Shimmy in my Jimmy, need guidance please - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Beccarain · 06-03-2005, 07:40 PM

The patient: My 2001 Jimmy, 2WD, 4.3 liter engine, auto trans, 47k miles, purchased new a little over four years ago.

Symptoms: At speeds between 60 and 70 mph, there is a shimmy in the steering wheel and whole truck seems to vibrate, most noticable at 65 mph, smooths out at about 75 mph. Problem is consistent on three different freeways including an area of rubberized asphalt.

Patient history and actions taken:

She (her name is Jen) started pulling a bit in January. I had the alignment done at Big-O, problem got worse, Big-O realigned and swapped tires, and tires were blamed. Purchased new set of good tires at Discount. Took Jen on a roadtrip to California and no problems noticed (speeds 75+), but since then mostly surface street driving. About 3 weks ago noticed shimmy between 60 and 70 mph but smooths out at higher speeds. Discount rebalanced wheels, no fix. Took her back to Discount, found left rear tire was out of round, replaced with new tire. Symptoms slightly improved but no fix. The third time, found left front could not be balanced even with 180 rotation on wheel so replaced with new and road force test done on all tires. Now, Jen has two new tires on front and two tires with about 2700 miles on rear. And still no fix. Assistant manager at Discount says they've done what they can do and suggested possible problem with shocks, but that doesn't make sense to me since problem is isolated to limited speed range.

I understand more about cars and trucks in general than many women but would like to be better informed about possible causes before I have her checked out. I will greatly appreciate any suggestions of possible causes.

Many thanks!

lt1s10 · 06-03-2005, 11:31 PM

Is the suspension all stock or is the Jimmy lowered?

The Jimmys/Blazers are similar to the S10s/Sonoma Pickups. They have vibration at certains speeds if the u-joints or double carden joints in driveshaft are worn. I don't know if those worn joints in the driveshaft can cause alignment and tire wear problems. I don't think so.

I'd say take a look at the front suspension for the wear problems. Something may be worn or broken. Bushings in the control arms, ball joints, tie rod ends, center link, pitman arm and idler arm. I don't know though. If they did an alignment they should have caught any of these problems during the alignment. Maybe try and find a different shop other then the two you've been to already or a dealer to take a look at the suspension.

Tech · 06-04-2005, 08:38 AM

shouldn't this be in the sexuality forum?

j/k

i have no idea, good luck though!

Nimisys · 06-04-2005, 05:04 PM

driveshaft u-joints coud be suspect if you weren't able to drive through the vibration. a driveshaft vibration will not go away.. tires you can drive through. also they show up as thumping in the seat or through the floorboards, not through the steering wheel.

at this point i would be checking radial runout of the front hubs and to make sure your wheel bearings are greased and still tight. also just to make sure, these aren't the cheapest no name brand tires you can find either right?

Beccarain · 06-05-2005, 07:13 PM

thanks for the tips, lt1s10 and Nimisys :-)

the truck is all stock.
the tires are better quality, made by Kelly for Discount, supposedly great for our desert climate; I went with more expensive tires because I plan on keeping the truck for a few more years (having Jen four years is a record for me).

catback · 06-09-2005, 03:45 PM

I had a vibration due to a worn bearing come through the steering wheel not really a shimmy...shimmy's are typically a tire/wheel problem where the wheel pulls left and right in alternating fashion. Still could be a bearing, you need your front suspension checked out to make sure everything is tight and not loose/worn.

Beccarain · 06-12-2005, 07:26 PM

I think my next step is to take her to the GMC or Chevy dealer and have them check out the suspension and do a road force test on their equipment; sounds like it'll cost about $50 to have them check it out. It seems that the vibe i feel in the steering wheel is cuz the whole truck is shimmying . . . thanks again everyone for the input! Even you, Tech ;-)

Beccarain · 06-15-2005, 11:50 AM

Update for everyone who offered suggestions . . . and so someone else may learn from my ordeal . . .

My GMC dealer checked the suspension and the other possible causes; all fine. Did their own road force test and both the rear tires (the last two from the set I purchased in January) are out of spec; the dealership's tolerance is 19. One came in at 20, but the other one registered a 39--double the tolerance! Of course I prompty called Discount tire with this information; they said they will need to do their own rechecking of the two rear tires but are prepared to do a new set, different manufacturer (and I'm ensuring they are a better/more expensive tire after all this annoyance!!)

