Re: Front-end shimmy-dance when I brake 5KCSTQ

[Phil Rose <pjrose@servtech.com>]

>>According to Mr. Bentley:
>>For steering wheel shimmy upon brake application:
>>(1) For low mileage cars (under 50K miles I recall) replace front
>rotors;
>>(2) For higher mileage cars, first check for worn control-arm bushings.
>If
>>new bushings are needed, replace first, then rotors if necessary.
>>
>BTDT*4
>On my two Synchros I replaced all bushings and rotors and the problem
>came back worse eventually.  Same for two brothers' 4kcsq's.  One
>replaced his front wheel bearings on suggestion from local Guru, he and
>the new owner have had many years trouble free since.  Lost both my
>Synchros to deer.
>
>Scott Miller
>Holland/Selfridge ANGB, Michigan
>'90 200tqw

Hmmm. I was able to quote the Bentley "advice" because my recently acquired
'91 200q (100K) also suffers from some steering-wheel shimmy (only during
braking at moderately high speeds). I have a spare, new set of rotors that
came with the car when purchased, but haven't installed them. The shimmy
decreased a lot as I began to drive the car and regularly used the
brakes--hard. I think the rotors may have a bit of residual warp which
possibly is being amplified by some front-end slop. But from where?

So--how obvious are worn control arm bushings? Is it visually very obvious
when they are need replacing? Or do you just look at the odometer and
conclude "It's time."

As to the wheel bearings: will bad bearings _usually_ give detectable
movement from tugging and pushing on a wheel when the car's off the ground?
I hear no noise from them in straight-ahead driving, but often get a
low-pitched (growl) sound from the left side when doing sharp, slow-speed
turns. Thought it was tire noise, but...?

Phil

Phil Rose		Rochester, NY
'89 100
'91 200q		pjrose@servtech.com