A4 (B8 Platform) Discussion Discussion forum for the B8 Audi A4 produced from 2008.5

So what are the chances the dealership will fix my steering shimmy?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-10-2010, 05:58 PM
  #111  
Audiworld Junior Member
 
tommy3443's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by mangust
For those of you with the shimmy experience, could you please comment whether my experience qualifies as a shimmy? What I am experiencing is a very slight vibratiion in the steering wheel @ 70+ mph. I can feel the vibration in my hands but visually the steering wheel is solid, even if I let it go. I would describe the vibration as somewhat annoying, as it is definetly present compared to a very smooth steering wheel at slower speeds. However, it's not something very obvious unless I pay attention to it. The dealer said that they did not see the problem but had the road-force balancing done anyway. So, do you think it'a shimmy or maybe just a vibration coming form the engine?
mines was moving about a quarter inch i had the master tech do a test drive and he couldnt believe how bad it was shimmying, if you are just feeling vibration then i would think that your tires are the culprit, jersey guy is right good year are the worst tires you can buy go with the extreme contis dws very smooth tire.
Old 09-13-2010, 09:50 AM
  #112  
AudiWorld Member
 
Buckeye96's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: NOVA
Posts: 166
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default update

New Conti DWS ($565). Road force balanced and shimmy was still present. New control arms and reportedly no shimmy. At all. Car drives like new. I can't wait to pick it up in 45 minutes.

Total Cost was $1000 to get the problem fixed.

5 OEM tires out of round.

Audi of Alexandria
Accused owner of:
- 2 bent rims
- Severe damage to right side of under carriage.
- Making up or fabricating TSB
- Being too sensitive to a "highly" tuned car

They cost me $1000 for making me wait until the tires and rims were out of warranty.

Kudos to Audi of Silver Spring (and Aaron) for fixing the problem, going above and beyond in customer service and keeping me informed.
Old 09-13-2010, 12:59 PM
  #113  
AudiWorld Senior Member
 
Old Dog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Montreal, Que. (Canada)
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Buckeye96
New Conti DWS ($565). Road force balanced and shimmy was still present. New control arms and reportedly no shimmy. At all. Car drives like new. I can't wait to pick it up in 45 minutes.
Geeze, the Old Dog hopes you weren't disappointed when it came time for you to drive it. Your perseverance and patience "paid off", or maybe this is not a fair statement after shelling out $1,000 .
Old 09-13-2010, 01:39 PM
  #114  
AudiWorld Super User
 
snagitseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: SE Massachusetts, U.S.
Posts: 14,028
Received 105 Likes on 47 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Buckeye96
New Conti DWS ($565). Road force balanced and shimmy was still present. New control arms and reportedly no shimmy. At all. Car drives like new. I can't wait to pick it up in 45 minutes.

Total Cost was $1000 to get the problem fixed.

5 OEM tires out of round.

Audi of Alexandria
Accused owner of:
- 2 bent rims
- Severe damage to right side of under carriage.
- Making up or fabricating TSB
- Being too sensitive to a "highly" tuned car

They cost me $1000 for making me wait until the tires and rims were out of warranty.

Kudos to Audi of Silver Spring (and Aaron) for fixing the problem, going above and beyond in customer service and keeping me informed.

After you've put on a few miles, please provide a report on the DWS vs the P6's (vibration issues notwithstanding), i.e. ride, overall handling, turn in, etc. (obviously too soon for a snow observation) Also, what size wheel/tires are you running?

Last edited by snagitseven; 09-13-2010 at 01:41 PM.
Old 09-13-2010, 05:36 PM
  #115  
AudiWorld Member
 
Buckeye96's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: NOVA
Posts: 166
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

that's the other reason I am pissed. I had to stay with the OEM 17's. There was no way I was going to buy anymore of the P6's.

I will be looking for some different rims in the future.

The car drives like a new car. I have had a shimmy since I have had it and the feel of a rock steady steering wheel was a first for me. Wow. I love driving this car again.

My initial feeling with these tires is that they aren't as squirmy as the P6's were and they feel a little more planted. I'll let you know how things go in rain and snow this season.
Old 09-15-2010, 06:37 PM
  #116  
AudiWorld Senior Member
 
Avant4Adam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 613
Received 17 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by NJRoadFan
Interesting that they were able to check the alignment without aligning the car (assuming your car went on an alignment rig). The Audi dealership I went to claimed that it wasn't possible to just check the alignment and that the car has to get aligned (at full cost) no matter what.
Sorry I wasn't clear. I took it to my regular, long term tire dealership and they did a full alignment on it after the rim specialists.
Old 09-15-2010, 06:41 PM
  #117  
AudiWorld Senior Member
 
Avant4Adam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 613
Received 17 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by mangust
For those of you with the shimmy experience, could you please comment whether my experience qualifies as a shimmy? What I am experiencing is a very slight vibratiion in the steering wheel @ 70+ mph. I can feel the vibration in my hands but visually the steering wheel is solid, even if I let it go. I would describe the vibration as somewhat annoying, as it is definetly present compared to a very smooth steering wheel at slower speeds. However, it's not something very obvious unless I pay attention to it. The dealer said that they did not see the problem but had the road-force balancing done anyway. So, do you think it'a shimmy or maybe just a vibration coming form the engine?
Yes. Mine - at it's best - has the steering wheel not visually moving but you can feel a pulsing or buzzing through the steering wheel on the highway from 68mph or so on up.
Old 10-05-2010, 05:53 AM
  #118  
AudiWorld Newcomer
 
dap12321's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I'm gonna throw something out here -- is it possible that driving in the rain reduces the vibration? I took the car to the dealer yesterday and was paying close attention to the shimmy and didn't feel it as much. The dealer (this is RFB #4) said they didn't feel it, though they did follow the TSB steps (which AoA says doesn't exist). Sure enough today (dry) it was back in full force. If it is the control arms, or the bushings or whatever -- is it possible that water would... have some effect? Or am I slowly just going insane due to the A4?

The ONLY reason I haven't dumped this car is that it doesn't make financial sense right now. So tired of the shimmy, fighting dealers, and the inconsistencies between AoA and the dealers.

A family member of mine had a Ford with the same problems.. .a FORD... and they were falling over themselves to replace the control arms.
Old 10-05-2010, 06:56 AM
  #119  
AudiWorld Member
 
matthewsjl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by dap12321
I'm gonna throw something out here -- is it possible that driving in the rain reduces the vibration?
No. If the dealer is following the TSB then they'll be driving the car for a while to get the tires up to temp. I still get some shimmy when cold - even overnight the Conti's will form some flatspots that the A4 is sensitive to.

How many miles drive to the dealer? I find it takes about 10mi of highway (60mph) to really get the tires up to temp and the flatspots out.

John.
Old 10-05-2010, 07:00 AM
  #120  
dk1
AudiWorld Member
 
dk1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by dap12321
I'm gonna throw something out here -- is it possible that driving in the rain reduces the vibration?
You are probably driving just a bit slower.


Quick Reply: So what are the chances the dealership will fix my steering shimmy?



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:02 AM.