[Vwdiesel] Shimmy shimmy shake

[Roger Brown]

On 8/8/2011 5:36 PM, Dave Cook wrote:
> Working on my friend's 01 Jetta.  The steering wheel has a vibration at higher speeds.  It felt very similar to my Dad's 01 Jetta which had a worn out tie rod on one side and worn out tie rod end on the other.
>
> So we ordered a set of rods and ends.
>
> In going to install them, I find that the rods don't seem to be loose.  Neither do the ends.  (Though in trying to loosen the driver side end, the nut got stuck due to corrosion and the tip where you can insert an allen key to hold it steady got stripped, so I may have to replace that one anyway...)
>
> Also, the lower ball joints appear ok, no torn boots or anything and I can't feel any play in them.
>
> So, you think it could just be an alignment issue?  Car seems to drive straight down the road.  Or wheel balancing?  Though I think the shimmy stays once you get fast enough to notice it.  I thought shimmies usually only manifested themselves in a certain speed range when it was a tire balancing issue.
>
> Other ideas?
>
> Dave Cook

Might try swapping front and rear wheels and see if the shimmy remains.  Also, feel around 
the front tires for any flat spots.  Might be a CV joint getting a little tight, I had 
that happen on my old '81 pickup.  It was that way when I bought it and was very slight at 
the beginning.  CV boots were in perfect shape, but over a few years, it got worse and I 
could feel a flat spot on the tire.  Figured that was the problem and then with new tires, 
the CV finally locked up solid.  Never made any noise, but just had a slight shimmy, 
usually only felt it on perfectly smooth pavement or when pulling a steep grade in a lower 
gear.

-- 

   Roger