Front end shimmy

I was out driving my '68 bug when I went over some pretty bumpy railway
tracks at about 50kmh. The front of the car started to shimmy and shake to
the point I thought I had broke something. I slowed down to investigate and
the shimmying stopped. I haven't had it since and can't figure out what it
could be.Anyone else ever have the same problem.


Cheers

Wayne

In article <azd5k.10771$Jx.5631@pd7urf1no>, "curly" >
wrote:

> I was out driving my '68 bug when I went over some pretty bumpy railway
> tracks at about 50kmh. The front of the car started to shimmy and shake to
> the point I thought I had broke something. I slowed down to investigate and
> the shimmying stopped. I haven't had it since and can't figure out what it
> could be.Anyone else ever have the same problem.
>
>
> Cheers
>
> Wayne

you can always jack up the front and shake things like the tie-rod ends.
Maybe the steering damper is on the way out?
good luck.
--
If Evolution is out-lawed. Only the Out-laws will evolve.

Not too much play in steering box, link pins or ball joints?. This and
previous suggestions pretty well cover all bases. The torsion bar front end
is damn near indestructable. It,d be too early for the McPherson Strut front
end which was prone to wobbles.Good luck
John

Turned out to be a steering damper. works like a new 40 year old car again

cheers

"curly" > wrote in message
news:azd5k.10771$Jx.5631@pd7urf1no...
>I was out driving my '68 bug when I went over some pretty bumpy railway
>tracks at about 50kmh. The front of the car started to shimmy and shake to
>the point I thought I had broke something. I slowed down to investigate and
>the shimmying stopped. I haven't had it since and can't figure out what it
>could be.Anyone else ever have the same problem.
>
>
> Cheers
>
> Wayne
>

Speaking of shimmy, did anyone ever figure out what it was in the front end
of the 71 and 72 Super Beetles that caused their nasty shimmy? I has a 71 SB
that had new front end parts (struts, stabilizer, and bushings) but the
shimmy never went completely away. Great car and with a 15 year old
daughter, wouldn't mind finding another one.
Andy

"curly" > wrote in message
news:Kazbk.55667$Jx.39391@pd7urf1no...
> Turned out to be a steering damper. works like a new 40 year old car again
>
> cheers
>
> "curly" > wrote in message
> news:azd5k.10771$Jx.5631@pd7urf1no...
>>I was out driving my '68 bug when I went over some pretty bumpy railway
>>tracks at about 50kmh. The front of the car started to shimmy and shake to
>>the point I thought I had broke something. I slowed down to investigate
>>and the shimmying stopped. I haven't had it since and can't figure out
>>what it could be.Anyone else ever have the same problem.
>>
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Wayne
>>
>
>

The newest issue of hot vw's has an article about super shimmies. They
basically say its all of the bushings failing at once. I dont know how
true that is. We have a 71 super that does it too.

Busman wrote:
> Speaking of shimmy, did anyone ever figure out what it was in the front end
> of the 71 and 72 Super Beetles that caused their nasty shimmy? I has a 71 SB
> that had new front end parts (struts, stabilizer, and bushings) but the
> shimmy never went completely away. Great car and with a 15 year old
> daughter, wouldn't mind finding another one.
> Andy
>
> "curly" > wrote in message
> news:Kazbk.55667$Jx.39391@pd7urf1no...
>> Turned out to be a steering damper. works like a new 40 year old car again
>>
>> cheers
>>
>> "curly" > wrote in message
>> news:azd5k.10771$Jx.5631@pd7urf1no...
>>> I was out driving my '68 bug when I went over some pretty bumpy railway
>>> tracks at about 50kmh. The front of the car started to shimmy and shake to
>>> the point I thought I had broke something. I slowed down to investigate
>>> and the shimmying stopped. I haven't had it since and can't figure out
>>> what it could be.Anyone else ever have the same problem.
>>>
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Wayne
>>>
>>
>
>

On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:15:58 +0200, trey > wrote:

> The newest issue of hot vw's has an article about super shimmies. They
> basically say its all of the bushings failing at once. I dont know how
> true that is. We have a 71 super that does it too.

I think the general consensus here some years back, pointed to one bushing
in particular and its quality, the inner bushing of the lower location
bar. Not entirely sure of the correct name for it.

It has to be replaced by a stock unit as the aftermarket ones does not cut
it.
It goes without saying, all else needs to be intact/fully functional as
well, this includes balance of rims/tires.

IIrcc, www.aircooled.net had the bushings in stock some years ago..

I had a look, and it seems they still are available:
http://aircooled.net/new-bin/viewpro...SG0002&cartid=

J.


