Vibration with aftermarket wheels

[dougelam]

When I first mounted and balanced my new Z06 look alikes they vibrated at highway speeds. Had them rebalanced somewhere else and it was a lot better. Problem is after each time I took them off for tires or brake service the vibration would be gradually worse. I snug them down by hand in the recommended torque pattern and then tighten to around 30ftlbs before torquing them to 100ftslb.

My question is can the lug studs move enough to distort my wheels from being lug centric?
Is there a way to recalibrate them so to say?

thanks, Doug

 

[LLC5]

When I first mounted and balanced my new Z06 look alikes they vibrated at highway speeds. Had them rebalanced somewhere else and it was a lot better. Problem is after each time I took them off for tires or brake service the vibration would be gradually worse. I snug them down by hand in the recommended torque pattern and then tighten to around 30ftlbs before torquing them to 100ftslb.

My question is can the lug studs move enough to distort my wheels from being lug centric?
Is there a way to recalibrate them so to say?

thanks, Doug

If the lug studs are in good shape and you are able to torque the lug nuts to specs, then the studs are good. Make sure that the back side of the wheels that contact the hub are perfectly flat and clean, and also make sure that the hubs the wheels bolt to are perfectly clean as well. It sounds like you may have a tire or wheel problem though. If the contact areas are clean, then a Hunter Road Force balancing machine would be the next step. Good luck with it.

 

[dougelam]

If the lug studs are in good shape and you are able to torque the lug nuts to specs, then the studs are good. Make sure that the back side of the wheels that contact the hub are perfectly flat and clean, and also make sure that the hubs the wheels bolt to are perfectly clean as well. It sounds like you may have a tire or wheel problem though. If the contact areas are clean, then a Hunter Road Force balancing machine would be the next step. Good luck with it.

The last balance was on a hunter road force machine, none over 6lbs.
I did find that the center hole is not perfectly centered and am thinking of taking them to a local tool and die shop to have them machined to be hub centric with brass rings.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Most aftermarket reproduciton wheels are made offshore. There are a wide variety of Chinese and other Asian manufacturers in that market. Quality control varies widely.

If you've got a tire balance problem that can't be solved by the usual means and you're sure you don't have a defective tire then it's possible you've got a wheel that has a problem with uneven mass distribution caused by lousy metalurgy or machining errors.

One thing to check is any runout the wheel may have. Also, check to make sure the wheel diameter is concentric with the hub center.

 

[dougelam]

Most aftermarket reproduciton wheels are made offshore. There are a wide variety of Chinese and other Asian manufacturers in that market. Quality control varies widely.

If you've got a tire balance problem that can't be solved by the usual means and you're sure you don't have a defective tire then it's possible you've got a wheel that has a problem with uneven mass distribution caused by lousy metalurgy or machining errors.

One thing to check is any runout the wheel may have. Also, check to make sure the wheel diameter is concentric with the hub center.

Shouldn't I be more interested in if the wheel diameter is concentric to the lug center if they are lug-centric?

 

[dougelam]

Problem resolved!!
What started with a simple body shop repair after hitting a full grown Raccoon at 70mph ended up as a vibration nightmare.




It was somewhat fine before the repairs so I I decided to have the fronts balanced and put new tires on the rear to be ready for spring. I do know they took the front tires off in order to replace both front fenders. They must have tightened the front wheels in an odd way; it shimmied badly at 45mph

I took all the brakes a part to service them and while I had them a part I gave each stud a love tap and with the OEM wheel on the hub without the rotor I brought each lug nut to torque, loosened it then brought all 5 of them to torque in 2 passes-30lbs/ft. then 100lbs/ft. in the usual cross pattern. Was smooth up to 90mph yesterday on the freeway
Thanks for your input