IPSEC04TL

I recently installed a new 18" tire/wheel package for my 04 TL. Since my OEM chrome wheels were beat up and bent, I decided to go with new for functionality and looks to some degree. I had some slight vibration with my OEM wheels which were clearly bent and needed 3 + ounces to balance out. New wheels (no bends) have been balanced and mounted with wheel specific hub-centric rings. Properly torqued down and everything. Wheels are 18X8 with 38 offset.

Unfortunately, at speeds past 50, the front wheel starts to exhibit a mildly strong "shimmy" like vibration. I could live with the slight vibration my bent 17s made, but the vibration of the *brand new unbent* 18s is unbearable-it's madness. If I let go of the wheel, I can see it nudge 1-2 CM each way at highway speeds. The car doesn't pull on flat surfaces but the vibration is present, especially on smooth surfaces. I have had the wheels rebalanced once yet the shimmy still exists. I'm so pissed with this, I've heard road force balancing can help, but why should this matter on brand new tires that are evenly worn? I hate driving my car on the highway because it feels like its falling apart. I can't rationalize paying $100 for a balance job that may not even fix my problem.

Any ideas? Help? Please

IPSEC04TL

Bump

blokhead

It could be a bad a tire. I had new tires put on in the morning then had to drive 130 miles on the interstate, after about 40 miles I got a bad vibration. I took it to Firestone and they put it on the balancing machine and the tires looked balanced, put it back on the car and test drove it, same thing. Then they put my car on the lift with it running and in gear, and you could see the tire and rim jumping up and down. They replaced the tire and all was good.

But in your case, if you had a bent rim and drove with it for a while and it vibrated for a while, you could have a bad wheel bearing, whatever bent your tire may have damaged the wheel bearing.

IPSEC04TL

That's a good idea, however, when I put my OEM wheels back on the vibration is far more subdued...especially considered they have a visible bend on the inside. If the bearings were fucked, do you think the extra mass of the 18s could perpetuate the vibration so severely?
I'm going to swap my front and rears around tonight to see if maybe it's something with the wheels. Another thought...my upper control arm bushing is a bit worn (visible stress marks in the rubber), do you think this could have anything do with it?

IPSEC04TL

Bump for a vibration free car

stillhere153

iTrader: (1)

highspeed balance required if the vibration goes away after you increase the speed