>
> Busman wrote:
>> Speaking of shimmy, did anyone ever figure out what it was in the front
>> end of the 71 and 72 Super Beetles that caused their nasty shimmy? I
>> has a 71 SB that had new front end parts (struts, stabilizer, and
>> bushings) but the shimmy never went completely away. Great car and with
>> a 15 year old daughter, wouldn't mind finding another one.
>> Andy
>> "curly" > wrote in message
>> news:Kazbk.55667$Jx.39391@pd7urf1no...
>>> Turned out to be a steering damper. works like a new 40 year old car
>>> again
>>>
>>> cheers
>>>
>>> "curly" > wrote in message
>>> news:azd5k.10771$Jx.5631@pd7urf1no...
>>>> I was out driving my '68 bug when I went over some pretty bumpy
>>>> railway tracks at about 50kmh. The front of the car started to shimmy
>>>> and shake to the point I thought I had broke something. I slowed down
>>>> to investigate and the shimmying stopped. I haven't had it since and
>>>> can't figure out what it could be.Anyone else ever have the same
>>>> problem.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Cheers
>>>>
>>>> Wayne
>>>>
>>>
>>



--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

Some shaking can come from improperly balanced wheels or tires that are not
perfect. I have heard that the wheels can be properly bolted to the drum
and balanced as a unit.
The Super Beetles are really picky! 8^)
I like to lift up the front end and spin the front wheels/tires to examine
if they wobble at all. ;-)

Also:
Wheel Bearings
Control Arm Bushings
Anti-Sway Bar Bushings
Steering Box
Steering Rod with the U-Joints
Steering Stabilizer
Ball Joints
Tie Rod Ends
Idler Arm
Struts and their Mounts/Bearings

"P.J. Berg" > wrote in message
news
> On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:15:58 +0200, trey > wrote:
>
>> The newest issue of hot vw's has an article about super shimmies. They
>> basically say its all of the bushings failing at once. I dont know how
>> true that is. We have a 71 super that does it too.
>
> I think the general consensus here some years back, pointed to one bushing
> in particular and its quality, the inner bushing of the lower location
> bar. Not entirely sure of the correct name for it.
>
> It has to be replaced by a stock unit as the aftermarket ones does not cut
> it.
> It goes without saying, all else needs to be intact/fully functional as
> well, this includes balance of rims/tires.
>
> IIrcc, www.aircooled.net had the bushings in stock some years ago..
>
> I had a look, and it seems they still are available:
> http://aircooled.net/new-bin/viewpro...SG0002&cartid=
>
> J.
>
>
>>
>> Busman wrote:
>>> Speaking of shimmy, did anyone ever figure out what it was in the front
>>> end of the 71 and 72 Super Beetles that caused their nasty shimmy? I
>>> has a 71 SB that had new front end parts (struts, stabilizer, and
>>> bushings) but the shimmy never went completely away. Great car and with
>>> a 15 year old daughter, wouldn't mind finding another one.
>>> Andy
>>> "curly" > wrote in message
>>> news:Kazbk.55667$Jx.39391@pd7urf1no...
>>>> Turned out to be a steering damper. works like a new 40 year old car
>>>> again
>>>>
>>>> cheers
>>>>
>>>> "curly" > wrote in message
>>>> news:azd5k.10771$Jx.5631@pd7urf1no...
>>>>> I was out driving my '68 bug when I went over some pretty bumpy
>>>>> railway tracks at about 50kmh. The front of the car started to shimmy
>>>>> and shake to the point I thought I had broke something. I slowed down
>>>>> to investigate and the shimmying stopped. I haven't had it since and
>>>>> can't figure out what it could be.Anyone else ever have the same
>>>>> problem.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers
>>>>>
>>>>> Wayne
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>
>
>
> --
> Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

"trey" > wrote in message
...
> The newest issue of hot vw's has an article about super shimmies. They
> basically say its all of the bushings failing at once. I dont know how
> true that is. We have a 71 super that does it too.
>
trey, what is your front tire's pressures set to? too much pressure makes a
super do terrible things...

Right now, on that car, probably about 0 psi. Its the parts car for my
baja. But, It's getting restored soon. I'm just going to replace
everything.

Joey Tribiani wrote:
> "trey" > wrote in message
> ...
>> The newest issue of hot vw's has an article about super shimmies. They
>> basically say its all of the bushings failing at once. I dont know how
>> true that is. We have a 71 super that does it too.
>>
> trey, what is your front tire's pressures set to? too much pressure makes a
> super do terrible things...
>
>