Wheel balance, what does it affect?

[ozzeran]

This is a general question. On my 95 gst it will shake/vibrate around 68-75mph. Well i just got back from Discount Tire and they balanced them, not as bad but it's still there. I'm guessing maybe one of the wheels is warped/bent? I bought the car last week used, so i have no clue. But how long can i drive like this before it wears something out and what would it wear out? It's not that bad but it's there, would it cause any problems to the suspension if i drive a long time like this? I drive about 55miles daily on the highway. I wanted to wait until these tires kick the bucket b4 i upgrade the wheels or what not.

 

[girlieracr4g63]

Has the car ever been wrecked?

 

[ozzeran]

No according to him it's never been wrecked. Carfax doesn't report anything either.

 

[girlieracr4g63]

Normally a tire shop can tell you if a wheel is bent or not if its not noticeable by just looking at it. I take it the car shook before you got the new tires?

 

[ozzeran]

Normally a tire shop can tell you if a wheel is bent or not if its not noticeable by just looking at it. I take it the car shook before you got the new tires?

I bought the car used last week, the tires are at the wear bars right now. It was shaking ever since i got it last. Of course discount tire said nothing about the wheels being bent so i'm wondering if they didn't care or didn't do a very good job balancing.

 

[girlieracr4g63]

Could be either or..Id say see if there is somewhere else that can do a quit balance check for ya.

 

[ozzeran]

Ok just noticed there was a recall for the lower ball joint, i'm guessing 9 1/2 years is too long to go to replace the ball joint under a recall right?

 

[Twizzle]

hmm, i think you can get it fixed under recall.

 

[tigerstalon]

In my experience, things that cause steering wheel shimmies are:
-unbalanced tires
-imperfections/bald spots on tires
-worn/loose tie rods
-bent wheels

I'm not sure what parts of the car will be affected by this, but I think that the tie rods are probably taking the brunt of the force.

 

[Mack]

Possibly a bad wheel bearing? My 95 had one and this was the problem.

 

[Defiant]

I bought the car used last week, the tires are at the wear bars right now. It was shaking ever since i got it last.

Jesus, drop the money for new tires before dicking with anything else. Those worn-out skids aren't ever going to feel right.

 

[LeJeune123]

I have two answers for you this could be either or. When first got my car I was e-braking everywhere just because it was fun, but after awhile my tires became bald in a couple spots on the back tires. I never saw the flats spots on my tires just because it was too slight of a difference, but when someone puts it on a balancer the tire spins and they can feel it and watch it as it rolls.

2nd it could be that a belt has slipped in your tire or tires, sometimes it is slight and you can't see it without the tire off and sometimes it is a bump on the tire just feel around on the inside outside and on the tread. If this happens you could have a blowout and definatly don't want that since you just got your car. When you bring it to a tire place make sure to tell the guy that is working on your car that you want it checked very well for a slipped belt.

 

[ozzeran]

hmm ok i've never heard of that. number 1 wouldn't surprise me because the 16 year old kid drove the car for 2 months before me. I'll let the tire to check out the slipped belts, it's gonna be another month or 2 before i get new tires.

I have two answers for you this could be either or. When first got my car I was e-braking everywhere just because it was fun, but after awhile my tires became bald in a couple spots on the back tires. I never saw the flats spots on my tires just because it was too slight of a difference, but when someone puts it on a balancer the tire spins and they can feel it and watch it as it rolls.

2nd it could be that a belt has slipped in your tire or tires, sometimes it is slight and you can't see it without the tire off and sometimes it is a bump on the tire just feel around on the inside outside and on the tread. If this happens you could have a blowout and definatly don't want that since you just got your car. When you bring it to a tire place make sure to tell the guy that is working on your car that you want it checked very well for a slipped belt.

 

[sphillips91]

"wouldn't surprise me because the 16 year old kid drove the car for 2 months before me."

Ahhh christ :laugh:

Cant imagine what I would of done to my car had I owned it when I was 16.

 

[ozzeran]

"wouldn't surprise me because the 16 year old kid drove the car for 2 months before me."

Ahhh christ :laugh:

Cant imagine what I would of done to my car had I owned it when I was 16.

hehee, same here

 

[2GeNTSi]

Ok just noticed there was a recall for the lower ball joint, i'm guessing 9 1/2 years is too long to go to replace the ball joint under a recall right?

I just had mine done last year around October. Just go make an appointment at your local Mitsubishi dealer.