My husbands 2004 TSX has had a shimmy in the front end since the odometer turned 5000 mi. They remilled the rotors -4- times, before finally replacing them.
Replaced the brakes. The tires AND wheels have been checked. Less than 25,000 mi later the shimmy is STILL there and worse than ever. Doesn't matter how slow or fast you drive. -I- also think the clutch is slipping. ( I don't drive the car much, I have an RSX-S). I think it's the CV joint....any comments ???
(my husband hates it that I know more than he does about cars, but my Dad was a mechanic and he taught me all kinds of stuff......)

Thanks for any and all help !

Chrys

 

Could be a half-shaft balancer is off or tires may be out of balance; essentially any of the rotating parts outside of the transmission case. Pretty sure it isn't anything on the brakes.

 

As moda_way said, I'd check the wheels being balanced first. Cheap, quick, and often the problem.

Second, look at swapping rear tires to front and front to rear. If the shimmy moves to the seat and isn't in the steering wheel anymore, then one of the wheels/tires that you just moved to the back, are either out of round, still not balanced, or not running true.

Third, look at the balancers to see if they're still intact. Look for signs of "something being on the shaft that isn't there anymore". Like residue, discoloration, etc.

Fourth, test CV joint(s) by doing tight turns in a parking lot (wheel all the way to one side, have someone walk alongside the car and listed for clicking). Try both sides. Clicking = bad CV joint.

Good luck and let us know what happens!

 

if its shimmy's during normal driving its not the brakes

 

Not usually, you're correct. But, if there's a sticking caliper and even a slightly-warped rotor, you'll get the shimmy, too. That, and it'll be accompanied by a pull to the culprit side.

 

Not to mention brake dust and a burnt smell upon exiting of the car or at a stop light.

I agree. Start with the simple and move to the more expensive. Everything you've mentioned can be done by visual inspection or simple testing.

I'm willing to bet the tire/wheel is the culprit.

 

We've already BEEN through the simple. Had all four wheels off, tires and wheels both are true, front end needed NO alignment. Tires and wheels rotated every 3000 mi (with oil change) NO difference. Thats why -I- think it's the CV joint. But most car dealerships/garages don't like women telling the men what to do....

I'll make him drive it in a circle and see if I hear clicking.

I KNEW it wasn't the brakes, but you can't tell someone something if they don't wanna hear you...

Thanks,

Kath

 

You know what Chrysantha, f that issue of dealerships not listening to women. Go in there and assert yourself to the service mgr or the dealership mgr.

CV joints give you plenty of feedback if they are bad... mainly a clicking noise while turning. If you've had the wheels balanced and rotated with no change in the shimmy, then I say it is the half-axle balancer weight. Someone either f'd up when they balanced the half-shaft (unlikely) or it has shifted. Remember, a minor shift on the balancer can have significant effects.

Don't settle, regardless of gender.

 

Sorry to revive the old thread but...

I just got back from college a few days ago and spent much of today in my TSX. When I came home during Colombus Day weekend and Thanksgiving, I felt a VERY small shimmy in the wheel but didn't think much of it figuring that it was just flat spots on the tires from sitting for so long.

When I was driving it today, I felt that the shimmy sensation had gone away but now I am hearing a bunch of clicking when I turn the wheel to the right or to the left. Additionally, when I take off from a complete stop, I hear the same click. I'm guessing that it's a CV Joint but could anyone else give me an opinion? I took the car to the dealer with the same issue back in the summer when the noise was less pronounced and they diagnosed it as the tires were wearing which was causing the noise (when I had the horrible OEM Michelins on but I knew that this wasn't the problem)

I now have a brand new set of Bridgestone Turanza LS-V's on the car so I know that it's not the tires. Opinions, please? Thanks!

 

I too "had" an '04 TSX that did exactly as OP explained...I complained to the dealership in Louisville, KY I know 10 times about it, only to be dismissed and essentially told that it was "normal". My problem started at about 15,000 miles and continued to the 45,000 mile mark. I let the dealership again and they FINALLY admiited that it wasn't normal. They supposedly fully inspected the front end and contacted Acura Engineering. They came back to me and stated "we think it's the axles". I live in southwestern Indiana and had to drive 110 miles one way to get service, and it was grating on my nerves all the "we think" b/s. I couldn't deal with it any longer, so I dumped the '04.

I have nearly completed my complaint letter to Acura, because at one point the dealership stated one of my rims was out of round and that they wouldn't cover it under warranty (no visible damage to the rim). I bought a new rim and it did not fix the problem, even tho' they stated it would. I'm going to pursue getting that $$ back as well as some sort of compensation for "aggravation" and personal the costs I incurred in the pursuit of attempting to get it repaired without proper satisfaction.

It may get no where, but I at least get to "vent" and make my point to Honda/Acura. I will NEVER EVER step foot on the lot of Acura at Oxmoor in Louisville, KY, nor will i EVER purchase a car from their family of dealerships. There are other circumstances related to the actions of the dealership I have not explained here which have added to my utter dislike/distrust of Acura at Oxmoor.

Oh...and I have contacted Acura Client care on multiple occasions. The last time I spoke with them, the representative I spoke with said flatly, "this situation is unacceptable" and he assured me he would work to get the situation resolved. His comments were too little too late because I had already ridded myself of the TSX.