Alignment or balance?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Fountain hills AZ
Originally Posted by Railfan
I
My question: Is a continuous vibration due to misalignment, or wheels out of balance?
Thanks.
Railfan
My question: Is a continuous vibration due to misalignment, or wheels out of balance?
Thanks.
Railfan
When I switched to non-runflats, I noticed tire wobble - something I hadn't felt in years. I adjusted tire pressures and solved that problem pretty easily. I now run 32-33 pound all around versus 30 with the run flats. The cars are excellent handling machines and sensitive to minor changes.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
I agree with the others - vibration=balancing issue.
Is the shop performing a road force balance? This is important because the newer Hunter machines (there are others too - but Hunter was the original and the best IMO) checks for run out of the rim besides balancing. Point is if the wheel is slightly heavy on one side due to irregularities in the casting or forging process and the tire is also a little heavy from the molding process - the run out will verify that. A good tire tech will recognize the condition and break the beads on the tire - and turn the tire on the rim.
My suggestion is to specifically ask for a road force balance.
Is the shop performing a road force balance? This is important because the newer Hunter machines (there are others too - but Hunter was the original and the best IMO) checks for run out of the rim besides balancing. Point is if the wheel is slightly heavy on one side due to irregularities in the casting or forging process and the tire is also a little heavy from the molding process - the run out will verify that. A good tire tech will recognize the condition and break the beads on the tire - and turn the tire on the rim.
My suggestion is to specifically ask for a road force balance.
Good info and advice from Randy. 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus
Get the wheels balanced and have the tire installer check for run out inthe tire.BlackSedan, what shops do you know of that do this road force balance?
Hunter's GSP9700
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Traverse City Michigan
Originally Posted by GrayC5
You can also click on the Locate a GSP9700 tab at the top right at the following link to find other shops in your are:
Hunter's GSP9700
Hunter's GSP9700
Railfan
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Traverse City Michigan
Well, I finally was able to get back to have the tires rebalanced. The place where I purchased the tires have a Hunter 9700, but it is broke and they can't do a road force balance. So I had them do a regular balance.
Results: One rear tire was off by a quarter ounce and the other rear tire was off by a half ounce. The fronts were fine. Don't know if that would be enough to cause all the vibration I had been feeling (in the seat of my pants and in the door handle mostly), but on the way home from the garage I was able to get up to 55 mph and noted that most of the vibration (65%) was gone.
Hopefully when the garage gets its new 9700, I can go back in and get a road force balance.
Question? Would it be worth my time and money to now get the car realigned (just done four weeks ago)?
Thanks
Railfan
Results: One rear tire was off by a quarter ounce and the other rear tire was off by a half ounce. The fronts were fine. Don't know if that would be enough to cause all the vibration I had been feeling (in the seat of my pants and in the door handle mostly), but on the way home from the garage I was able to get up to 55 mph and noted that most of the vibration (65%) was gone.
Hopefully when the garage gets its new 9700, I can go back in and get a road force balance.
Question? Would it be worth my time and money to now get the car realigned (just done four weeks ago)?
Thanks
Railfan
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 58,551
Likes: 95
From: The warm part of Anger Island
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
I agree with the others - vibration=balancing issue.
Is the shop performing a road force balance? This is important because the newer Hunter machines (there are others too - but Hunter was the original and the best IMO) checks for run out of the rim besides balancing. Point is if the wheel is slightly heavy on one side due to irregularities in the casting or forging process and the tire is also a little heavy from the molding process - the run out will verify that. A good tire tech will recognize the condition and break the beads on the tire - and turn the tire on the rim.
My suggestion is to specifically ask for a road force balance.
Is the shop performing a road force balance? This is important because the newer Hunter machines (there are others too - but Hunter was the original and the best IMO) checks for run out of the rim besides balancing. Point is if the wheel is slightly heavy on one side due to irregularities in the casting or forging process and the tire is also a little heavy from the molding process - the run out will verify that. A good tire tech will recognize the condition and break the beads on the tire - and turn the tire on the rim.
My suggestion is to specifically ask for a road force balance.
I followed this advice from Sedan and it took a lot of the "kidney shake" out of the rear of my vette. There's still some vibration but I attribute it to thousands of miles of driving with improper balancing.
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
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Originally Posted by Railfan
Well, I finally was able to get back to have the tires rebalanced. The place where I purchased the tires have a Hunter 9700, but it is broke and they can't do a road force balance. So I had them do a regular balance.
Results: One rear tire was off by a quarter ounce and the other rear tire was off by a half ounce. The fronts were fine. Don't know if that would be enough to cause all the vibration I had been feeling (in the seat of my pants and in the door handle mostly), but on the way home from the garage I was able to get up to 55 mph and noted that most of the vibration (65%) was gone.
Hopefully when the garage gets its new 9700, I can go back in and get a road force balance.
Question? Would it be worth my time and money to now get the car realigned (just done four weeks ago)?
Thanks
Railfan
Results: One rear tire was off by a quarter ounce and the other rear tire was off by a half ounce. The fronts were fine. Don't know if that would be enough to cause all the vibration I had been feeling (in the seat of my pants and in the door handle mostly), but on the way home from the garage I was able to get up to 55 mph and noted that most of the vibration (65%) was gone.
Hopefully when the garage gets its new 9700, I can go back in and get a road force balance.
Question? Would it be worth my time and money to now get the car realigned (just done four weeks ago)?
Thanks
Railfan
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Traverse City Michigan
Thanks. The shop said that they are expecting their new 9700 any day now. I am going to wait a couple weeks for them, since I bought my tires from them and will get the rebalancing done for free (sort of anyway). If they don't get the new one by then, I might have to go down the street to their competitor and have them road force balance the tires.
Again, thanks for all the great replies. This forum ROCKS!!!
Railfan
Again, thanks for all the great replies. This forum ROCKS!!!
Railfan
