[s-cars] Shimmy -- please help diagnose

[Steven N. Verona]

About 2 weeks ago I detected a slight shimmy in the right front of the 95.5 S6 Avant that has gotten worse and is now at the point where I do not want to drive the car over 60mph.  The shimmy occurs when on the highway and going around a slight left bend.  The steering wheel does not shimmy. but it feels like the wheel is shaking.  I jacked up the front and examined the suspension and steering linkages and the only thing I found was on the top shock mount there is a gap between the rubber bushing and the cone shaped washer under the nut attached to the shock shaft.  When I jack the car up and down the gap changes.  Could this be the problem?  I am confused because I would expect to have the wheel vibrate over all bumps on the highway and both left and right bends if the shock mount was the problem.  I had a local mechanic look at it and he said the rubber mount has failed and the shocks should be replaced as well, $1200 for Bilstein Heavy Duty.  I would hate to do the work only to find out that was not the problem.

If this is the problem, should I:
1. Just replace the mounts?
2. Replace the mounts and the struts on the front?  If so, what would you recommend I install?
3. Replace all four with something a little lower and stiffer? I would like a stiffer ride and less body roll, but I don't want to lower the car much as I drive it in the snow and on the rough potholed streets of Philadelphia. What would you recommend?

Finally, I am looking for a mechanic in the Bryn Mawr area, any suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

Steven N. Verona
Inventor of products, services and business processes.
PO Box 407   Gladwyne, PA 19035
p 215.989.0083
f  661.458.2894
www.stevenverona.com

The information in this communication and any attached documents 
contain information that may be confidential and/or privileged. 
If you are not the intended recipient, or an agent responsible 
for delivering it to the intended recipient, you may not read, 
copy, distribute or use this information. If you have received 
this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately 
by reply email and then delete all electronic copies and destroy 
any hard copies.