Noticing a Vibration
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 99
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From: Olathe Kansas
Noticing a Vibration
Took my 8k mile '92 out tonight and noticed a vibration that begins about 65mph and continues as I increase speed. It has new Firestone Wide Ovals that I have put about 200 miles on. I did not notice the vibration this weekend on a scenic cruise, but the road was not very smooth and it may have masked the problem. Vibration is the same under load and when coasting, even in neutral. The vibration seems to have a cyclic feeling to it, if you know what I mean. Got home and checked the tires and noticed that the left front and right rear have no balance weights. I'm hoping this is the problem....what do you think? Thanks in advance.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Waterbury Connecticut
Originally Posted by rangerphil
Took my 8k mile '92 out tonight and noticed a vibration that begins about 65mph and continues as I increase speed. It has new Firestone Wide Ovals that I have put about 200 miles on. I did not notice the vibration this weekend on a scenic cruise, but the road was not very smooth and it may have masked the problem. Vibration is the same under load and when coasting, even in neutral. The vibration seems to have a cyclic feeling to it, if you know what I mean. Got home and checked the tires and noticed that the left front and right rear have no balance weights. I'm hoping this is the problem....what do you think? Thanks in advance.
Sounds like a really good place to start looking. Flat spots will make it vibrate too but that should stop as soon as the tires warm up.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 99
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From: Olathe Kansas
Supposedly they balanced the tires but I find it hard to believe that 2 did not require any weights at all! Taking it in tomorrow, they have one of the hunter machines that load the tire so we will see what happens.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 854
Likes: 1
From: The burbs of Denver CO
Sounds like a balance problem - could be several possibilities. If it is a quality shop, they put the weights on the inside of the wheel rather than the cramp ons that you see on the outside. It you feel the vibration in the steering wheel, it is the fronts; the seat of your pants, the rears. The first thing you might want to do is retork all the lug nuts, 100#'s if you have a torque wrench. It could be a belt slipping in the new tires - a defect that would be warrantied. It could be a bent wheel - your problem, and costs about $125/wheel to have them straightened. Or it could be a bad balance, which the dealer should fix with no problems, and should be your second step - take it to the dealer again. It is very possible that the stick on weights used on the inside of the rim flew off, especially if they weren't cleaned properly when the weights were first installed, or you hammered one to many pot holes or speed bumps!
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,961
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From: WI
When places balance the wheel they don't clean it. 
Take a look at the back of the wheel, is there grease, tar, rocks, mud, snow, dead things, etc. plastered onto the wheel? If so, remove. If you find a lot of grease, it could be dripping out of your tie rod boots/etc. It could be something else, just an idea. 
Take a look at the back of the wheel, is there grease, tar, rocks, mud, snow, dead things, etc. plastered onto the wheel? If so, remove. If you find a lot of grease, it could be dripping out of your tie rod boots/etc. It could be something else, just an idea.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 254
From: Illinois
St. Jude Donor '04-'06
I had a similar problem on my '96 after getting new tires (just after I bought the car)...talked with Gordon Killebrew at Carlisle and he correctly diagnosed the problem as a sticky e-brake...I was too focused on it being a tire/fdriveline problem and hadnt noticed that it only happened after I had used the ebrake..
if its not a balance issue, this may be the problem...
if its not a balance issue, this may be the problem...
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 161
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From: Duh I live in the city Lifted
Originally Posted by john m
I had a similar problem on my '96 after getting new tires (just after I bought the car)...talked with Gordon Killebrew at Carlisle and he correctly diagnosed the problem as a sticky e-brake...I was too focused on it being a tire/fdriveline problem and hadnt noticed that it only happened after I had used the ebrake..
if its not a balance issue, this may be the problem...
if its not a balance issue, this may be the problem...
[QUOTE]
Originally Posted by rangerphil
It has new Firestone Wide Ovals QUOTE]
Found your problem
Found your problem
Really good tires in the rain otherwise
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Deerbrook WI
Originally Posted by Aardwolf
When places balance the wheel they don't clean it. Take a look at the back of the wheel, is there grease, tar, rocks, mud, snow, dead things, etc. plastered onto the wheel? If so, remove.
Take a look at the back of the wheel, is there grease, tar, rocks, mud, snow, dead things, etc. plastered onto the wheel? If so, remove. 
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 161
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From: Duh I live in the city Lifted
Never liked my firestones but then again Im a tire racist because of dragging. Havent tried the "wo" but with the experience I had with the other-ma-call-its spinning at any given stab of the throttle I vowed not to go there again for tires. (was on a budget then
)