question for people running 18"s

[dn9979]

Hello,

I recently had my 98 svt in for a alignment because i had a shimmy that comes on at different speed and comes and goes

I did just buy some 18" wheels and tires brand new and so far had them balanced like 4 times,Also when the aligned it.They checked out everything under the car and said nothing looked worn out or needed to be replaced.

Is this somthing im going to have to live with?
it also seems to change depending on what kind of street im on rough,smooth etc.

seems to always go away after 70 or so

thanx

[polackSVT]

how old are your struts? maybe it's to time replace them as well? i bought a set used good tires off ebay, and they were acting kinda weird , the steering wheel was pulling pretty hard in both ways, and then i noticed that the tires wear out unevenly, it was too late to save the tires ;/ so i put the stock ones back on, and the problem has gone. but im replacing the struts+springs at 106k now.

[dn9979]

i would imagine they are stock,Havent looked at them,car has 131K on it

[todras]

Yea and your control arm bushings are shot as well by 100k. No way to get a proper alignment with worn out arms. Can't imagine why the shop didn't see those and let you know about it.

[polackSVT]

so for the 98+'s we need to replace just the bushings unlike the pre 98's , whereas they have to replace the whole LCA's?

[todras]

Umm no. For worn bushings control arms need to be replaced. Year does not matter.

[dn9979]

the people at firestone are pretty good at letting me know what needs to be replaced when its needed

[SVTJON87]

my firestone that i took my old car to did horible work. new brakes all the way around didnt last more than a year. and no i drove normal. and they F***ed up my tires

[saturnspeed_12]

my firestone that i took my old car to did horible work. new brakes all the way around didnt last more than a year. and no i drove normal. and they F***ed up my tires


took firestone 3 hours to replace 1 tire with a nail in it on my dads focus. they said it took so long because the tire was acting up when trying to seat it because it was a low profile. he said it was either not going on or instantly getting 100psi and they had to release pressure. BULL****! wheel wasnt touched till last 30 minutes because i was sitting right outside the bay.

but yeah, tire balance is either out, wheels might not be hubcentric, bad suspension components, unevenly/over torqued wheels, or possibly dragging brakes (could even be from unevenly/over torqued wheels).

[dn9979]

do i need hubcentric rings?

[SVTGT350]

If the diameter of the center hole of the new wheel is larger than center hole of the OE wheel you will need hubcentric rings to center the new wheel properly on the hub. Also make sure when you get them balanced that the shop does a dynamic balance not just a static balance.

[dn9979]

fixed without the rings.But i ordered them anyways

horrible balance job
clips on the studs holding the rotors on the front were the problem not letting the wheel but up to rotor flush

thanx