Balance issue

[Wind-Farmer]

I just had my 20" razors put on by the dealership yesturday,

While driving it back to my lake house and noticed at 45-65 my steering wheel started to shutter and wobble...

Is this a balance issue or an alignment problem.

I did not get the car aligned due to they didn't have anyone there (at the ford dealership) to do it, so I am going to have that done next weekend by them. I figured they did the wheels they can align them.

Once again, is it a balance in a rim that's off or is it the alignment?


Thanks guys!

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[SpartaPerformance]

Thats a balance issue

 

[newskool]

yep. balance issue. take it back to them and tell them to fix it.

 

[Wind-Farmer]

damn, they have to take the tire off or anything? add more weights? I do not want them touching the damn rubber more than they have to. Scratch my rims I will flip!

 

[newskool]

no need to take the tire off of the rim. All the need to do is add/remove/reposition weights. Should only take 15-20 mins tops.

 

[autumn_again]

yeah, just gotta throw the rim on the machine and it'll tell them what rim is off balance to correct, and where its off balance.

 

[livin]

I also had this problem - the solution is to remove both front wheels and remove the retention washer that is on one of the wheel studs (total of two - one on each side).

The problem is that the factory wheels have a cut out to account for this retention washer but many aftermarket wheels do not. It is a very thin washer but it is keeping your wheel from sitting flush.

Hope this helps.

 

[Casey4s]

I also had this problem - the solution is to remove both front wheels and remove the retention washer that is on one of the wheel studs (total of two - one on each side).

The problem is that the factory wheels have a cut out to account for this retention washer but many aftermarket wheels do not. It is a very thin washer but it is keeping your wheel from sitting flush.

Hope this helps.

Good tip

I hate those freaking thingies, I always remove them when I work on the brakes but never thought about them causing a problem.

 

[GDTrumbo]

Also, are your new rims hub centric? If not, they will always be a balancing nightmare.

GT

 

[Wind-Farmer]

livin, thank you very much for your tip, I will have to take a look at that when I am able to see my car next!!!

Also, hub centric? I am unaware of what that is...I would imagine that the hub is centered in the wheel perfectly? I would hope shelby does that.

 

[TRIBALMAN23]

I have had my new wheels since February and had the same issue!
I had bought them mounted and balanced, problem was they only had one row of weights. I took them to a trusted shop I use and had them re balance them 2 times now and Sat. had the do a front end alignment. I have noticed a huge difference. I still have the smallest wobble(only in the steering wheel, not in the whole car) but I don't have a clue of that washer you guys are talking about!
ANY CHANCE SOMEONE CAN POST A PIC OF THIS????
DSC02135 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/372978...hotos/37297844@N03/3734446174/in/photostream/

What do you think of my wheel choice?

 

[TRIBALMAN23]

 

[Wind-Farmer]

Your wheel choice looks very good!!

as for that washer they are talking about, I am unfamiliar with it as well. I have read a few forums saying that this could be the key. It is apparently a spring washer that was used to hold the spindle on during assembly, and serves no other purpose. Stock wheels have a groove/ indent that makes the wheel sit flush, as opposed to aftermarket products.

I will take the my front wheels off and check for this.

My car also just has a steering wheel wobble, the car does not.


and to post images, I see you uploaded the picture to flickr. You see that icon that is yellow with the mountains and a little dot in the corner? You click on that, and it will bring up a screen to paste a link.

while you go to flikr you right click on your uploaded picture, and go properties, copy that link, and paste it in the mountain icon thing window.

I will show up as

 

[TRIBALMAN23]

Thanks man I have a hood that I just painted last night and I am wanting to show everyone!!! I have had this hood 1 year June 8th ( long story short) got taken by 3 body shops!!! I was new to the area and didn't know a good shop and anyone to point me in the right direction. FINALLY I had to do it my self and about 700 dollars later I got what I wanted. I will post pictures next week for I am waiting for it to totally cure and I will buff the whole car and snap some good pictures!

 

[TRIBALMAN23]

Lats try this again!

 

[Wind-Farmer]

looks great bud, now all you need is some Eibachs and Tokicos and it will look fantastic!!

 

[livin]

Regarding the washers - I don't have any pictures - sorry.

If you remove all five lug nuts from the lug nut studs and then remove the wheel - one one of the five lug
nut studs will be a retention washer (you can't miss it) - just remove this retention washer.

Sorry for not adding pics - hope this helps.

 

[Wind-Farmer]

and this is a fact, all our cars will have this washer? Or is it just something that accidentally gets left on during the instillation of the wheel assembly?

Because if this fixed the problem, I would be so ridiculously happy you don't even know!!!

 

[Emay]

All cars have that retaining washer when they leave the factory. If you've ever had brakes done they were likely removed. This should have been removed when they installed, it's know to be a requirement.

As bad as you described the wobble, sounds like a wheel is poorly out of balance.

 

[Wind-Farmer]

The wobble is there, only in the steering wheel, i can firmly grab the wheel and it will stop, and I cannot feel it in my hands, but if i were to be driving with my finger tips, the wheel is wobbling slightly.

I cannot feel the car wobbling, on visual on the steering wheel and slight touch...

Thanks Emay