Any steering wheel shimy? - Page 2 - LotusTalk

paulhastings · 01-21-2007, 11:10 AM

wildwhl, Did you get the wheel shimy resolved. I drove an S and noticed just a bit of vibration. Nothing compared to the issue with my Elise. My only concern is will it get worse with time as my Elise did.

wildwhl · 01-21-2007, 11:28 AM

The dealer's response was "What shimmy?"

I'm not here to bash Lotus of Sacramento, but it goes like this.

Buy car out of state. They drive it to Reno putting the 1st 120 miles on it. I get it home, following morning check tire pressures and they're above 40 psi. Call the dealer to inform them, they seem not to care. Use several, very accurate gauges on my vehicles, and set to 26/29 or there abouts cold.

Breakin miles and the shimmy is consistent at 60 and again at 80 mph, more noticable when tires are cold, but always there regardless. I'm guessing a wheel out of balance in the rear and again in the front.

Mention to dealer at breakin service (and I have an analog gauge and a digital gauge stashed in the boot).

Upon pickup they tell me my tires were terribly UNDERINFLATED and this has caused some premature wear. I remind them of the overinflation on delivery, and proceed to ask the service writer to show me the tire pressure. She points out the factory specs of 26/29. I grab my gauge and check (tires are cold, car has been sitting for about 3 hours). All four corners near 40 psi.

Service associate says my gauge must be wrong. I grab the analog gauge - surprise - they match. She goes to grab the mechanic. After some fiddling we find out that the mechanic's gauge is screwed up.

Result - any satisfaction offered by L.O.Sacramento?

Nope.

I'm not worried, I'll destroy the tires at track events soon enough (I hope) and will just replace them. I will probably pull them this week and have them balanced by a trusted local vendor...and report back here.

Good luck.

WW

LBC111 · 02-20-2007, 05:39 PM

My '05 Elise with Sport Pack, had NO shimmy, my new '07 S does, at 80 mph.

ace10 · 02-20-2007, 05:47 PM

LBC- welcome to the shimmy cub... only a $60K initiation fee.

pwe · 02-20-2007, 07:21 PM

I had an alignment done by Dietsch Werks yesterday which cleared it right up. I left the printout at work, but my car's alignment was off from the factory.

MaineLotus · 02-21-2007, 03:17 AM

I've diagnosed my problem as 'out of round' rims, see:
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...t=35297&page=1

rsch · 02-21-2007, 10:02 AM

With my NA Exige (cast wheels + 048) I' ve had bad shimy at 80-100 since
day one. On my car was definetely due to slightly squared tyres and drove
me mad several month and various balancing attempt before being sorted.
Cross fingers with my forthcomings S 'cause it's one of the most annoyng
problems I' ve experienced.

Callabrator · 02-21-2007, 02:57 PM

I bought my Exige used with 700 miles on it. The previous owner supposedly aligned and corner balanced it. No shimmy even up to 115.

Dietsch Werks · 02-21-2007, 03:25 PM

I also balanced the front tires. They were 5 to 11 grams off. We got them to under 2 grams - Rob.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwe

I had an alignment done by Dietsch Werks yesterday which cleared it right up. I left the printout at work, but my car's alignment was off from the factory.

shay2nak · 02-21-2007, 09:14 PM

my exige s shimmy shakes @ 80mph

ace10 · 02-24-2007, 12:59 PM

i brought my S to Ferrari of Washington for the state safety inspection. i also asked them to balance out the wheels, with the hopes of squashing the persistant 80mph shimmy.

well, let me tell everyone that the car is CURED!!! i spoke at length with the folks over there, and the word is that the weights and locations on ALL FOUR WHEELS were way off. as in, what were they smoking in hethel when my car was set up. i know FoW really expended some effort on getting it perfect, for that i am extremely grateful.

she is sooo smooth at speed now. steering wheel is rock solid. it's like a whole different car.

scottyb · 03-21-2007, 11:04 AM

Stan fixed mine with corner balancing. See: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...864#post638864

Mark16q · 03-21-2007, 04:20 PM

New Kumho SPT's on LSS wheels, stock size. I've had them balanced twice to zero, carefully torqued, etc and still get a shimmy around 75-85

My 048's did it too, and was hoping this would solve it...but didn't.

