When Im on the highway, the steering wheel shakes, not too much, but its enough to bother me. I got the alignment done after I dropped my car. Im thnking Wheel Balancing will help, and also when I brake it shakes like a mofo. I have to flip the rotors to fix the braking problem but will wheel balancing fix the shaking at high speeds (Shaking happens when im not braking).

 

Try getting a new wheel balance if you do need it which u probably do if the shaking is that noticable. Yes the wheel balance makes a big difference. Could eliminate that shaking your expeiriencing. Also, if your breaking and ur shit is shaking, that woulb be your stock rotors or whatever rotors you have that are most likely WARPED to shit, like how my stock ones are. Hence the reason i got my Slotted ones.

 

definately balance and should be straight

 

Ohh yea forgot to mention, before the drop I had a clip on one of the front rims, it was on the edge part that almost touched the rubber. Now its not there...I dont know if that was there for balancing but its not there no more, the other front tire has it on there.

 

what speeds are you shaking? is it a range of speeds like 45-60mph or is it like 60+mph

 

like 50+, also, do you think the unbalanced wheels (hopefully) will make my car shake while braking?

 

That was a wheel weight. Go have a balance done on your tires and it will take care of the shaking while driving.

The problem with shaking while braking is warped rotors. Either have them turned or replaced

 

Not likely. most of that is warped rotors

 

yea thats what I was thinking, how much would it be to flip the rotors do you think?

 

Are you just nervous when you get to high speeds? Maybe it's just your arms shaking the wheel.

Seriously, though, make sure you get a high-speed balancing. I learned when I worked at a shope when I was a kid that some shops will only do balancing up to 50 mph or so...

 

The vibration at higher speeds could be caused from imbalanced wheels, uneven tire wear and/or tire pressure. You might need to do another alignment depending on how long it's been since you had it done. Have you rotated your wheels? Hit any pot hole?

 

No pot Holes, Just dropped my car Less than a month ago, Did an alignment 2 weeks ago, put 44 PSI on each tire today. IDK about the uneven Tire wear.

 

machine those rotors and u'll be good... will save u money , compared to getting new rotors...

- as for the shaking.. wheel balance will fix that... also make sure all tires are properly inflated and the threadwear is even.

 

44 PSI!!! Whoa, drop that shit down to like 30 to 32. I don't know if you have low-pro's or if it's any different with them, but that sounds like WAY too much pressure for a TL and VERY dangerous as well. could blow on you easily at that pressure, plus will wear severely along the center of the tire. I went to a cheap place for tires once and they tried to overinflate to the max listed on the sidewall and I noticed my ride was rough (my old car) at like 40mph, pulled over and deflated them right away. I gave their (PEPBOYS) service dept a very angry phone call when i got home as well.

 

Whoa kimosabe thats too much especially for the smooth roads of your hood, I was there last weekend. Get the wheels re balanced. I envy the roads around Mooresville, if I lived there I would have the Teins all the way down.

 

Still follow everyone elses advise on this thread as well. Non-balanced tires and warped rotors (when braking) will cause the same problem.

 

The missing wheel weight was the obvious problem AND a good warning to others with lowered cars that nearly/barely clear the fenders- especially when doing the set-up
Check for enough room for ALL the parts to clear as they rotate and under LOAD of cornering

Imagine that happening at speed, nice little chink in the fender.
Thats why we put a small piece of duct tape on the weights for track days and always on the race wheels!!

Like my avatar? My 01TL on Racing Brake/Hawk from MrHeelToe

 

You can get new Raybestos rotors for as little at $15 - shipped from Advance auto parts.

Why turn them when you can get brand new ones for the same or less $$?

 

Do you have raybestos? Never heard of em'

 

Raybestos falls under the heading of - good- parts not GREAT parts.
They work fine if you drive like a normal human.

If your style involves imitating a video game...

For cheap I like the American made rotors at NAPA auto parts rears were 18 each
and with Hawk pads from pepboys at 58

Fronts- I went big with Racing Brake rotors fromMrHeelToe worth every penny!

 

Did the vibration occur before you lowered he car, or did it become more noticeable after the drop? If all the possible diagnosis that everyone mentioned above checks out ok, then you might want to inspect for worn lower balljoints or tie-rod ends, and possibly wheel bearings.

 

KonCept

A few post in, the OP admitted to a small metal clip- the wheel weight- got knocked off during install

Problem Solved

 

i ran into the same problem when winter came and i had to put my stock wheels back on.... about 50+ it'll shake and about 100+ it starts to vibrate... am i correct?

i thought it was the new winter tires i mounted on my stock wheels that were unballanced... so i swapped the fronts to the rears and so on... shaking was still going on so i brought it to my buddy's shop and had them rebalanced. everythign was fine and then i went back on the road, nothign changed it was still shaking....

so we go examine the the issue closer and noticed these black rings that was causeing the mount between the rim and rotors to not sit flush.... so we took a screwdriver adn popped them right out and mounted my wheels back on adn everything was fine, problem solved

 

Gotcha, thanks!

