Solara, Sterring wheel shaking

Tiny
THEEYO
  • MEMBER
  • TOYOTA
Hi, I have 2001 Toyota Solara 4cyl SE with 30,400 miles.

I recently purchased some brand new alloy aftermarket 18x8 wheels to replace chrome wheels of the same size. I was told I should buy some new wheels when I went in Toyota for a 30,000 mile maintenance. I just purchased 2 brand new KHUMO Ecta AST tires when they told me I needed to change my wheels so thats when I bought wheels that fiited those tires. I have 2 Pirelli P-Zeros that have about 2,000 miles on them as well.

I had the tires and mounted on the new wheels and the guys at the TiresPlus said I needed hubcentric rings. I never used hubcentric rings on my last wheels. So they mounted the tires and balanced the wheels (putting the new KHUMO tires in the front and the older Pirellis in the back) but after that I noticed my steering wheel was now shaking when I drove 50 mph. I went back to get it re-balanced thinking it was balancing issue. They did that but they put the older Pirellis in the front and the newer KHUMOs in the back. When I left the shaking on the steering wheel was worst at 50 mph. I went back and they checked it and said my wheel is broken or crooked (somehting like that). I told them that can't be. These are BRAND NEW, they installed them staright out of the box with bubble wrapping and all. I called the online business that sold them to me and told them the situation and they didn't believe it because all wheels are NEW and tested before they are shipped out. The online wheel company suggested I go somewhere else to get a second opinion so I did that. I went to Toyota service and maintenance in my area and I told them the story. They said it must be a balancing issue. These are brand new wheels not even a hundred miles put on them yet and the tires are stiil great. According the the Toyota Service Manager he said that if the wheel was defective or bent the car should shake at lower speeds. Only if its at 50 mph + I would shake the steering wheel indicates wrong balancing. The Toyota service manager said I shoud go to another Tires Plus to get it balanced correctedly so I did just that.

I went to another Tires Plus and told them my story and checked it out. We took my car on a test run on the freeway. They decided to take out the front pair of hubcentric rings and put my newer tires in the front balanced to see if their is a difference. We went for a test drive and noticed that the floor board wasn't shaking anymore but the steering was still shaking and the alignment was going towards the left. They suggested I get it aligned, that may fix it. So I purchased a lifetime aligment service. After they were done I notice the my car was driving more smoother especially on the city streets. Before the steering wheel shook a tad bit on the city streets. I gave it a run on the freeway and instead of the s. Wheel shaking at 50 mph it was now shaking at 60-65 mph especially at certain curves and upward slopes but not all the time.

The next morning I went back. I realized that before I never had hubcentric rings on my last wheels and the car drove superbly. I told them to remove the HCRs at the rear so they did that (no balancing, I think, they just put the wheels back on). I drove it again and I felt the ride was even more more better on the city streets. The car was driving smoothly from what I felt. BUT, I went on the freeway and drove 65 mph+ and at certain curves and slopes is shook slightly.A alight improvement but still the s. Wheel is still shaking a bit. I went back to tell them and they said it is a balancing issue. They said I should go to the first tireplus, the one that told me my wheel is bent, and get them to balance since it has only been 2 weeks from my balance and mounting purchase. So I go, the 1st Tireplus gave me attitude about how they balanced it 3 times and "what do you want us to do?".I say "re-balance it" they just give me more lip about they done everything they can do just trying to make me leave and forget about it. It seemed like they didn't want to help or deal with me anymore. I am cinsidering going back to the 2nd tireplus that helped me out and go on a test run because they have alleviated a lot of the shaking. I'm considering getting a balance from them. What do you think is wrong here?

Shaking steering wheel at 65 mph.
Tuesday, March 20th, 2007 AT 10:07 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
BESTBET777
  • MECHANIC
  • 89 POSTS
Wheel balancers should be calibrated periodically and when they calibrate it's not perfect. Wheel weights are available only in certain sizes. 18 inch wheels are going to be harder to balance than 15 inch wheels and none of it is perfect. Wheels get bent during tire changing. Trying to correct all the variables will be difficult, especially if some of the shops are getting annoyed. You probably have a fight on your hands.
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 AT 1:58 AM
Tiny
THEEYO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks for your insight. I actually got this problem corrected a month ago. It was the balancing alright. I went to a second Tires Plus and they were able to correct the balancing that the first TiresPlus couldn't fit.

If I were to get tires put on again should I go to custom wheel shop to get them put on and balanced? Like you said, wheels can be bent when tires are changed.

In all, it indeed there was a battle between me and the first Tires Plus that didn't do it correctly. I will be reporting them to the big boss in coporate for the trouble and time I lost.
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 AT 4:49 AM
Tiny
BESTBET777
  • MECHANIC
  • 89 POSTS
As you know it's not easy to figure out which shop to go to. Some shops are better at some things and other shops are better at other things and especially depending on which guy works on your car. Go to the one you think is best.
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 AT 10:38 AM

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