<VV> Need advice on 65 Corsa convertible shimmy

[Carlton Smith]

Jim, 

What you describe is exactly what I experience. Shimmy is the only term I
could think of.

Carlton

-----Original Message-----
From: jimster1 [mailto:jimster1 at earthlink.net] 
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 5:25 PM
To: 'Chris & Bill Strickland'; virtualvairs at corvair.org;
carlton55 at comcast.net
Subject: RE: <VV> Need advice on 65 Corsa convertible shimmy

My cocktail shakers are in place.  I got new tires a while ago and the
problem seemed to go away, but a couple of months later S.O.S..  With mine,
it's way more than a shimmy, it shakes the whole car and the front fenders
seem to bobble up and down.  I've got the feeling the wheels swing in a
substantial arc and the bobbing fenders is a function of caster at work.
Jim(ster)

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris & Bill Strickland [mailto:lechevrier at earthlink.net] 
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 12:53 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org; jimster1 at earthlink.net; carlton55 at comcast.net
Subject: Re: <VV> Need advice on 65 Corsa convertible shimmy

Would certainly be nice if  Carlton Smith and/or Jimster could report 
back to VV on whether their convertible corner dampers are in place or 
not. Especially if nether of them is experiencing any problems at speeds 
over 55. 

One must remember that tires and wheels aren't the only things spinning 
around -- brake drums come to mind.  Badly worn king pins, ala solid 
front axles, used to contribute to shimmy problems, but generally 
shimmies are not caused by worn suspension parts or misalignment of 
"modern" vehicles.  Misbalanced tires, defective tires, bent wheels, and 
the occasional brake drum -- the problems they cause are greatly 
amplified in open cars.  I have a hardtop cabriolet, that feels fine 
with the top on, but with the top off, if feels like there is something 
wrong (there is, I took the top off) -- same car, just much less rigid 
when topless  (just like people, before someone else says it -- maybe 
that's where the "cocktail" part comes in).

Bill Strickland