 

On the front tires, if I dont put 44 PSI, it looks like a flat tire, and I dont like it. And Platano, why aint you say anything when You were down here, or did you just pass by Mo-Town.

 

Why not? the stock 32 may be to low for a low profile tire.

 

Indeed

3.2 why dont you tell us what tire size and what is says for max cold at what weight
That will help a lot

My wife thinks the stock 205/60s always look flat but are dead on 36 psi when I check them

 

Idk, I think the tire size is the same as whatever it came out of the Lot back in 99'. Of course the tires have been changed BUT I believe they have been replaced by the same kind of tire size (There Michelin)

 

I got the Wheels Balanced...The back rims are "slightly Bent". I still feel a lil shaking but much better than before.

 

Ask a local auto recycler aka junkyard if they have the right year rims for you

Bent a little or a lot, that vibration you feel is tearing up things like wheel bearings

Spend now or spend more later

 

I might get some Type S's from the junkyard, I know someone there So Ill get the hook up. And I know they have em.

 

Hey guys..I have the same issue with vibration over 70mph. It goes and comes in waves.
Discription: you'll feel the vibration for a few seconds then it will smooth out, then vibration, then smooth out. The time between the waves get shorter as the speeds increase.
I took the car to the dealership twice for this issue and was told this Saturday, that it's the tires. The service manager said that the 03TL-S can only use Michelin tires @ $220.00 each. Currently, there are 4 brand new Yokohoma 205/50's on the rims and they have been ballanced and the car was aligned. Additionally, I was told by the service manager that the speed limit is 70mph and I should not drive 80mph, which would solve the vibration issue. That comment got me into a pissing match with the manager. I can't believe he would insult my intelligence like that. At this point I'm not sure how to proceed. It was suggested that I get a letter from the dealer that states that an 03 TL-S can only wear Michelin tires and take it up with the branch manager. They refuse to try a diffrent set of wheels off another one of the TL's on the lot. I'm not going to pay $1000.00 for 4 new tires, I don't believe that this car HAVE to use Michelin tires,ONLY!
Any suggestions guys?

 

yes I have michelin on 3, GoodYear On one....the vibration goes and comes like you stated too....idk what to do, Ill just get some Type S Rims or something.

 

Is it a fact that the 03 TL-S have to wear Michelin tires?
I been in the car scene for over 20 years and have yet to come across a car that needs a specific brand of tire. What if Michelin goes out of buisness? If I change wheels I have to get Michelin tires for them? I can't believe that this is the case.
I seen plenty of cars on this site with diffrent wheels and I'm sure they don't all have Michelins on them. Either way, I'm going to keep at it till I find a resoulation.

 

It sounds like the dealer wants you to buy the tires they sell at max price

I would place a call to Acura Customer Care and follow up with a written letter to them
That gets District and Regional Managers involved
1-800-382-2238 x5 6am -5pm pacific time

 

NO the car Does NOT need to wear Michelin's. I would find a different dealer. I would also do what 01tl4tl said by calling and sending Acura a nice Written letter about the dealer.

The car can have any tires that fall within the specified range for the car (load and size) your 205/50 isnt the correct size though) The vibration could be many things. Bent rim, bearing, halfshaft, tire out of balance, etc..

 

yep prolly a slighty bent rim or out of balance

 

I have a similar issue vibration wise with new Yoko Avids. Balanced twice so far, but I notice it vibrating a little still and the ride seems rougher (like more vibrations in my seat) than I had with the stock Michelin's. I am wondering if the tires are out of round or flat spotting with the cold weather, as it seems to improve a bit when they heat up. If it is flat spotting, I am going to be p*ssed ... I've never had tires flat spot before, but this is my first time with Yokos.

 

01tl4tl, fsttyms1.. thanks for the advise and telephone #. I'm going to call and follow up with a letter to them. I found out that the guy I go into the pissing match with was the used cars sales manager and not the service manager. I feel it might be what 01tl4tl stated.. a slightly bent rims or axles. The tires were ballanced twice by the same dealer and aligned once.
Thanks again guys. This is why fourms and the people on them rockz!

 

sb65, you are right about the rougher ride, I wondered the same. I also own a 95 Lexus LS400 and a 93 Acura Integra and they both ride smooth and it does not feel like I'm ridng on rubberbands. I can feel every nook and cranny in the road with the TL.
Some one mentioned that the 205/50 are incorrect. I'm pretty sure the Yoko's that are on there now.. are 215/50's. I might have made a mistake and said 205/50's. Sorry.
Concidering the acura is lowerd 4 inches on Skunk2 coilovers, Koni's adjustables