What is a Castering nose wheel?
Airplanes with non-steerable/castering nosewheels use differential braking for directional control. But they also make the airplane easier to taxi, especially in windy conditions. Airplanes with castering nosewheels require differential braking to steer on the ground.
What is shimmy damping?
The shimmy damper (or dampener) is a hydraulic shock absorber installed on either the nose or main wheel forks and is attached to the aircraft structure. The slow movement of the piston allows the wheels to pivot so the aircraft can be steered on the ground.
What is a torque link?
Torque Links. The hinged link between the piston and cylinder of an oleo-type landing gear shock absorber. The torque links allow the piston to move freely in and out of the landing gear cylinder, but prevent it rotating. The torque links can be adjusted to achieve and maintain the correct wheel alignment.
What is a free Castering nose wheel?
On aircraft with tricycle configuration landing gear, the nose wheel is either free castoring or, by some mechanism, steerable to facilitate directional control during takeoff and landing and to allow the aircraft to manoeuvre whilst on the ground.
How does a shimmy damper work?
The piston inside the shimmy damper cylinder is designed to move freely back and forth when it is moved slowly enough to allow fluid to transfer from one side of the piston to the other through a restrictor. The slow movement of the piston allows the wheels to pivot so the aircraft can be steered on the ground.
What causes the nose gear to shimmy when braking?
The braking is from the nose tire skidding sideways during the more extreme angle divergent portion of the shimmy cycle. Since shimmy generally takes place for a short time, the early stages of this wear pattern are microscopic and hard to detect visually or by feeling the tire tread by hand.
Why does my steering wheel shake when I step on the brake?
If you notice sudden pulsing in the brake pedal and slight shaking in the steering wheel, the warped rotor could be the culprit. When you step on the brake pedal and the brake pads press down on the rotors, the rotors become extremely hot that causes the rotors to become worn over time.
What should I do if my nose wheel shimmy?
When you move the nose wheel right and then left, the shimmy damper should also move. If there is any un-dampered motion, tighten or replace the worn components (i.e. torque link bushings and spacers, the steering collar, and shimmy damper attachments).
What causes the steering wheel to shimmy when driving?
A worn tie rod affects the overall balance of the vehicle which further causes uneven tire wear. The tie rod is the one that connects the steering wheel to the rack and supports the vehicle when turning the wheel. If it gets wear out, you are sure to experience shimmying steering wheel when driving.
