Vehicle experiencing front end 'shimmy' at all speeds (worst @ 40-45mph). Feels like a busted belt in tire. Took it to tire shop and it was found that the tires were intact, but the steering wheel fails to lock now. Can somebody give me some ideas?

Vehicle & all that has been done in detail Please!!

May have a busted belt in the tire or a bent rim.

it sounds as though the tire has a broken belt or it is out of balance

You need to have someone look at it that is experienced in NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness). Front end vibrations can be caused by many things. Each possibility needs to be systematically eliminated to find the cause. Someone who is experienced in this can eliminate several possibilities by simply driving the vehicle...Did the tire shop even bother to road test it? I'll bet not!

Sometimes INTERNAL tire problems can cause a vibration that cannot be found (or eliminated as a possibility) by putting the tires on a balance machine. To eliminate this as a possibility, rotate the tires front-to-rear one side at a time then drive the vehicle to see if the vibration changes or "moves". If it does, then the tire that just got rotated to the rear is the problem.

Also, the vehicle can be run on a lift to see if the vibration can be duplicated in the shop. Many times, if the vibration is being caused by a drive axle or CV joint, it can be located by running the vehicle on a lift this way. In the case of 4-wheel drive vehicles, it will be necessary to engage the front axles to get them spinning on the lift.

The entire steering and suspension system should be checked for looseness in the tie rods, stabilizer links and frame bushings, control arm bushings, etc. Any looseness in any of these parts can cause vibrations at certain speeds.

I have also seen vibrations that act similar to a tire being out of balance that occurs when the brake rotors loose a balancing weight on some vehicles. This may or may not apply to your vehicle, (yours may not have balance weights in the rotors) but this type of vibration can usually also be verified by running the vehicle on a lift.

Is there a shimmy at all speeds or just a particular speeds? First thing would check are tires to make sure a tire did not separate on you.Look for large bulges in the tread of the tire as well as any deformation of the tire, steel belts showing on the edges of the tire. Please feel free to respond so we can help resolve your issue.

Start by driving the car very slow down a flat road. If the sterring wheel wobbles back and forth do this. If you know which side has the worst shimmy jack the front wheels off the ground so you can rotate each tire freely. Have another person with you for four eyes are better than two for this proceedure. One will rote each front tire slowly looking for a buldge in the tire. If you do see a buldge in the side wall or on the tread area which sticks out that is cqaused by a broken belt in the tire. That will cause a shimmy as you drive.

Chevy is having problems with the steering columns on these models. Feels like a jiggle in the steering wheel when you hit a bump of any kind. Cost about $75 at the dealer for a new part.

If it's a tire issue, busted belt in the tire or bad tires.

Front end needs an alignment.

Strut is going bad.

Bent rod.

Bad cv joint...bearing.....

There a few things that could cause this.

It is possible that one of your new tires has what is called a slipped belt which is basically a faulty tire.

If they were able to successfully perform the front end alignment you can almost be sure that all of your ball joints, tie rod ends etc are ok as these really don't attribute to "shimmying" felt in the steering wheel.

The are several common causes of shaking felt in the steering wheel:
1. Out of balance wheel/tire combo
2. Slipped belt in a tire
3. Bent wheel

Your shop should be able to pinpoint the cause easily.

Take your car back to the shop that replaced your tires and tell them what you are experiencing. They can check your new tires again to make sure the belt on them did not slip.

its going to be in the alignment...have the front end realigned