Visually didn't see any runout on the rims or tires when being balanced. The place I bought them mentioned that another one of their shops has a system where they balance the rims and then the tires and then mount/re-balance again trying to offset any imbalances in the tire with the rim, etc etc. They say this works well on hi-perf cars and I may give it a try. The tire guy was worried about how much this extra services costs...all of $20/tire. I think that is do-able if it works. Worth way more if it does.

mg

pkrehbiel · 03-23-2007, 06:49 AM

I have been through two tire/wheel balancing jobs at two separate shops to try to fix my 75-85mph shimmy, but after reading this thread I am not encouraged that the Lotus dealerships are the right place to get the alignment or balance issues addressed. Sounds like I have to find another shop to look at out of round tires and wheels and suspension setup. Shame that the dealers are so focused on minimizing any potential warranty pay outs.
Pete

dukenyc · 06-04-2007, 03:08 PM

When we a re talking anout a "shimmy", does that mean a steering wheel vibration that you can feel and actually see as if your hands are shaking?

If so, my car had that from 80mph to 120mph.

The car itself does not seem to be moving on the road, btu the steering wheel does vibrate.

Are people asking lotus to pay the rebalancing or alignment?

The dealership is far away, so going local is a better option, but it seems like lotus should be fixing this problem.

ace10 · 06-04-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukenyc

When we a re talking anout a "shimmy", does that mean a steering wheel vibration that you can feel and actually see as if your hands are shaking?
If so, my car had that from 80mph to 120mph.
The car itself does not seem to be moving on the road, btu the steering wheel does vibrate.

Yes. For nearly all it begins in the 80mph range.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukenyc

Are people asking lotus to pay the rebalancing or alignment?

No, not worth it. Just bite the bullet and find a GOOD shop in your area.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukenyc

The dealership is far away, so going local is a better option, but it seems like lotus should be fixing this problem.

texige · 06-04-2007, 05:18 PM

My 06 Exige had the shimmy when new and it disappeared after about 3,000 miles. They do feel a little out of round when cold.

maz · 06-04-2007, 05:21 PM

tyre pressure in these cars is critical. even a pound or two will effect the balance. check that first.

jlr · 06-12-2007, 05:33 PM

My elise had a shimmy at 80 mph, never cured, later sold. Currently, my 93 Porsche RS America has one at 60 mph about 15% of the time -- unrelated to road surface, multiple balances, on-car balance, new tires, etc, etc. It just happens sometimes...Of the cars I've owned, the ones with the most perfect steering sometimes get a little harmonic vibration. I've learned to live with it.

Exxxige · 06-12-2007, 06:05 PM

Mine was due to play in the snap off steering wheel, now that is resolved with some duct tape it just feels normal.

01-21-2007, 11:28 AM	#22 (permalink)
wildwhl You bought a Locust? Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 782	The dealer's response was "What shimmy?" I'm not here to bash Lotus of Sacramento, but it goes like this. Buy car out of state. They drive it to Reno putting the 1st 120 miles on it. I get it home, following morning check tire pressures and they're above 40 psi. Call the dealer to inform them, they seem not to care. Use several, very accurate gauges on my vehicles, and set to 26/29 or there abouts cold. Breakin miles and the shimmy is consistent at 60 and again at 80 mph, more noticable when tires are cold, but always there regardless. I'm guessing a wheel out of balance in the rear and again in the front. Mention to dealer at breakin service (and I have an analog gauge and a digital gauge stashed in the boot). Upon pickup they tell me my tires were terribly UNDERINFLATED and this has caused some premature wear. I remind them of the overinflation on delivery, and proceed to ask the service writer to show me the tire pressure. She points out the factory specs of 26/29. I grab my gauge and check (tires are cold, car has been sitting for about 3 hours). All four corners near 40 psi. Service associate says my gauge must be wrong. I grab the analog gauge - surprise - they match. She goes to grab the mechanic. After some fiddling we find out that the mechanic's gauge is screwed up. Result - any satisfaction offered by L.O.Sacramento? Nope. I'm not worried, I'll destroy the tires at track events soon enough (I hope) and will just replace them. I will probably pull them this week and have them balanced by a trusted local vendor...and report back here. Good luck. WW __________________ ...................... She's gone.

