Shimmy On Right Turns

[Johnny_D]

I looked for a tread with this type of problem but none were the same as my symptoms. If I missed it Mr. Moderator go ahead and put that big master lock on here and point me to the URL

I?m getting a slow shimmy feedback through my steering wheel when I make right hand turns. I first noticed it on long sweeping turns about two weeks ago but now feel it on all right turns. It now has just started to pop a little on right turns too, sort of like how a bad CV feels. When going straight or on left turns all is fine. I only feel the shimmy in the steering wheel, nothing through the floorboard or in the seat. I checked all my bushing for wear and lubed everything last week as it had been about 5,000 miles since I had done so.

I haven?t jacked it up yet to check for play top to bottom on the right front wheel, may do that tonight, but I?m thinking it could be a ball joint.

Anyone else experience something like this, I?ve scheduled a visit Monday to the dealership to have it checked out.

I need to get it fixed now as I now have enough points saved up from a sales program to get $2,500 in gift certificates from Sears. And Sears?s gift cards are good at NTW which is where I have picked out a nice set of 20? Epic wheels.

 

[ShapeShifter]

I looked for a tread with this type of problem but none were the same as my symptoms. ?If I missed it Mr. Moderator go ahead and put that big master lock on here and point me to the URL ?

Nope, not gonna lock it.

It sounds vaguely familliar, but I'm not sure. I found a few things dealing with noises/vibrations during a right turn, but I don't know if they are what you are talking about. You can check these threads for ideas:

• Low Speed Thumping Noise Front Suspension
• Clicking sound when turning
• Ahhh! Annoying rattle/knock/vibration
• Front-End Noise (Frt Differential?)

Don't know if any of these helps. If one of them sounds like what you need, let us know.

Anybody got any advice?

-- SS

 

[RJLACK]

Based on your description I would inspect for play in the wheel bearings - could account for it. Nothing else really comes to mind - if you want to come by the shop I will ride with you and see if I can give you some insight befroe you go to the Dealer.

 

[colek]

Based on your description I would inspect for play in the wheel bearings

That's where I was headed. ? Or maybe slight rotor warp?

 

[wonder91178]

The shimmy I had on my AV after I got it back from the shop (from my wreck) was that they'd left 1 bolt off the front control arm and the other one ways just barely screwed on......

Whatever it is, get it looked at!

Kim

 

[Johnny_D]

Thanks for the input folks. I?m dropping it off in 3 hours and I hope it?s not series. From the urls ShapeShifter listed I?m hoping it?s a simple steering shaft lube problem. I didn?t think about the wheel bearing as I have less than 16K on it. Richard, how often should the wheel bearing be repacked? I normally only do them when I do a brake job.

 

[Johnny_D]

All fixed now . I had the same problem Water Dog reported in the post Low Speed Thumping Noise Front Suspension.

The lubricant in the intermediate steering shaft in the 02s has a tendency to break down, it?s supposed to last the life of the vehicle. My service advisor said that Chevy has switched to a different lubricant. He also said that the shaft is in the steering column and is not easy to get to.

He said they have a service bulletin out on it, I checked the NHTSA site and it?s not listed yet.

FYI Water Dog & I both have Z66s and both had the problem around 15K miles.

 

[VANNER]

I have the same problem Johnny_D. This is my first post so please bear with me. I purchased my truck 10/1/01 and presently have 18K miles. I found this web page early 2002 and was hoping someone had the same problem as me. My AV is a Z66 that was initially delivered with the front end alignment way off. Had it re-aligned in OH with several thousand miles on the odometer. Thought that would solve the problem. Did help but continued to wander. Took it to my dealer in IL and they did another alignment (also marring the wheels in the process). They did make good by exchanging wheels with a Z71 so I now have the Wrangle AT/S instead of the HP. No difference, so it wasn't the tires and now two alignments later still wanders and just as you described a slight shimmy most noticable in long sweepers turning right and loading the left front. So I got GM specs from my uncle in Detroit (ex-GM employee) and had the dealer use those. Slight general improvement but the shimmy/drift/loose feeling in the right front when turning right remained. I then replaced the swaybar bushings front and rear (best under $10 mod) and enjoy the level and firmness they provide. But STILL have the shimmy you describe. The service manager drove my truck and could not recognize my problem. I was thinking about replacing all the front end bushings with poly. Dealer stated they would realign after I replaced all front end bushings. I would prefer not to replace all the front end bushings so I look forward to your findings. The posts you have been directed to I have read and while helpful they do not describe the problem that I am having. I have also described the problem as a change in the left front wheel alignment under side load or a possible loose steering link. I will post the front end specs when I have them at hand. Thanks

 

[etazelaar]

I had a similar problem at about 26,000, I have a plain Jane 1500. When I made turns to the left of right over slightly rough roads I could feel a thump coming from my steering wheel. One tech test drove it and thought it was the lubricant, but I took to another dealer when I had time and they ripped into it. They found that the intermediate steering shaft was worn. I hope I don't have a problem with the lubricant now that it's out of warranty.

