Rick,

 

Unlike you, I just trusted the pre-assembled parts, nose gear strut and other things.  My strut is 5.5 degrees of positive rake (bottom forward of the top).  I've got 100 hours on my plane and no signs of shimmy.  When the nose strut rake discussion started, I had already fitted my nose gear fairing and decided to leave the strut alone.  Correcting the rake would have thrown off my fairing fit big-time.

 

Welding being what it is, parts are never exactly where they should be after welding.  I'm sure there's some variation in the engine mounts.  We all know the nose strut attachment is a weak point in the IV-ES design and any poor fit there would only magnify the weakness.

 

I plan on tightening the fit by replacing the nuts and bolts and leaving it alone unless I start getting some symptoms or notice any signs of wear.

 

Mike