02-20-2007, 05:39 PM	#23 (permalink)
LBC111 Dan D Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,409	My '05 Elise with Sport Pack, had NO shimmy, my new '07 S does, at 80 mph. __________________ 07 Exige S 265: GG, Track Pack, V1, RV Camera, S111 CF roof and splitter, 4.5-lb Voltphreaks battery, 10-lb Von Hep Exhaust, Green filter, 265 crank hp +/-, Volk TE 37 Wheels, RTDbrace, Scroth 6-point ASM harnesses, Innovative Motor Mounts, Saiku Michi Catch Cans. To come: IC fans, headers, and sport cat. 1955 lbs total weight (est w/tank half full) 05 Elise: Storm Titanium, Sport, Touring, Stage II (SOLD) (May '05 - Sept '06)

02-20-2007, 05:47 PM	#24 (permalink)
ace10 -30- Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4,449 Images: 35	LBC- welcome to the shimmy cub... only a $60K initiation fee. __________________ 2007 Exige S, Storm Ti. Sport, Track and TC.Plus: Multivex Mirrors, S111 Deltabrace, Sparco 6Pt harnesses (w/Ti Dave's Antisub belt mount), I/O Port video mount, Snorkel delete, Shims out, Rearview Mirror delete, 2Bular 7X18, Pagid RS42's, Saiku Michi catch can and, of course, blingy carpet buttons. 08 M-B ML320 cdi, 08 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7, 06 M-B E320 cdi, 02 Lexus LX470, 97 Bobcat 751C The Red Pill Ignore Me *Be sure too save your IL before browsing away

02-20-2007, 07:21 PM	#25 (permalink)
pwe Put it in H!! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 547	I had an alignment done by Dietsch Werks yesterday which cleared it right up. I left the printout at work, but my car's alignment was off from the factory. __________________ 2006 Lotus Exige (Schroth harnesses, Larini 8", SS brake lines, Hawk pads, Nitrons, RTD brace, Titan steering rack, R888s, Braille battery, Bollock, desnorkle, AVIC-N3, etc.) 2001 Mustang GT (full exhaust, coilovers, control arms, Konis, 6 pt. roll bar, shifter, big brakes, subframes, torque arm, panhard bar, Sparco seat, BFG KDW2s, 3.73 gears, etc. 250rwhp 280ft/lbs) 2006 VW GTi Mk5 (SS brake lines, Hawk pads, BFG KDW2s) 2005 Mercedes-Benz C230K (hers, gone )

02-21-2007, 03:17 AM	#26 (permalink)
MaineLotus Parts scattered about... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 1,385	I've diagnosed my problem as 'out of round' rims, see: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...t=35297&page=1 __________________ My car is modified.

01-21-2007, 11:10 AM	#21 (permalink)
paulhastings Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego native Posts: 604	wildwhl, Did you get the wheel shimy resolved. I drove an S and noticed just a bit of vibration. Nothing compared to the issue with my Elise. My only concern is will it get worse with time as my Elise did.

02-21-2007, 10:02 AM	#27 (permalink)
rsch rsch Join Date: May 2006 Location: milan italy Posts: 67	With my NA Exige (cast wheels + 048) I' ve had bad shimy at 80-100 since day one. On my car was definetely due to slightly squared tyres and drove me mad several month and various balancing attempt before being sorted. Cross fingers with my forthcomings S 'cause it's one of the most annoyng problems I' ve experienced.

02-21-2007, 02:57 PM	#28 (permalink)
Callabrator Cheers! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 325	I bought my Exige used with 700 miles on it. The previous owner supposedly aligned and corner balanced it. No shimmy even up to 115. __________________ 2006 SY Exige 1999 Honda Passport daily driver

02-21-2007, 09:14 PM	#30 (permalink)
shay2nak I <3 chicken, I <3 liver Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 15,060	my exige s shimmy shakes @ 80mph __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEOS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

