suspension problems and shimmy when braking..

Adrians89MR2SC · 10-07-2007, 09:59 PM

just now finishing my 89 mr2 and noticed the steering wheel shakes when you apply the brakes ..

i have the vick bro's big brake kit and the custom coil over suspension joe vick made .. (was joe vicks 89 mr2 that he put a v6 in) but i bought and have put back to stock ..

im sure all the suspension parts are original ..

also the rear wheel will wiggle a little if i jack the car up .. i think its the rear tie rod end ..

will all new ball joints and poly bushings fix my problems .. or any suggestions will help ..

bought this car and first motor blew .. noticed these problems when test driving it .. now ive rebuilt the original motor and just got it running today .. so i want to fix any problems before driving it again ..

thank you,

Adrian

Gairloch · 10-07-2007, 11:09 PM

The first thing I would check is the rotors. If you're only seeing the shimmy under braking they are probably warped.

Adrians89MR2SC · 10-07-2007, 11:32 PM

yea .. i will get a gauge soon this week to check that but the big brake kit is brand new or atleast the rotor on the aluminum brake had and the pads are new .. the brakes are a 4 piston caliper with aluminum brake hats and rotors from summit .. pics are on MySpace.com - Adrian's 89 MR2 SC - 17 - Male - McDonough, Georgia - www.myspace.com/adriansxbox360

but i was also thinking it was all the ball joints, tie rods, and bushings because there original and 18 years of rotting has to do something to them ..

and since i got coilovers and koni shocks .. wouldnt it be worth getting all new stuff and urethane bushings just to be safe ..

thanks ,

Adrian

Gairloch · 10-08-2007, 02:48 AM

Rotors can warp fast. Especially if they had oil on them when they were installed and it wasn't cleaned off or they are perfectly smooth and you didn't scuff them (non-directional scuffing needed).

It is possible that the other components you mention do need to be replaced but it is more than likely that they do not contribute to your issue. Do you know how to check to see if those things are in good shape or not?

sleepermr2 · 10-08-2007, 02:48 AM

when you jack up the car, grab that rear wheel at the 3 and 6 o clock and wiggle it. if it moves look at tie rods.
grab it at the 12 and 6 o clock and wiggle it. if it moves look at bushings, ball joints, wheel bearings.

and just like Gairloch said, most likely braking and getting a shimmy could be that your rotors are warped

Adrians89MR2SC · 10-08-2007, 12:29 PM

yea ... i shook the rear wheel and i know the tie rod ends are trash .. they move alot ..

and the ball joint rubbers are split ..

so i ordered all new stuff this morning (tie rod ends, ball joints, and poly bushings) cost about $190 from ebay ...

this car hasnt been drivin in a long time .. i think joe said around 5 to 10 years ago .. cant remember ..

ill get the gauge to check the rotors .. there a 2 piece rotor .. its a aluminum brake had and a 12" rotor .. i also have a 5 lug conversion that joe put on ..

so ill let yall know how it goes ..

just got it timed this morning but having issues with throttle response again .. im sure it wont take long to fix .. had same problem last time

Thanks,
Adrian

10-07-2007, 09:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Adrians89MR2SC Build,Drive,Sell,Repeat Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: McDonough, Ga Posts: 887 Thanks: 9 Thanked 25 Times in 24 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	suspension problems and shimmy when braking.. just now finishing my 89 mr2 and noticed the steering wheel shakes when you apply the brakes .. i have the vick bro's big brake kit and the custom coil over suspension joe vick made .. (was joe vicks 89 mr2 that he put a v6 in) but i bought and have put back to stock .. im sure all the suspension parts are original .. also the rear wheel will wiggle a little if i jack the car up .. i think its the rear tie rod end .. will all new ball joints and poly bushings fix my problems .. or any suggestions will help .. bought this car and first motor blew .. noticed these problems when test driving it .. now ive rebuilt the original motor and just got it running today .. so i want to fix any problems before driving it again .. thank you, Adrian

10-07-2007, 11:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,848 Thanks: 125 Thanked 258 Times in 228 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	The first thing I would check is the rotors. If you're only seeing the shimmy under braking they are probably warped. __________________ "Inside the car, the world beyond the driver's immediate horizon ceases to exist. Alone with the solitude of his desire, survival sense numbed by the speed, he's outrun the mediocrity of the outside world, slipped the shackles it tries to clamp on us all. He is running free, chased only by a fear of failure, for failure is to risk ejection into the real world." ~Mark Hughes

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10-07-2007, 11:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Adrians89MR2SC Build,Drive,Sell,Repeat Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: McDonough, Ga Posts: 887 Thanks: 9 Thanked 25 Times in 24 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	yea .. i will get a gauge soon this week to check that but the big brake kit is brand new or atleast the rotor on the aluminum brake had and the pads are new .. the brakes are a 4 piston caliper with aluminum brake hats and rotors from summit .. pics are on MySpace.com - Adrian's 89 MR2 SC - 17 - Male - McDonough, Georgia - www.myspace.com/adriansxbox360 but i was also thinking it was all the ball joints, tie rods, and bushings because there original and 18 years of rotting has to do something to them .. and since i got coilovers and koni shocks .. wouldnt it be worth getting all new stuff and urethane bushings just to be safe .. thanks , Adrian

10-08-2007, 02:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,848 Thanks: 125 Thanked 258 Times in 228 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	Rotors can warp fast. Especially if they had oil on them when they were installed and it wasn't cleaned off or they are perfectly smooth and you didn't scuff them (non-directional scuffing needed). It is possible that the other components you mention do need to be replaced but it is more than likely that they do not contribute to your issue. Do you know how to check to see if those things are in good shape or not?

10-08-2007, 02:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
sleepermr2 Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 468 Thanks: 6 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	when you jack up the car, grab that rear wheel at the 3 and 6 o clock and wiggle it. if it moves look at tie rods. grab it at the 12 and 6 o clock and wiggle it. if it moves look at bushings, ball joints, wheel bearings. and just like Gairloch said, most likely braking and getting a shimmy could be that your rotors are warped

10-08-2007, 12:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Adrians89MR2SC Build,Drive,Sell,Repeat Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: McDonough, Ga Posts: 887 Thanks: 9 Thanked 25 Times in 24 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	yea ... i shook the rear wheel and i know the tie rod ends are trash .. they move alot .. and the ball joint rubbers are split .. so i ordered all new stuff this morning (tie rod ends, ball joints, and poly bushings) cost about $190 from ebay ... this car hasnt been drivin in a long time .. i think joe said around 5 to 10 years ago .. cant remember .. ill get the gauge to check the rotors .. there a 2 piece rotor .. its a aluminum brake had and a 12" rotor .. i also have a 5 lug conversion that joe put on .. so ill let yall know how it goes .. just got it timed this morning but having issues with throttle response again .. im sure it wont take long to fix .. had same problem last time Thanks, Adrian