Steering wheel shake

[BirchMarauder]

Got a pulsating shake, like on & off in the wheel and low and high speeds. Is that balance or alignment?

[SC Cheesehead]

Got a pulsating shake, like on & off in the wheel and low and high speeds. Is that balance or alignment?

Have you changed/rotated tires recently?

Does the car pull to either the left or right?

[BirchMarauder]

With grooves in the road it pulls. Last alignment I got was carfixers specs, then two steering rack replacements with two corrective alignments for that process, the tires are worn slightly on the outside edge. I still have good tread down the middle though. No rotations. Wheel just shakes my hand while driving.

[SC Cheesehead]

With grooves in the road it pulls. Last alignment I got was carfixers specs, then two steering rack replacements with two corrective alignments for that process, the tires are worn slightly on the outside edge. I still have good tread down the middle though. No rotations. Wheel just shakes my hand while driving.

If properly aligned to carfixer's specs, should be uniform wear across the entire face of the tire, sounds like maybe a bit too much positive camber? :dunno:

When's the last time the tires were balanced? How old are the tires?

[martyo]

Check the front tire balance in particular, but it would be best to check all four wheels.

[Ozark Marauder]

it could be bent rim, loose lug nuts, even a lost wheel weight, but I think is more likely a worn suspension component, bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, possibly drive shaft balance.

I'm not sure but I think Wheel Alignment or Front end Alignment will not cause a vibration through the wheel?

[BirchMarauder]

I'll get em balanced again.

[SAAAAAC]

I just had my ball joints replaced at 55,000 miles in order to get a carfixers alignment. They wouldn't do the alignment otherwise. This was at a Ford dealership too. I'd have your ball joints checked.

[SC Cheesehead]

I just had my ball joints replaced at 55,000 miles in order to get a carfixers alignment. They wouldn't do the alignment otherwise. This was at a Ford dealership too. I'd have your ball joints checked.

Yeah, good point. I wonder how any miles are on the car?

[tbone]

I'm not sure but I think Wheel Alignment or Front end Alignment will not cause a vibration through the wheel?

General rule of thumb:
Wheel alignment normally makes the wheel shimmy from side to side. Wheel balance normally makes the wheel shake up and down.
Test:
Place hand on top of wheel and extend fingers. Watch what they do.

[Ozark Marauder]

General rule of thumb:
Wheel alignment normally makes the wheel shimmy from side to side. Wheel balance normally makes the wheel shake up and down.
Test:
Place hand on top of wheel and extend fingers. Watch what they do.

Thanks for the tip...

OZ

[fastblackmerc]

Make sure you get the tires road force balanced.

[BirchMarauder]

I am going to try that out.

[fastblackmerc]

I am going to try that out.

That is the only way I get tires balanced.

[burt ragio]

. If your front end is all tight no worn susp. As Jim said road force balance is the only way to roll.

[BirchMarauder]

Wait, what? Road force balanced?


Nevermind

[tbone]

Google......

[Shaijack]

Force Balance is when they load 9 really big people in your car and take it for a ride to help flatten the bad spots in a tire. Right??????

[drobin]

With your on going collection of MM's, you are acquiring intelligence beyond normal boundaries of us normal one vehicle owners.


drobin

[guspech750]

With your on going collection of MM's, you are acquiring intelligence beyond normal boundaries of us normal one vehicle owners.


drobin

That there is funny stuff!!


Sent from my iPhone
Eaton Swap + 4.10's = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!

[SC Cheesehead]

With your on going collection of MM's, you are acquiring intelligence beyond normal boundaries of us normal one vehicle owners.


drobin

True, dat! :D

Sorry, off topic!

Carry on.....

[Blackened300a]

I had a vibration in my wheel for quite a while up until I put the new rims on and had them rebalanced. Now its smooth at all speeds and makes longer trips seem fun again. One thing I noticed (at least on the Nitto's) there is a yellow marking on the tire that needs to be lined up with the tire stem when mounting, then you balance from there. My old tire shop never did this and I'm wondering if that was the reason for my vibration at speed with the old rims.

[burt ragio]

For years that is how I thought the mfgs marked their tires as blems.

[Bluerauder]

One thing I noticed (at least on the Nitto's) there is a yellow marking on the tire that needs to be lined up with the tire stem when mounting, then you balance from there. My old tire shop never did this and I'm wondering if that was the reason for my vibration at speed with the old rims.


For years that is how I thought the mfgs marked their tires as blems.

The stock OEM BFG KDWS came with a "red" dot on them. I think I saw a "blue" dot only once. Not sure that there is any real code for red vs. blue vs. yellow. As I understand it, the specific manufacturer uses the color of their choice.

From what I recall of the "dot" discussion years ago, all tires come naturally with high and low spots in them just due to the consistency of the rubber mixture poured into the molds and other manufacturing "irregularities". The dots were used to mark the high point (or heavy point on the tire). The dot should be mounted OPPOSITE to the side of the rim with the valve stem so that they tend to offset each other and minimize any added weights if needed during the balancing process.

Of course, the high/heavy side must still be within strict tolerances so that lopsided tires don't pass muster. Many of you may have heard the term "Out of Round" tire. Such tires are not necessarily out of round in the sense that they are oval-shaped; but rather high/heavy tires that don't meet specifications. Generally, these tires are almost impossible to balance without an excessive amount of weights.

There is an old thread in here somewhere that discusses this. Tire experts are welcome to chime in if I misspoke or mischaracterized this problem.

[Blackened300a]

T The dot should be mounted OPPOSITE to the side of the rim with the valve stem so that they tend to offset each other and minimize any added weights if needed during the balancing process.

The rule of thumb is that the dot is to be mounted in line with the valve stem. The "Dot" indicated the light side of the tire and is to be aligned with the valve stem to offset. You are correct with the high and light side just incorrect on the alignment of where the dot is placed.
Each tire brand has their own mark to use as a guide.

[Bluerauder]

The rule of thumb is that the dot is to be mounted in line with the valve stem. The "Dot" indicated the light side of the tire and is to be aligned with the valve stem to offset. You are correct with the high and light side just incorrect on the alignment of where the dot is placed.
Each tire brand has their own mark to use as a guide.

OK. :2thumbs: I thought the dot marked the heavy side vice the light side of the tire. Makes sense now.

Follow-On question --- have you ever noticed that even if the tires are mounted with the dot next to the valve stem, they can "slip" over time in relation to the rim and end up misaligned over time. Anyone else notice this or is this my imagination?

[Blackened300a]

OK. :2thumbs: I thought the dot marked the heavy side vice the light side of the tire. Makes sense now.

Follow-On question --- have you ever noticed that even if the tires are mounted with the dot next to the valve stem, they can "slip" over time in relation to the rim and end up misaligned over time. Anyone else notice this or is this my imagination?
Heavy horsepower cars put screws into the lip to prevent this from happening, I would have to let you know how my rear line up once the warmer weather comes. ;)

[EMAS]

The wheel shaking back and forth, when you aren't braking, is usually caused by a bad tire, ie broken belt or otherwise out of round, or a bent wheel. What is the brand and age of the tires? Heavily worn steering components and seriously out of balance tires are also likely suspects but less likely if it does it at low speeds as well has high.

[Siege]

Check the date code on the tire to see how old they are:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

Tires get harder as they age and you will usually end up with vibration and excessive noise.

As far as tire slip on the rim it is common enough that I skip the fancy road force balancing. It's pointless to pay for perfection when the tires will just slip within 10 miles.