Front end shimmy - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Evan Jenson

• 122 Answers
• Posted on Nov 02, 2008

SOURCE: front end shimmy over 60 miles per hour

If you are experiencing a "shimmy" that only occurs at a certain speed, I'd suspect a tire balance issue. If it were in the alignment, the problem would manifest itself at all speeds not just at 60 mph. There's a chance that a wheel weight fell off or the tires have uneven wear. If you do have uneven wear on the tires, then you may worn front end parts that need to be dealt with. Incorrect tire pressure can cause uneven wear as well. Hope this helps.

carl carpenter

• 82 Answers
• Posted on Mar 15, 2009

SOURCE: Shimmy in the front of my 2000 Lasabre

you more and likely need a front end aliagnment and your tie rod ends maybe worn out

SOURCE: Front end shake & shimmy while accelerating on a 1997 Town & Coun

The next thing to check is the control arm bushings, and ball joints.

Harvey N Tawatao

• 3854 Answers
• Posted on May 22, 2009

SOURCE: shimmy in front end

Try greasing the Idler arm and Tie rod ends. The grease will take some of the play out and if the shimmy is gone then it's time to replace steering components. Common is the Idler and Pitmen arm that causes the shimmying.
If the shimmy is still there, then it's time for a front wheel alignment. As the suburban get's older, the suspension settles down lower each year and the geometry to the front steering system may need to be adjusted for that. On the 4X4 the ride height can be adjusted by turning the torsion bars to achieve the proper ride height again, as for the 2WD then it's going to be a coil spring replacement. 
The easy way out is to just adjust the front wheel alingment to compensate for the shimmying. ]
Good luck and hope this helps. Just make sure you find a font end person who knows what he or she is doing and not by what a machine is telling it to do. The tech must know that there must be an angel to the tie rod end so when you go over a bump you don't get what they call a bump steer where the truck will want to pull to one side.

SOURCE: At 60 mph, front-end shimmy/shake

There are a lot of things that can cause it to shimmey, and there is not enought room here to explane it all. My advise to you is to take it to a frontend alinement shop and have it chk. out, could be serious.