Front End Shimmy
#1
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Groton, CT _NEBF 05, 06, 07_
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![markwb is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Experience front end shimmy when braking at speeds in excess of 65-70 mph. The steering wheel oscillates rapidly. I had 4 new tires installed 2 months ago. I wonder if they did not correctly torque the wheel lug nuts, I've heard that this condition, and overheating aids in warping rotors.
#2
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Westerville, Ohio 2000 Black SSEi
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
![Rogue is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Our cars love to warp rotors, doesnt matter what you do to them.
I'm sure you got a warranty with the tires, might take them back and have them spin balanced, or high speed balanced. Maybe you threw a weight. Also a rotation might help you determine if its a bad wearing tire.
Most tire companies do not hand torque your lugs, they use an impact gun with a torque stick. Not always accurate which is why I hand torque mine every time I get tire work done.
I'm sure you got a warranty with the tires, might take them back and have them spin balanced, or high speed balanced. Maybe you threw a weight. Also a rotation might help you determine if its a bad wearing tire.
Most tire companies do not hand torque your lugs, they use an impact gun with a torque stick. Not always accurate which is why I hand torque mine every time I get tire work done.
#3
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: New Jersey - Most of Our Elected Officials Have Not Been Indicted
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
![Ol' Timer is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Also you should get a 4 wheel alignment done when you buy 4 new tires. The technician usually checks to make sure everything is tight underneath(ie. ball joints, tie rod ends, shocks/struts) before they align the car.
#4
Senior Member
Posts like a Northstar
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Georgetown, Ontario
Posts: 679
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Baileyjack is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I had the same problem last year when i bought 4 new tires (Goodyear Eagles) they tried 3 times to balance. Turns out all 4 were no good so they replaced them. Dumb A$$ guy nicked 2 of my rims in frustration.
Deb
![Evil or Very Mad](https://www.gmforum.com/gm/images/smilies/icon_evil.gif)
Deb
#5
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 3,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![95SLE is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Deb:
Sorry to hear that your wheels were nicked. Finding a quality tire shop is nearly impossible. I do however only use tire shops that have a Hunter GSP9700 tire balancing system. A good shop will place the tire on the rim at a point where the two work best together and then add weights.
Both your rim and tire are not balanced so placing both together in a manner that cancels the unbalance is desirable. Of course there are shops that will balance the rim and tire but that will involve removing some of the metal on the rim and shaving the tire.
Sorry to hear that your wheels were nicked. Finding a quality tire shop is nearly impossible. I do however only use tire shops that have a Hunter GSP9700 tire balancing system. A good shop will place the tire on the rim at a point where the two work best together and then add weights.
Both your rim and tire are not balanced so placing both together in a manner that cancels the unbalance is desirable. Of course there are shops that will balance the rim and tire but that will involve removing some of the metal on the rim and shaving the tire.
#6
Senior Member
Posts like a 4 Banger
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Having the same issue...
Spent most of the weekend balancing the wheels to no avail...
Thought I had it squared away, no shimmy up through 70+ then
a tap of the breaks and she wallow'* worse than ever...
Guess it'* typical warped GM rotors
(my old caddy chewed them up like no-one'* business)
So who'* got a lead on better quality rotors?
Better materials - slotted?
Hope it'* not the wheel bearing issue!
HowY
2K Bonnie Just Procured 3 weeks ago.....
-- Hope I don't regret this one!
Spent most of the weekend balancing the wheels to no avail...
Thought I had it squared away, no shimmy up through 70+ then
a tap of the breaks and she wallow'* worse than ever...
Guess it'* typical warped GM rotors
(my old caddy chewed them up like no-one'* business)
So who'* got a lead on better quality rotors?
Better materials - slotted?
Hope it'* not the wheel bearing issue!
HowY
2K Bonnie Just Procured 3 weeks ago.....
-- Hope I don't regret this one!
#7
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicago,IL MWBF '04 SURVIVOR MWBF '05 SURVIVOR Napa Manager
Posts: 3,955
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Kennginn is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by HowY
Having the same issue...
Spent most of the weekend balancing the wheels to no avail...
Thought I had it squared away, no shimmy up through 70+ then
a tap of the breaks and she wallow'* worse than ever...
Guess it'* typical warped GM rotors
(my old caddy chewed them up like no-one'* business)
So who'* got a lead on better quality rotors?
Better materials - slotted?
Hope it'* not the wheel bearing issue!
HowY
2K Bonnie Just Procured 3 weeks ago.....
-- Hope I don't regret this one!
Spent most of the weekend balancing the wheels to no avail...
Thought I had it squared away, no shimmy up through 70+ then
a tap of the breaks and she wallow'* worse than ever...
Guess it'* typical warped GM rotors
(my old caddy chewed them up like no-one'* business)
So who'* got a lead on better quality rotors?
Better materials - slotted?
Hope it'* not the wheel bearing issue!
HowY
2K Bonnie Just Procured 3 weeks ago.....
-- Hope I don't regret this one!
#8
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![one_kick is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
:( I have the identical problem with my 2001 SSEI (42k, front rotors have been turned), started out as a slight vibration in the brake pedal, thats still there at low speeds, but at 60 or above you had better be careful. Everything is lined up, balanced and wheels hand torqued, pressure is equal in all four tires. brake pads are fine, rotors look and feel ok, but I am replacing fronts as soon as I can find something better than origninal equipt. Can anyone point me in the right direction, also it has been a while since I did the fronts on my old 2000 SSEI, any hints on doing the project would be great.
Thanks
J
Thanks
J
#9
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Groton, CT _NEBF 05, 06, 07_
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![markwb is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by markwb
Experience front end shimmy when braking at speeds in excess of 65-70 mph. The steering wheel oscillates rapidly. I had 4 new tires installed 2 months ago. I wonder if they did not correctly torque the wheel lug nuts, I've heard that this condition, and overheating aids in warping rotors.
#10
Senior Member
Posts like a 4 Banger
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Here'* what I'm saving the pennies for
Some rotors.... slotted
http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brake...Grooved+Rotors
My Caddy used to destroy rotors and I moved to carbon pads in an attempt
to remedy the yearly rotor warping.... Donno if'in it worked I did the breaks
just a few months ago and then fell into the B'ville Nothing like doing it twice
but better rotors (other than OEM) I'd suggest since GM slugs are poor quality
but then again 'ya gotta save that 100th of a cent per unit with lower Q steel
The Factory pads are Carbon! My PO used semi-mets on a breakjob only done
4 months ago with a rotor turn and thoes cheapo pads warped the rotors in
no time so expect to spend some dough on pads...
http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brake...o+Ceramic+Pads
This is my plan anyway ...
Anyone with better suggestions stop me before I'm out another 2bills!
Cheers!
Some rotors.... slotted
http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brake...Grooved+Rotors
My Caddy used to destroy rotors and I moved to carbon pads in an attempt
to remedy the yearly rotor warping.... Donno if'in it worked I did the breaks
just a few months ago and then fell into the B'ville Nothing like doing it twice
but better rotors (other than OEM) I'd suggest since GM slugs are poor quality
but then again 'ya gotta save that 100th of a cent per unit with lower Q steel
The Factory pads are Carbon! My PO used semi-mets on a breakjob only done
4 months ago with a rotor turn and thoes cheapo pads warped the rotors in
no time so expect to spend some dough on pads...
http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brake...o+Ceramic+Pads
This is my plan anyway ...
Anyone with better suggestions stop me before I'm out another 2bills!
Cheers!