> Ron,
>
> We, I mean Sam discovered the drag link was loose.  After checking the bolt, the strut ears, and the drag link bolt cylinder we reinstalled and torqued it.  No more movement of the strut.  However, we discovered it only has 5" of the chrome showing, so we know it's low in PSI.
>
> Sam also brought me a shim kit and mentioned that some had kept it in place by using zip ties.  Is there any other ways of installing it and retaining it in place?
>
> George
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Jan 2, 2014, at 7:41, Ron Galbraith <n5es@mac.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi George,
>>  There are several things that might cause the shimmy in the main gear.  The first thing is warped rotors.  You can either replace the rotors or get yours machined for a pretty small cost.  Grease or oil on the brake pads/rotors can also cause the brakes to grab in an uneven way.  the wheels/tires being out of balance can also cause it.  The biggest cause is usually play in the main gear leg.  The only way to know for sure about that is to jack up the airplane to get the weight off the main gear and just grab it and move it.  If the gear leg moves at all, then you need to shim the gear leg.  You can get shim material from Lancair.  Some have heated up the receptical and used dry ice on the gear leg so when you put the shim on, it’s easier to get in, then when the gear goes back to normal temp it’s very tight.  I’ve heard of others using lock tite but I’m not positive about which version to use.  
>> This is for the main gear but it sounds like you may have a nose strut issue too in that the nose strut isn’t dampening enough.  You need to do a “grease plate test” to verify.  Also, I’m not positive which nose strut you have.  Is it the older version or the new one?   If it’s the old one then I would say for sure you really need to get it overhauled.  Once you get a bad nose shimmy, the O rings in the older strut are certainly damaged.  The new strut is different and might just need serviced.  The old strut has the shredder valve on the front middle of the strut and the new one has the valve on the back lower part of the strut.  If you have the new one, make sure there’s at least 6-7” of silver showing.  On the older strut you should have about 2-3” of silver showing.  
>> Let me know if there’s any other info I can help you with.  Where are you keeping the airplane?
>>
>> Ron
>>
>>
>>> On Jan 1, 2014, at 11:06 PM, George Wehrung <gw5@me.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Ron,
>>>
>>> We bought N84FA from the Rooneys. I know Tom had called you for advice.  Well it's my turn if you don't mind.  
>>>
>>> I have seen lots of posts on the shimmy.  Ours also is predominately with the right main gear and appears when I have to use heavy braking and like last night did enough damage to vibrate the screws loose in the nose gear fairing.  The shimmy did not end until we had slowed below ten knots.
>>>
>>> I have seen references to using shims in the hole the gear leg bolts to in the fuselage.  But I don't how well this works, how hard it is to put in and if the kit is something Lancair sells.
>>>
>>> Thanks for the help in the long list of things we need to fix.
>>>
>>> George
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>