Newbie With A Couple Of Quick Questions Options

[Nickpa]

I recently purchased a 94' 3000GT SL 5-speed. Great little car and a blast to drive in the mtns.

It just started developing a little shimmy around 70 mph. Doesn't get any worse beyond that speed - it's consistant. It also is developing a shimmy at those higher speeds under light braking. Heavy braking though - and there's no shimmy. I noticed the inside portion of the front tires is wearing uneven from the rest of the tire. From the inside side wall in about an inch on both fronts. I am guessing all of those are related, and wondering if it is a tie rod issue, in need of dynamic balance, toe/camber issue or what. Anyone else experience these or have a suggestion on what it may be?

Also, can anyone recommend a knowledgeable mechanic/company with the 3000GT's on the Front Range (Denver/No. Colorado)?

Appreciate your thoughts - and love this forum.

[BlinkRA182]

sounds like possibly more than 1 issue. The uneven tire wear is likely a bad alignment. Make sure to take it to a shop you trust, so that they actually give you the full alignment your paying for and dont just 'adjust the tow, collect the dough'.
The high speed/braking shimmy is possibly alagnment, but somnds maybe like somethings loose, possible the tie rod like you mentioned. The shop that does the alignment should be able to spot something like that as well.

[GTO Scotty]

First of all, what is a shimmy? Down under it's referred to when dancing. Does your car dance?

Also - as far as who to service your car, join up to www.3si.org and look in the national section. Lots of members from your area. Hope that helps.

Scotty

[Nickpa]

Shimmy in this case is a mild vibration. I guess you could shimmy on a dance floor - but in this case my car shimmies at higher cruising speeds. I want to eliminate the shimmy/dance. I'll check out the 3si - thanks.

[d-monic951]

Shimmy in this case is a mild vibration. I guess you could shimmy on a dance floor - but in this case my car shimmies at higher cruising speeds. I want to eliminate the shimmy/dance. I'll check out the 3si - thanks.

lmao (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laughing.gif) shimmy
your rim could be bint like my galant when i hit 60 it would (shimmy) lol around

[girly vr-4]

shimmy during braking could be unevenly worn brake rotors. I'd get those replaced with new brake pads, and an alignment. The alignment shop should be able to tell if anything else under there is in bad shape/broken.

[d-monic951]

shimmy during braking could be unevenly worn brake rotors. I'd get those replaced with new brake pads, and an alignment. The alignment shop should be able to tell if anything else under there is in bad shape/broken.

ya true dat

[Nickpa]

sounds like possibly more than 1 issue. The uneven tire wear is likely a bad alignment. Make sure to take it to a shop you trust, so that they actually give you the full alignment your paying for and dont just 'adjust the tow, collect the dough'.
The high speed/braking shimmy is possibly alagnment, but somnds maybe like somethings loose, possible the tie rod like you mentioned. The shop that does the alignment should be able to spot something like that as well.

Update. Replaced the tires and they were dynamically balanced. Drove 3 miles to a company with a brand new computerized alignment machine. They were good enough to allow me to watch the entire process. Rear alignment was ok, front alignment (as expected) was out of tolerances - especially the drivers side. They had to use a torch to loosen the bolts in order to get them to move - thinking it's been a looooooong time or never since it was aligned. Drive out and immediately hit a back road and take it up to 90. No shimmy, just smooth as silk.

Did a fairly firm brake action, and still got the vibration under heavy braking. At both the tire shop and the alignment shop, we looked checked to see how tight the front end was. At both places - they said (and it looked like to me watching them) that everything was very tight.

Any suggestions on the heavy braking vibration? Pads were fairly worn, so I think I'll put on some new ceramics and see if that does anything, and considering putting on some new vented rotors.

Any further thoughts are always appreciated.

[girly vr-4]

Update. Replaced the tires and they were dynamically balanced. Drove 3 miles to a company with a brand new computerized alignment machine. They were good enough to allow me to watch the entire process. Rear alignment was ok, front alignment (as expected) was out of tolerances - especially the drivers side. They had to use a torch to loosen the bolts in order to get them to move - thinking it's been a looooooong time or never since it was aligned. Drive out and immediately hit a back road and take it up to 90. No shimmy, just smooth as silk.

Did a fairly firm brake action, and still got the vibration under heavy braking. At both the tire shop and the alignment shop, we looked checked to see how tight the front end was. At both places - they said (and it looked like to me watching them) that everything was very tight.

Any suggestions on the heavy braking vibration? Pads were fairly worn, so I think I'll put on some new ceramics and see if that does anything, and considering putting on some new vented rotors.

Any further thoughts are always appreciated.

Like I said the last time, it's most likely unevenly worn brake rotors. Change the pads AND rotors, and you should be just fine.

[enigma48]

there has been an issue with the non return valve on the servo vac pipes the one on the back of the plentium has a non return valve in the pipe (bulge in the pipe) they have been known to oscillate under hard braking causing shimmy on the pedal and vibration on the brake pedal, its a quick check and costs nothing just pull the pipe off and check the non return valve is working OK!

Tony