Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site mnetor.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utcs!mnetor!clewis
From: clewis@mnetor.UUCP (Chris Lewis)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Front-end shake, '84 Tempo
Message-ID: <856@mnetor.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-May-85 16:11:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: mnetor.856
Posted: Wed May 22 16:11:41 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 22-May-85 17:13:02 EDT
References: <1649@sunybcs.UUCP> <496@usl.UUCP> <1136@ihuxe.UUCP>
Reply-To: clewis@mnetor.UUCP (Chris Lewis)
Distribution: net
Organization: Computer X (CANADA) Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Lines: 32
Summary: 

In article <1136@ihuxe.UUCP> chas@ihuxe.UUCP (Charles Lambert) writes:
>> It only happens, as I said, only after one wheel hits something. The
>> entire car will shake, along with the steering column. After slow down,
>> it will return to normal.
>
>Sounds like the shocks (dampers? substitute correct domestic terminology)
>are shot.  The symptoms suggest that hitting a bump is setting up a
>resonance that the speed of wheel-rotation is maintaining. The dampers
>should control this. I'd expect the dampers on a '72 Corolla to be long
>gone.

Another (expensive) possibilty: GM front wheel drive cars (particularly
early "X" body) exhibit this behaviour when the transaxle bushings get
worn (My father just replaced the durn things on a '80 Citation).  The
way to tell is to take hold of the axle just before the constant
velocity joint and see if there is any slop in the axle w.r.t. the
transaxle.  There shouldn't be any at all.  If in doubt, have a mechanic
inspect it.

There was an extended warrantee on 80/81 X body cars for this reason.
Apparently they now sell an add-on strut to contain another set of
bearings/bushings to support the outboard end of the axle stub.

On GM cars replacing these bushings normally requires the transaxle
being removed (about $500 CDN +) and partially disassembled along
with disassembly of the front suspension.  Not nice at all.  My 
father was lucky - he was able to tear them out without removing
the transaxle.  Only took us two weeks to do...
-- 
Chris Lewis,
UUCP: {allegra, linus, ihnp4}!utzoo!mnetor!clewis
BELL: (416)-475-8980 ext. 321