Bob,
In the late Sixties when the Michelin X radial first began becoming popular
I picked up the idea that the toe-in required for bias-ply tires should be
eliminated when mounting radials. I have run zero degrees toe-in on my
older Volvo 122S, 145S wagon and 54 MG TF successfully ever since. The
3/16" or so wheel run out combined with the 1/16 toe-in might be generating
the wheel shimmy your friend is experiencing. His wobbly rims tracking
straight ahead might run more smoothly.
Jon
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Howard [mailto:mgbob@juno.com]
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2000 8:09 AM
To: mgs@autox.team.net; mg-t@autox.team.net
Subject: front wheel shimmy - MG TD
One of our club members needs help. He's not a subscriber to the lists,
so I'm passing on a description of his problems.
Over the winter, he rebuilt the swivel pins and front suspension of
his TD. He also bought new radial tires.
Come spring, he found a severe shimmy at 50 mph--steering wheel
shakes, scuttle and windshield shake.
He had the wheels re-balanced again, by two different shops.
He sent the wheels out to be checked by a wheel shop. $130 later, the
shop said wheels were within spec. He says that they have 3/16 inch
runout, but that the shop says that's acceptible. (Runout on my TD
wheels is <3/32)
He bought new radial tires.
Front end has been aligned twice. TD front ends are similar to MGB, in
that there is no adjustment for caster or camber, only toe-in. Toe in is
now 1/16.
Wheels still shimmy violently.
What should he be looking for?
Bob
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