jslarks

Well, a new remanufactured power steering pump took care of the issue. I have about 1200 miles (combined on and off road) on the new pump and haven't felt any shimmy at the steering wheel. I found a rebuilt pump for around $100 and spent about 2 hours installing - everything is good after the swap. I cracked open the old pump to see what might be the problem, but didn't see anything dramatic. The vanes seemed stickier than what I think they should be, but really do not have point of reference - no major scoring, no discoloration, no detectable slop, but it sure pumps better. Mystery solved, case closed. J

Wheels, tires, suspension, ball joints, linkage, CV shafts, steering rack, etc. are all new and the shimmy was there before and after these items were installed. It's not the brake rotors since it only happens at higher speeds with no change when braking. I did find one wheel bearing loose and adjusted with no improvements. For a few days I thought I had it fixed when I replaced the power steering belt after thinking the old one was worn or glazed. The shimmy came back a few days later which led me to think that it's the pump, but I don't know enough about the internals of the pump to know if it could surge and cause shimmy at the wheel and not the whole vehicle. I only feel it at the steering wheel.

Long time reader, first time poster... I have been upgrading my R50 (by necessity and by desire to make it more offload ready) and have come across an issue that I can't figure out. I had a steering rack leak and ran out of fluid to the point of squeezing / whining a couple of times. I replaced the rack and the rack and it no longer leaks, but the pump groans when under load - i.e., not moving and cranking the wheel or at the far ends of tight turns. In addition to the steering rack I have replaced all suspension, control arms, tie rod ends, strut mounts, ball joints, etc. - but not all at once. All along I have had a shimmy I could feel at the steering wheel and kept thinking "oh, this is going to fix that" as I upgraded and replaced things, but still have a shimmy that is not consistent. I even replaced the power steering belt thinking it was worn or glazed, this solved the issue for a few days, but the shimmy is back. Is it possible that the pump was damaged and now causes a "surging" in pressure that can be felt at the wheel?? I guess I think of a bad pump as a leaky pump, but it does not leak. Tires have been balanced twice, alignment is good and tracks fine, but the shimmy comes and goes to varying degrees and the pump still groans under load or when hot. My vehicle has really come to life and drives great with with exception - THE SHIMMY!!