1999 Corolla with front end shimmy
cbarrick
06-19-2007, 12:46 PM
Hello all,
My corolla has been shimming lately. I just had new brakes put on it, the tires are new and balanced and alignment is good. It does need back brakes. Would this cause this or would this be the wheel bearings, or UV joint or something like that? I dont know really what to do about it. Not many garages will look at it! Thanks
My corolla has been shimming lately. I just had new brakes put on it, the tires are new and balanced and alignment is good. It does need back brakes. Would this cause this or would this be the wheel bearings, or UV joint or something like that? I dont know really what to do about it. Not many garages will look at it! Thanks
SpinnerCee
06-19-2007, 09:27 PM
The causes could be many, so I'll relay an experience I had:
During a pad change, I noticed that the rust "ridges" that form on the outer and inner edges of the rotor where the old pads did not reach, would be in contact with the new pads, but by just a little -- I assumed that eventually the new pads would scrub this down eventually, so I did not address the issue at all -- that set of pads exhibited a groan under hard braking, and a shimmy when braking after highway driving. At the next pad change, I used the old pads to take down the ridge on both sides of both rotors (use em like sandpaper) on both the inner and outer edges, then installed the new pads -- big difference, the braking is much smoother and the shimmy and groan are gone.
That's an easy fix -- replacing the rotors would have had a similar effect, but cost a little more.
Check the simple things first.
During a pad change, I noticed that the rust "ridges" that form on the outer and inner edges of the rotor where the old pads did not reach, would be in contact with the new pads, but by just a little -- I assumed that eventually the new pads would scrub this down eventually, so I did not address the issue at all -- that set of pads exhibited a groan under hard braking, and a shimmy when braking after highway driving. At the next pad change, I used the old pads to take down the ridge on both sides of both rotors (use em like sandpaper) on both the inner and outer edges, then installed the new pads -- big difference, the braking is much smoother and the shimmy and groan are gone.
That's an easy fix -- replacing the rotors would have had a similar effect, but cost a little more.
Check the simple things first.
cbarrick
06-20-2007, 08:18 AM
Brand new rotors! And the car shimmys while driving as well as braking! So I dont know could it be the bearings?
SpinnerCee
06-21-2007, 07:17 AM
Tires perhaps.
Try swapping the fronts to the rear and see what happens. I had that same issue as well, once it indicated underinflation, and once a bent rim (from an encounter with a curb) that would "shimmy" in the front at high speed but be fine in the rear.
Also make sure that the tire pressures are exactly the same left to right on each axle.
Bad wheel bearings and CV joints will make a lot of noise when they are bad, so I don't think that's the issue.
Alignment may be an issue -- were the old tires worn in an abnormal way or differently side to side?
Try swapping the fronts to the rear and see what happens. I had that same issue as well, once it indicated underinflation, and once a bent rim (from an encounter with a curb) that would "shimmy" in the front at high speed but be fine in the rear.
Also make sure that the tire pressures are exactly the same left to right on each axle.
Bad wheel bearings and CV joints will make a lot of noise when they are bad, so I don't think that's the issue.
Alignment may be an issue -- were the old tires worn in an abnormal way or differently side to side?
GSS123
06-21-2007, 03:55 PM
If by chance you notice the shimmy at a certain speed and it smooths out or seems to drive normal when you are below or above this speed I would suggest looking at the passenger side half axle. The CV joint is likely worn and you need to replace the axle.
Post back if you find the problem so we can all learn from your experience.
Post back if you find the problem so we can all learn from your experience.
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