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Dwayne1m
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2011
Posts: 452
Location: Pennsylvania
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 Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:10 am Post subject: shimmy in front end |
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| I know this topic has been gone over a ton but I don't recall anyone saying at what point the shimmy starts or stops. My shimmy on my 74 SB starts at about 45 and is quite violent with a knocking noise but starts to taper off at roughly 50. Only a slight shimmy above 55. I replaced the steering damper and I had the front tires balanced but that didn't help. May have even made it worse. I don't notice any play in any of the front suspension components. Is this the normal shimmy, starts at 45 but tapers off? What is kinda odd to me is that the longer the driving period the less noticable the shimmy is, like the front end has to get "warmed up". |
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Loqutis
Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2011
Posts: 118
Location: Nashville, TN
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:24 am Post subject: |
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Normally the shimmy is between 45-55 give or take a few mph. the shimmy can be caused by alot of things. bad tires, bad rims, bad offset, worn parts, squirrels dancing in the trunk, bad struts. to the warming up thing. tires get warm they get more flexible, and in-turn adsorb more of the shimmy. also could be you just get used to the shimmy.
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72 super beetle |
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19super73
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2007
Posts: 3756
Location: Cité Soleil
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:57 am Post subject: |
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If you know the front end components are all original or have high mileage, replace them all otherwise you will be chasing the issue after each different part is replaced one at a time.
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'73 Super Beetle w/ all the Sport Bug extras
'75 La Grande Beetle, 1st in Class, Das Volks 2011
'75 110 Standard Beetle
'71 Doublecab
'73 412 wagon "Nasenbär" 1st in Class, Das Volks 2012
| Glenn wrote: |
| Only a hack would have to take the rear apron off to remove a stock engine. |
| JerryMCarter1 wrote: |
If it is something just stuck eventually it will wear down and go away.
Run it for awhile and see if it gets quieter |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 9556
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:59 am Post subject: |
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This shimmy at 45 mph is normal. Normal for a Super Beetle that's 20 to 40 years old and has worn out front suspension parts.
Mine (1971 convertible) had this too, was unsafe to drive. Mine required new idler bushing, 4 new tie rod ends, and two new front bushings to fix it. Been fine for a decade, even with wider aftermarket wheels/tires. Fix entire front end, do it right, be safe.
I've posted this photo before: or do you think I could've gone a few more years with this front bushing?
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2004 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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