06-03-2005, 07:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Beccarain Upright Location: Right here, right now	Shimmy in my Jimmy, need guidance please The patient: My 2001 Jimmy, 2WD, 4.3 liter engine, auto trans, 47k miles, purchased new a little over four years ago. Symptoms: At speeds between 60 and 70 mph, there is a shimmy in the steering wheel and whole truck seems to vibrate, most noticable at 65 mph, smooths out at about 75 mph. Problem is consistent on three different freeways including an area of rubberized asphalt. Patient history and actions taken: She (her name is Jen) started pulling a bit in January. I had the alignment done at Big-O, problem got worse, Big-O realigned and swapped tires, and tires were blamed. Purchased new set of good tires at Discount. Took Jen on a roadtrip to California and no problems noticed (speeds 75+), but since then mostly surface street driving. About 3 weks ago noticed shimmy between 60 and 70 mph but smooths out at higher speeds. Discount rebalanced wheels, no fix. Took her back to Discount, found left rear tire was out of round, replaced with new tire. Symptoms slightly improved but no fix. The third time, found left front could not be balanced even with 180 rotation on wheel so replaced with new and road force test done on all tires. Now, Jen has two new tires on front and two tires with about 2700 miles on rear. And still no fix. Assistant manager at Discount says they've done what they can do and suggested possible problem with shocks, but that doesn't make sense to me since problem is isolated to limited speed range. I understand more about cars and trucks in general than many women but would like to be better informed about possible causes before I have her checked out. I will greatly appreciate any suggestions of possible causes. Many thanks! __________________ Onward, through the fog . . .

06-04-2005, 08:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tech Addict Location: Baltimore MD	shouldn't this be in the sexuality forum? j/k i have no idea, good luck though! __________________ -Tim- ~I swear sometimes i feel like i'm married to a child. ~You better watch who you're calling a child, Lois, cause if i'm a child than you know what that makes you? a pedophile. and i'll be damned if i'm going to stand here and be lectured by a pervert.

06-05-2005, 07:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Beccarain Upright Location: Right here, right now	thanks for the tips, lt1s10 and Nimisys :-) the truck is all stock. the tires are better quality, made by Kelly for Discount, supposedly great for our desert climate; I went with more expensive tires because I plan on keeping the truck for a few more years (having Jen four years is a record for me). __________________ Onward, through the fog . . .

06-12-2005, 07:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
Beccarain Upright Location: Right here, right now	I think my next step is to take her to the GMC or Chevy dealer and have them check out the suspension and do a road force test on their equipment; sounds like it'll cost about $50 to have them check it out. It seems that the vibe i feel in the steering wheel is cuz the whole truck is shimmying . . . thanks again everyone for the input! Even you, Tech ;-) __________________ Onward, through the fog . . .

06-15-2005, 11:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
Beccarain Upright Location: Right here, right now	Update for everyone who offered suggestions . . . and so someone else may learn from my ordeal . . . My GMC dealer checked the suspension and the other possible causes; all fine. Did their own road force test and both the rear tires (the last two from the set I purchased in January) are out of spec; the dealership's tolerance is 19. One came in at 20, but the other one registered a 39--double the tolerance! Of course I prompty called Discount tire with this information; they said they will need to do their own rechecking of the two rear tires but are prepared to do a new set, different manufacturer (and I'm ensuring they are a better/more expensive tire after all this annoyance!!) __________________ Onward, through the fog . . .

06-03-2005, 11:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
lt1s10 Crazy	Is the suspension all stock or is the Jimmy lowered? The Jimmys/Blazers are similar to the S10s/Sonoma Pickups. They have vibration at certains speeds if the u-joints or double carden joints in driveshaft are worn. I don't know if those worn joints in the driveshaft can cause alignment and tire wear problems. I don't think so. I'd say take a look at the front suspension for the wear problems. Something may be worn or broken. Bushings in the control arms, ball joints, tie rod ends, center link, pitman arm and idler arm. I don't know though. If they did an alignment they should have caught any of these problems during the alignment. Maybe try and find a different shop other then the two you've been to already or a dealer to take a look at the suspension.

06-04-2005, 05:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Nimisys Crazy Location: San Diego	driveshaft u-joints coud be suspect if you weren't able to drive through the vibration. a driveshaft vibration will not go away.. tires you can drive through. also they show up as thumping in the seat or through the floorboards, not through the steering wheel. at this point i would be checking radial runout of the front hubs and to make sure your wheel bearings are greased and still tight. also just to make sure, these aren't the cheapest no name brand tires you can find either right?

06-09-2005, 03:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
catback Psycho Location: North America	I had a vibration due to a worn bearing come through the steering wheel not really a shimmy...shimmy's are typically a tire/wheel problem where the wheel pulls left and right in alternating fashion. Still could be a bearing, you need your front suspension checked out to make sure everything is tight and not loose/worn.