Weird shimmy on Audi 80 S2

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Wed 20 Aug 2003 10:08
Weird shimmy on Audi 80 S2 - Wally Zebon
I've noticed over the last week or so that my car felt a little looser than normal. Nothing too scary, but just not quite right.

Then last night I took a sharpish left corner quite fast and almost had the steering wheel yanked out of my hand!

It felt as though I was driving over a pot hole repeatedly with the wheel pulling even tighter and then releasing and then pulling again. All repeating at about 3 times a second for 2 or 3 seconds!

The problem is only on sharp left turns. Straights and right turns are fine. Even gentle lefts are OK.

I've taken both front wheels off but could see nothing wrong. There is no excessive movement in either wheel.
Someone at work has suggested that it might be either wheel bearings or a loose tie rod. Surprisingly enough, I had new tie rods fitted not that long ago by my local Audi dealer when they were doing the tracking.

Is there an easy way for a non techo like myself to check the tie rods? If it is them, can I expect my dealer to fix it for free?

Thanks in advance

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Wed 20 Aug 2003 12:53
Weird shimmy on Audi 80 S2 - IanW3
Hi Wally,

This sounds like the symptoms my Audi 90 had until I changed the front shock absorbers. Both fronts were worn out, but the lhs shock absorber rod moved freely up & down. No sign of any damping at all.

Handling now much better, but I also replaced all the rubber bits at the same time.

Ian.

PS. An Avant I presume, with the 6spd gearbox? If you want to give it away, I know of a good home.
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Wed 20 Aug 2003 13:53
Weird shimmy on Audi 80 S2 - Wally Zebon
I'll give it away if you give away a LARGE wad of cash!! :-)

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Mon 1 Sep 2003 10:43
Weird shimmy on Audi 80 S2 - Wally Zebon
Ian

Thanks for the original advice.

Fitted new front shocks yesterday and the car now drives perfectly. I am once again, a happy camper!

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Mon 1 Sep 2003 15:38
Weird shimmy on Audi 80 S2 - sean
Thank goodness it's OK and we didn't get some wag, in response to "The problem is only on sharp left turns. Straights and right turns are fine. Even gentle lefts are OK."
saying you should just not turn sharply left!

Who'd be daft enough to think that, I wonder?
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