Slight Shimmy in steering wheel?

Question

Over the past 3 weeks I noticed a slight shimmy, or vibration in my front steering wheel. I checked the tires and air pressure and they seem fine. What else could it be. I have a 97 Grand Am. Thanks,

Answer 1

Lets start with the simple things first. Is the vibration more pronoced when braking or does it go away, does turning have an effect upon the viberation? Do you feel a vibration in the brake pedal when you brake? Does the vibration become more or less pronouced depending upon th espeed you are driving. Less pronounced at a higher speed, worse at a lower speed.

Since you have stated that you feel the vibration in the steering wheel chances are that it the problem is in the front wheels.

As already mentioned check your tire balance, it is possible that a wheel weight may have came off and this often causes a viberation in the steering wheel that normally is less pronounced when you brake, or drive at a higher speed.

If you check the balance and the tires are good the would would have to examine the rest of the ftont suspension.

After the tire balance I would check the CV joints, a bad CV joint may cause a vibration but it would be more pronounce when the car begins to move or when taking a corner.

After that check out the wheel bearings.

Were the vibration worse when you brake then you may have warped rotors.

A tie rod end should make more of a poping sound than a vibration.

If you are not comforable with conducting these checks take it to a garage and have the garage diagnose the problem. But based upon what you have said I belive that your problem is the wheel balance.

Answer 2

I see the wannabe mechanics are above me. lol Here are causes for the shimmy.

First of all, if you had the rear right tire getting a bubble in it, it is possible to get a shimmy up front and it feels like it is coming from a front tire. Or you may have a bubble in the front tire to cause the shimmy. Reason - It done happened to me.

When you vehicle is parked, shake both front tires and see if they appear or feel loose. If they do, then you have a bearing problem.

Make sure the front end is properly greased too. When was the last time you had a grease job. Cheaper to buy your own lube gun and do it yourself.

Tire improperly balanced.
A couple have "GUESSED" that you could have a front end alignment problem. Sometimes you can tell by the uneven wear of the tires. But then that would be my LAST place to look thought. But if you plan to keep the car, do like I did. Find a brake check and in San Antonio, Texas I paid $100 for a lifetime alignment. But I watched the guy. But if you have a problem they will let you know. I KNEW I had a linkage problem which the guy caught. I paid him, instead of doing it, as I had the money and not the time to do it then. I procrastinate too much at times.

Check your shocks too. If you have bad shocks this will cause it too.

How do I know all this, cuz everyone has happened to me, except the last. My brother and I could not figure out and he happened to changed the rear shocks and the mysterious shimmy disappeared. lol We would have never thought of that.

Just remember, that problems in the rear tire will be felt like coming up front now.

My repair manual says to check, tie rods, balljoints, wheel bearings, tire balance, tear blister or bump, and steering gear mounting bolts loose.

Answer 3

One of your front tires is out of balance or it's your alignment.
Look to see if there is a "clean" spot on the edge of the rim where a weight used to be to see if it's a balance question.
A quick and not always true check of alignment is if you are traveling down a straight road and you let go of the wheel, does it veer to one side of the other. Don't take your hands completely off the wheel to check this on and only do it when there are no people around.
A service station will fix either problem but an alignment is over $50 and a balancing is around $15.

Answer 4

It mite be the tie rod: besides the undeniable fact that it relatively is a trier out of stability, a bad trier, wheel alignment is out; if front wheel tension a bad CV Unit, the SHOCKS, a brake pad dragging, some element caught in the tread, bent wheel. First examine to confirm if any wheel weights are lacking, any play in the tie rods on the grease cup, bounce on the front over each and every wheel and notice if the front comes back up and forestalls or keeps bouncing, seem on the tiers and look at for bumps or undesirable tread. examine your brake pads too! it ought to be common as a stone in the tread, or a lacking wheel weight to a front end over haul.

Answer 5

It just may be the inner or outter tie rod ends on the powersteering rack. Be sure to get a front end specialist to perform the proper inspection for you at your local alignment shop. Checks or inspections primarily are free cause they are just trying to get a sum of the problem at hand. Its pretty much your choice to have them perform the repairs. Good luck and i hope this helps.

Answer 6

It could be somthign with your alignment, or you tires could be out of balance, OR you could have a broken belt in one of your tires. Have it checked out at your local tire shop. The diagnosis should be under $50.00.

Answer 7

Sometimes the lead weights put on your tyres to balance them fall off.A quik balance job is cheap and should have the desired outcome.

Answer 8

no need for me to answer.,,everyone but big c told you what you needed to do.