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Alignment or balance?

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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 06:46 AM
  #1  
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Default Alignment or balance?

I'm asking in this thread rather than in the other. I just got new tires put on my C5 and then had it re-aligned. There is a slight steady vibration now as I travel down the road. The vibration, though slight, is something I don't recall having before I got the new tires and realignment.

My question: Is a continuous vibration due to misalignment, or wheels out of balance?

Thanks.
Railfan
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 07:01 AM
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Most likely, it's a balance problem ... or it could be a bad tire. It's something you want to get fixed before it cups your tires.

What kind of tires did you get?
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 07:02 AM
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the the vibration come from the wheel or can you feel it in the seat?


wheel usually says the fronts are out of balance and the seat usually says back ones.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 07:10 AM
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Originally Posted by EVIL_C5
the the vibration come from the wheel or can you feel it in the seat?


wheel usually says the fronts are out of balance and the seat usually says back ones.
This is the first of umpteen things I'll learn on the Forum today.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 07:17 AM
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Default Yup...

[QUOTE=RocketDawg]Most likely, it's a balance problem ... or it could be a bad tire. It's something you want to get fixed before it cups your tires.


It would have to be REALLY out of alignment to vibrate..
OR the tires could be out of round as well. Been there done that.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 08:59 AM
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Thanks, guys. I am going to take it in and have the tires rebalanced. Hopefully, that will do the job. Will let you all know when this is done.

Thanks again.

Railfan
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 09:10 AM
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I'd say it's a wheel balance problem.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 09:35 AM
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Vibration is most often a balance issue.

As was stated before, feel it in the steering wheel is the fronts and in the seat is the rears.

Let us know how the balancing turns out.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 10:46 AM
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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.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 11:57 AM
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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.
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?
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 11:58 AM
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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.
Good info Randy....I always forget to ask when I go...
but thank goodness, I haven't had an issue.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 12:02 PM
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I would say balance...

alignment usually causes your car to pull a certain direction when you let go of the wheel
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 12:15 PM
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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?
All of the Discount Tire (a.k.a. America's Tire in various parts of the USA) have them - at least the one's I've been in. Most of the high performance shops that deal in tires and wheels will also have it.

It is worth asking for - it will make that much of a difference.

Here's a link to Hunter's website that talks about this machine and the technology.....

http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/ba...159T/index.htm
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 12:32 PM
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Most likely, it's a balance problem ... or it could be a bad tire. It's something you want to get fixed before it cups your tires.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 12:43 PM
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I tossed a wheel weight a half a block from Discount after getting tires balanced there once. Steering wheel shake was terrible until
I could take it back in the next day.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by blacksedan87
All of the Discount Tire (a.k.a. America's Tire in various parts of the USA) have them - at least the one's I've been in. Most of the high performance shops that deal in tires and wheels will also have it.

It is worth asking for - it will make that much of a difference.

Here's a link to Hunter's website that talks about this machine and the technology.....

http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/ba...159T/index.htm
Thanks. I'm taking the car to Discount Tire Sunday morning. A simple balance took most of the "kidney shake" out of the car but I can still feel it. If this doesn't help, it's time for new tires.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus
Thanks. I'm taking the car to Discount Tire Sunday morning. A simple balance took most of the "kidney shake" out of the car but I can still feel it. If this doesn't help, it's time for new tires.
Blacksedan is right. It HAS to be road force tested. That way, after they're balanced, they can still see if there's going to be any vibrations. You may even have abd tires where the belts inside have shifted, and thus they will NEVER ride smooth.
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 07:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Hammie
Blacksedan is right. It HAS to be road force tested. That way, after they're balanced, they can still see if there's going to be any vibrations. You may even have abd tires where the belts inside have shifted, and thus they will NEVER ride smooth.
Oh Lord, let's hope not. After buying one set of tires and then changing my mind at the last minute, I'd hate to continue being a pain in the @ss to the guys at Discount Tire. I am taking the car back there on Monday or Tuesday to get them rebalanced. Will mention the "road force" testing to them. Hopefully someone on staff will know what I'm talking about AND how to administer the test.

Will let all of you know the results when I have them.

See you on Saturday at Bloomington Gold. (Thats why I am so anxious to get the vibration thing fixed...long trip)

Railfan
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 09:14 PM
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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.
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2006 | 09:15 PM
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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.
Reply



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