Re: Strut mount merry-go-round

[Chris Newbold <cnewbold@eznet.net>]

Nathan Belo wrote:
> I had the same problem you have and I just had it fixed.  My front end
> would shimmy very badly.  The steering wheel would vibrate.  I thought my
> tires needed balancing so I took it in to the local Discount Tire and I
> told them the problem.  They put my car on the lift and wiggle my tires.
> The wiggled pretty bad which would explain the vibration.  I noticed some
> worn bushings.  What the problem was was worn out A-arm bushings.  There
> are 4 of them, 2 to a side.  The parts are cheap and it takes about 3
> hours, depending on how hard it is to take the old ones out.  Good luck :)

Is the following graphic of the A-arm correct?

    [bushing]
	O-----+
---------+    | \
[frame]  |    |  \
	 |    |  /O (ball joint & wheel)
---------+    | /
	O-----+
    [bushing]

Other than free play, how can I tell if these (or any) bushings are worn?
Whadda they look like?

Thanks for the tips.

-Chris