Since I bought my car, a 1998 Olds Regency, I've had a shimmy at about 55-70MPH on the highway. The tires were El-Cheapo Sam'* Club "The Advantage" tires which were worn down badly.

I replaced the tires with 4 new Kumho Solus KR21 White Walls and had a complete front and rear alignment done, along with the included high speed balancing on all four tires. The alignment is now within specifications, but I still have a shimmy at highway speeds (albeit, less of a shimmy, but definitely still there.) It'* not coming from the steering wheel, but if I look over at the passenger front seat, I can see it vibrating, and I can feel the shimmy in my seat.

The wobble part comes when I'm driving less than about 20MPH, let'* say in stop and go traffic. I can actually feel my body swaying left to right. Drive above 25 or so, and it goes away.

What can be the cause here? Any experience with the same thing?

Nick

Jack up the front end and look for any play. Push and pull the tire at the 12 and 6, and the 3 and 9. If you feel any movement, track down where it'* coming from. Could have a loose linkage, ball joint or bushing.

They should have done this before the alignment. A proper alignment can not be done with out this check. I would still do the check. Is three a unique sound turning left or right because that would be a bearing.

Actually, I do remember hearing a thump from the rear when making really tight corners with the car... But I don't remember hearing it in a few weeks... Possibly a bad joint in the rear?

I'll try jacking the front up to check for any play.

When I had the car aligned, they said that they don't do repair when it comes to bad suspension/steering parts, but they will let you know if something needs to be replaced so you can get the car re-aligned for free.

Thanks,
Nick

If your hearing a thump from the back then something is moving. Perhaps a sway bar.

Well, if my memory is correct, the thumping occurred right after hitting a pot hole large enough to cause a scraping sound under the car. I figured (since my exhaust is quite rusted; I've got a complete Walker cat-back in my trunk waiting to be installed) that the thump was an exhaust bracket or some part of the exhaust or whatnot, so I kind of dismissed it. The thump has only happened about 4 times or so.

I'll jack the front and rear up and check for play.

Thanks,
Nick

Kumho tires are not exactly the best tires out there...My shop has had problems with them...usually balancing and tire wear...Not to say that they didnt balance your tires properly yet, I would take your car back and have them re-balance them..have them check the whole tire and wheel assembly

Thanks for the advice. If I can't find worn parts, I'll bring them back in. I am aware that Kumho'* aren't the best tires out there, however, I've never heard of a tire that didn't have at least a couple of bad reviews due to manufacturing issues which affected the proper balancing of the tires... The tires had the best Tire Rack review in winter conditions for my size standard touring tires with WSW, and the price was excellent too, so I really can't complain.

Nick

OK. I jacked up all four corners of the car and checked for play. Nothing. I also checked the rear stabilizer links. If I grab the stud on the top of the link, I can wobble it just a bit. This is true for both rear stabilizer links, so I'm assuming its OK. The front has no up or down play, but I do have play in the wheels left to right a tiny bit, but that'* just normal movement in the steering system (the strut moves with the tire when I move from left to right). Nothing clanging or knocking around at all.

I did, however, remove the rear drums and clean and readjust the brakes. When I had the passenger side wheel up, after spinning the tire, I was getting a scraping sound every rotation of the tire, but I'm assuming that'* just a ridge on the drum or the shoes... Not a big deal. My brake pedal is much firmer, though, after the adjustment, and it seems as though I have a bit more braking power... Before adjustment, If I spun the tire, it would continue to spin about 3-4 revolutions, which is too much.

Also, I have no missing wheel weights, so I guess my next stop is the tire shop...

Nick

You may have to have them spin balance it on the car. That then balances everything.