. I believe the balance machines spin at about 55 miles per hour, so traveling at a speed above that will throw off the balance.
You may need to break the bead, spin the tire a quarter turn from its current point on the wheel and start over.
I have even had to remove the tires from the rims and swap them side to side, keeping them spinning the same direction, but wearing the opposite side. Our negative camber causes more ware on the inner tread.
Any chance your yellow or red dot wasn't lined up with the valve stem? The dots show the lightest point on the tire. If your tire s ores a red dot, you definitely want it at the valve stem.
You may need to break the bead, spin the tire a quarter turn from its current point on the wheel and start over.
I have even had to remove the tires from the rims and swap them side to side, keeping them spinning the same direction, but wearing the opposite side. Our negative camber causes more ware on the inner tread.
Any chance your yellow or red dot wasn't lined up with the valve stem? The dots show the lightest point on the tire. If your tire s ores a red dot, you definitely want it at the valve stem.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 116
Dumb luck but that's why it's been giving me fits, been trying to fix the unfixable.
I'll do the swap and try that out.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 42
From: Hurley, NY
and it drives me nuts. '83 SC.
Have new tie rods, ball joints, and shocks and no slack or wheel wobble with the front end up checking the bearings ( no noise either)...and I've readjusted them for the hell of it.
Ay 73, or so, mph I get a very slight shimmy...below that nothing.
I've had the wheels balanced twice.
All I can figure (relatively new set of tires) is a bad tire...
Can bearings exhibit that kind of issue even tho they have no 'play' or noise?
That's the only thing I've not changed out.
Steering is very tight and responsive and no play in the steering wheel column.
Have new tie rods, ball joints, and shocks and no slack or wheel wobble with the front end up checking the bearings ( no noise either)...and I've readjusted them for the hell of it.
Ay 73, or so, mph I get a very slight shimmy...below that nothing.
I've had the wheels balanced twice.
All I can figure (relatively new set of tires) is a bad tire...
Can bearings exhibit that kind of issue even tho they have no 'play' or noise?
That's the only thing I've not changed out.
Steering is very tight and responsive and no play in the steering wheel column.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 837
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From: Encinitas Ca.
I had that same issue on a '84 911. They balanced the tires three times before it got straighten out.
The prior owner had purchased a lesser brand tire. I should have put on Michelins and would have been the last of it.................
The prior owner had purchased a lesser brand tire. I should have put on Michelins and would have been the last of it.................
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 116
Steering is tight and spot on...no wobble in the wheel bushing either...that's all good.
I suspect the Firestones have an issue.
The shimmy is very slight, feel it not so much see it in the wheel....as Lamps said I thin it is a harmonic from a cheaper tire, or one that was poorly made....I'll be working there I think, prob is they are pretty new with little wear.
I suspect the Firestones have an issue.
The shimmy is very slight, feel it not so much see it in the wheel....as Lamps said I thin it is a harmonic from a cheaper tire, or one that was poorly made....I'll be working there I think, prob is they are pretty new with little wear.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 116
Good idea, race911 suggested I swap rears to front and was contemplating that but have 225/50 16's on the rear and don't think that would be a fit up front on the SC.
There is not another 911 in my small town btw.
There is not another 911 in my small town btw.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,312
Likes: 10
From: Roseville, CA
Ran 225's on all my cars over the decades.
Again, look at it this way--you're just going to leave your driveway, through the neighborhood, and out to the highway for a few miles. All you're trying to do is take a variable out.
Again, look at it this way--you're just going to leave your driveway, through the neighborhood, and out to the highway for a few miles. All you're trying to do is take a variable out.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 116
As to the flat spot suggestion...only if it came that way, I drive it too much for it to develop one from sitting still, 12k or more a year.