 

[Johnny_D]

I have the same problem Johnny_D. ?This is my first post so please bear with me. ?I purchased my truck 10/1/01 and presently have 18K miles. I found this web page early 2002 and was hoping someone had the same problem as me. My AV is a Z66 that was initially delivered with the front end alignment way off. Had it re-aligned in OH with several thousand miles on the odometer. ?Thought that would solve the problem. Did help but continued to wander. ?Took it to my dealer in IL and they did another alignment (also marring the wheels in the process). They did make good by exchanging wheels with a Z71 so I now have the Wrangle AT/S instead of the HP. No difference, so it wasn't the tires and now two alignments later still wanders and just as you described a slight shimmy most noticable in long sweepers turning right and loading the left front. ?So I got GM specs from my uncle in Detroit (ex-GM employee) and had the dealer use those. Slight general improvement but the shimmy/drift/loose feeling in the right front when turning right remained. I then replaced the swaybar bushings front and rear (best under $10 mod) and enjoy the level and firmness they provide. But STILL have the shimmy you describe. ?The service manager drove my truck and could not recognize my problem. I was thinking about replacing all the front end bushings with poly. Dealer stated they would realign after I replaced all front end bushings. I would prefer not to replace all the front end bushings so I look forward to your findings. ?The posts you have been directed to I have read and while helpful they do not describe the problem that I am having. I have also described the problem as a change in the left front wheel alignment under side load or a possible loose steering link. ?I will post the front end specs when I have them at hand. ? ? ? ? ? ?Thanks

Hummmmmmm, another Z-66 with the same problem and I purchased mine in the first week of October also. As it was still on the make ready lot it must have been made in Sept.

As my dealer is the number 1 selling SUV Chevy dealership in the country, they service more AVs than most so they see more problems. I had my service adviser drive it to feel what I was referring to and he knew what it was before we were out of the lot. I normally get terrible service on my new cars but I?ve been very pleased with the service I?ve received at Mac Haik Chevrolet. (Did I mention they?re our Houston CAFCNA Chapter sponsor? )

This is a known problem, I'd recommend you tell your dealer what the fix is.

 

[VANNER]

Thanks for the info Johnny_D. Was also wondering if anyone with the same problem had their truck pull/drift to one side. Mine has always had a slight drift to the left despite 3 front end alignments. Sometimes would be more noticable than others, but it never drifts/pulls right - always left? Seems odd as it is against the crown of the road.

After a year and a half of ownership this is the one glaring problem I must get corrected. It's holding up my plan to go with 20" wheels for summer, hate to spend that money for an ill steering truck.

 

[Johnny_D]

Vanner,

Is the dealer who has been doing your alignments the same one who didn?t know about the problem with the intermediate steering shaft? If it is, you may want to try another dealer. If another dealer doesn?t fix it, I?d called the GM Zone Office. They can be helpful getting problems resolved that the dealer has not fixed.

Just my 2 cent on the tires, I think you'd be better off with the H series on your Z66. The AT/S are harder to balance and have more traction problems as they wear down also the H series are street tires and our Z66s were designed for them.

 

[RJLACK]

All fixed now . I had the same problem Water Dog reported in the post Low Speed Thumping Noise Front Suspension.

The lubricant in the intermediate steering shaft in the 02s has a tendency to break down, it?s supposed to last the life of the vehicle. My service advisor said that Chevy has switched to a different lubricant. He also said that the shaft is in the steering column and is not easy to get to.

He said they have a service bulletin out on it, I checked the NHTSA site and it?s not listed yet.

FYI Water Dog & I both have Z66s and both had the problem around 15K miles.

I have done several of these updates - including one on my wifes suburban.

 

[tpseabird]

I have the same problem. Steering feels lose when turning long sweeps. I thought it may be a lose fitting, but if lube is all it is and there is a bulletin, I'm headed for the dealer.

Anyone not get a fix after the lube?

TP

 

[ozarkone]

I have a 2002 Z71. The wheel simmy's a little just going straight down the road. Had this problem the first week. They greased something they told me and it kinda went away. Now I feel it a little
again with 17k on it now.

I wounder what the real story is, and what the fix is!