Subaru Shimmy - Please help "Zippy Blue Subaru"
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:39 am
Greetings Group,
My wife has a wonderful ‘91 Legacy FWD (front wheel drive) wagon with automatic trans with ‘bout 170,000 thousand miles on it.
A few months back, an angry person at a toll gate… without proper change, backed into her with some force while she was waiting in line, damaging bumper, tweaking side trim, etc, and sending her off to regular chiropractic treatments.
Since the collision, her baby … “Zippy-Blue-Subaru” suddenly drove squirrelly at times, as if it had bad shocks, out of balance tires, now wanted to drift, etc. Body shop people checked car out after the accident, and excused all handling deficits as “It’s an older vehicle and has worn parts”. Handling had been firm, tight and controlled pre mishap.
A few days ago when visiting a nearby town, this effect intensified greatly. Even at slow speed (5 MPH and up) the car began to shimmy, as if on an uneven road, or with bent rims etc.
Strange though, as the steering wheel remains very steady and smooth, not a hint of that movement being transferred to the driver.
Upon a quick parking lot inspection, everything looked right, bushings still there, no wheels falling off, no bent rims or bubbled tires, or other obvious visible problems. When restarting and then putting Zippy in reverse the car seemed to hum some, producing a weird vibration. We shut off, then restarted and looked at engine, no obvious vibration while sitting in idle.
Upon driving again, we found that any coasting or downhill driving was incredibly smooth and normal.
But under any load, the car shimmies. As we continued home, it began to squeak some under the heaviest loads (uphill). We prayed our way home, and Zippy Blue sits in the carport awaiting salvation!
This seems to be happening in the front of the car.
“I suspect everyone and I suspect no one.” ... Inspector Clouseau.
Could it be engine mounts? Transmission? Drive Train? Engine itself? Do not know where to start.
If anyone could offer any solutions, or suggestion we would be grateful.
Thanx in advance.
RDN
My wife has a wonderful ‘91 Legacy FWD (front wheel drive) wagon with automatic trans with ‘bout 170,000 thousand miles on it.
A few months back, an angry person at a toll gate… without proper change, backed into her with some force while she was waiting in line, damaging bumper, tweaking side trim, etc, and sending her off to regular chiropractic treatments.
Since the collision, her baby … “Zippy-Blue-Subaru” suddenly drove squirrelly at times, as if it had bad shocks, out of balance tires, now wanted to drift, etc. Body shop people checked car out after the accident, and excused all handling deficits as “It’s an older vehicle and has worn parts”. Handling had been firm, tight and controlled pre mishap.
A few days ago when visiting a nearby town, this effect intensified greatly. Even at slow speed (5 MPH and up) the car began to shimmy, as if on an uneven road, or with bent rims etc.
Strange though, as the steering wheel remains very steady and smooth, not a hint of that movement being transferred to the driver.
Upon a quick parking lot inspection, everything looked right, bushings still there, no wheels falling off, no bent rims or bubbled tires, or other obvious visible problems. When restarting and then putting Zippy in reverse the car seemed to hum some, producing a weird vibration. We shut off, then restarted and looked at engine, no obvious vibration while sitting in idle.
Upon driving again, we found that any coasting or downhill driving was incredibly smooth and normal.
But under any load, the car shimmies. As we continued home, it began to squeak some under the heaviest loads (uphill). We prayed our way home, and Zippy Blue sits in the carport awaiting salvation!
This seems to be happening in the front of the car.
“I suspect everyone and I suspect no one.” ... Inspector Clouseau.
Could it be engine mounts? Transmission? Drive Train? Engine itself? Do not know where to start.
If anyone could offer any solutions, or suggestion we would be grateful.
Thanx in advance.
RDN