02-24-2007, 12:59 PM	#31 (permalink)
ace10 -30- Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4,449 Images: 35	i brought my S to Ferrari of Washington for the state safety inspection. i also asked them to balance out the wheels, with the hopes of squashing the persistant 80mph shimmy. well, let me tell everyone that the car is CURED!!! i spoke at length with the folks over there, and the word is that the weights and locations on ALL FOUR WHEELS were way off. as in, what were they smoking in hethel when my car was set up. i know FoW really expended some effort on getting it perfect, for that i am extremely grateful. she is sooo smooth at speed now. steering wheel is rock solid. it's like a whole different car. __________________ 2007 Exige S, Storm Ti. Sport, Track and TC.Plus: Multivex Mirrors, S111 Deltabrace, Sparco 6Pt harnesses (w/Ti Dave's Antisub belt mount), I/O Port video mount, Snorkel delete, Shims out, Rearview Mirror delete, 2Bular 7X18, Pagid RS42's, Saiku Michi catch can and, of course, blingy carpet buttons. 08 M-B ML320 cdi, 08 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7, 06 M-B E320 cdi, 02 Lexus LX470, 97 Bobcat 751C The Red Pill Ignore Me *Be sure too save your IL before browsing away

03-21-2007, 11:04 AM	#32 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	Stan fixed mine with corner balancing. See: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...864#post638864

03-21-2007, 04:20 PM	#33 (permalink)
Mark16q 2 seats max Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Agoura Hills, CA Posts: 463	New Kumho SPT's on LSS wheels, stock size. I've had them balanced twice to zero, carefully torqued, etc and still get a shimmy around 75-85 My 048's did it too, and was hoping this would solve it...but didn't. Visually didn't see any runout on the rims or tires when being balanced. The place I bought them mentioned that another one of their shops has a system where they balance the rims and then the tires and then mount/re-balance again trying to offset any imbalances in the tire with the rim, etc etc. They say this works well on hi-perf cars and I may give it a try. The tire guy was worried about how much this extra services costs...all of $20/tire. I think that is do-able if it works. Worth way more if it does. mg __________________ '95 Miata M Edition. '05 Arctic Silver..Nitrons, Arqray Twin Muffler, SectorIII bar, carbon console and shift knob, Schroth harnesses, GUT spoiler, tie rod reinforcement, and lots more....Sold

03-23-2007, 06:49 AM	#34 (permalink)
pkrehbiel Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 35 Images: 6	75-85mph shimmy I have been through two tire/wheel balancing jobs at two separate shops to try to fix my 75-85mph shimmy, but after reading this thread I am not encouraged that the Lotus dealerships are the right place to get the alignment or balance issues addressed. Sounds like I have to find another shop to look at out of round tires and wheels and suspension setup. Shame that the dealers are so focused on minimizing any potential warranty pay outs. Pete __________________ '06 Exige Graphite Gray & Yellow HRM '02 MINI Cooper JCW #720 MCS EB/W '00 Mercedes AMG ML55 Black Opal '96 Porsche 993 C4 Silver/Black '67 Pontiac Firebird 400 "Blue Bird" '64 Lincoln Continental Black/Red

06-04-2007, 03:08 PM	#35 (permalink)
dukenyc Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 240	When we a re talking anout a "shimmy", does that mean a steering wheel vibration that you can feel and actually see as if your hands are shaking? If so, my car had that from 80mph to 120mph. The car itself does not seem to be moving on the road, btu the steering wheel does vibrate. Are people asking lotus to pay the rebalancing or alignment? The dealership is far away, so going local is a better option, but it seems like lotus should be fixing this problem.

06-04-2007, 05:18 PM	#37 (permalink)
texige Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: austin texas Posts: 840	My 06 Exige had the shimmy when new and it disappeared after about 3,000 miles. They do feel a little out of round when cold.

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06-04-2007, 05:21 PM	#38 (permalink)
maz uniter not a divider Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 1,303	tyre pressure in these cars is critical. even a pound or two will effect the balance. check that first. __________________ www.lotuscarclub.org "Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know." (rumsfeld)

06-12-2007, 05:33 PM	#39 (permalink)
jlr Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 60	My elise had a shimmy at 80 mph, never cured, later sold. Currently, my 93 Porsche RS America has one at 60 mph about 15% of the time -- unrelated to road surface, multiple balances, on-car balance, new tires, etc, etc. It just happens sometimes...Of the cars I've owned, the ones with the most perfect steering sometimes get a little harmonic vibration. I've learned to live with it.

06-12-2007, 06:05 PM	#40 (permalink)
Exxxige Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: London Posts: 12	Mine was due to play in the snap off steering wheel, now that is resolved with some duct tape it just feels normal.