Re: The Dreaded SHIMMY (again). (archive)

Bob,
If the suspension seems good and tight in the front, I'd re-investigate the wheel/tire combo. As mentioned, the best thing to do is try a spare set of wheels. If you are in Kalamazoo MI area, you're welcome to use mine to trouble shoot. Sometime you can feel a shimmy change buy swapping the front wheels to the back.
These wheels mount hub centric. Make sure that the hubs are free of crud that would prevent them from mounting correctly. If the wheels are loose on the hub, this could be your problem. I've heard of a guy using thin foil tape to wrap the lip on the hub so that the wheel fit tightly again.
hope these suggestions help
Mike Matison
3 320i(s)
Tried new tires, control arm bushings. Everything else is TIGHT, including factory hydrailic shimmy damper attached to the right side of the steering rack.
Anyone tried urethane rack/swaybar bushings? Do they work?
Bob

Check out http://KORMAN.COM/E21FAQSH.HTM
(SORRY ABOUT ALL CAPS) This is the Korman site and contains some interesting information. Specifically about the shimmy. It says, put the car on flat ground. Measure to the center of each wheel well from the ground and shim to even out any different tallys.
It says that each BMW 320i lists to the left.
In another para it says the vibration is due to wind buffeting do th "crouch' or "lift".
The given remedy is to insert a pair of spacers within the coil spring in both the first and lst coil. A 2002 sway har bushing was found to be ok and didnt fall out. ..Hope this helps.

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