Front-end shimmy-dance when I brake 5KCSTQ

[Phil Rose <pjrose@servtech.com>]

Correction!!!!
My few remaining brain cells _thought_ they recalled the following:

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.

But the actual recommendation in Bentley is
(1) to _inspect_ control arm bushings if under 40K miles, and replace if
needed. (2) For above 40K miles, replace both inner and outer control arm
bushings. Then if rotors are warped, true them (only if on-the-car lathe is
available) otherwise replace rotors.

HTH

Phil R.


>Date: Thu, 9 Jul 1998 09:06:32 -0400
>From: "Richard Haroutunian" <Richard_Haroutunian@inso.com>
>Subject: Front-end shimmy-dance when I brake 5KCSTQ
>
>This could be a million things, but I know you guys know the right answer.
>
>When I'm on the highway in my 5KCSTQ -- the steering wheel wiggles
>back-and-forth when I hit the brakes   (sometimes pretty violently on hard
>brakes) .  This car has always been as smooth as a baby's butt on the
>highway especially -- and has never given me any kind of trouble re: the
>front-end - especially when braking.
>
>It only does this when I hit the brakes.  I'm wondering if this could have
>anything to do with the steering rack going bad on the car.  I'm 5 days
>away from having it installed..  I also just did the front brakes less than
>2 mos. ago, and the right side (passenger) front hub and wheel bearings
>were just replaced 3 weeks ago.
>
>What the hell is causing it?   Is it just in need of an alignment?  The car
>does pull to the right slightly on the highway.. Also, this relates to my
>earlier Q's re: getting the front-end upgraded when I do the rack.  Should
>I just do everything at once?  new gas shocks, springs, strut bearings,
>etc.
>
>Thanks for the help -- any clues would be greatly appreciated!
>
>Richard
>87 5KCSTQ
>85 4KSQ
>82 VW CAbrio

Phil

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