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mwilson
TDR MEMBER
Just when I think that I might possibly have witnessed all the potential vehicle failures...along comes this...
Back story...
Hoopty was due for new tires, front two were the worst. Hoopty had a little shake most of the winter, usually that means that crap has built up in the rims again. They get full of snow and road salt, then when you stop the slop slides to the bottom of the rim and re-freezes. When it gets annoying I will pressure wash the rims and wait for the next storm, rinse, repeat, and so on.
Real bad when you run 60 miles or so in several inches of snow...
So I bought two new Michelins and installed them on front with plans to replace the other two by end of March. Did it myself and our balance machine is pretty good but it is still tricky where the rims require regular wheel weights on the backside and stick on weights for the front side. I took my time, really cleaned the rims well and double checked the balance. All zeros when done so back on the car they go.
Still a slight shake depending on speed but the car is fussy, figured I was off an ounce somewhere. You could feel it in the steering wheel and through the gas pedal.
As the days went on it became worse, from 65 mph up it was awful. Monday night I could make it tolerable by driving 80 mph. Tuesday morning it was not too bad but that night I could not find a happy speed. Steering wheel was shaking, throttle pedal was pounding against my foot, it was BAD...
Got it back to Bangor Weds. morning and decided that was enough. Made appointment with a tire dealer that we do a lot of business with and they are a Michelin dealer so if it was a bad tire we could adjust and replace it right there.
Got it in and front tires were only out 1/4 of an ounce so my balance job was pretty close. They have a super duper fancy balancer that will catch other issues like broken belts, etc. So I take the car, get it up to 65 mph and the shake is just as bad as ever. Turned around and took it back.
The tech looks it over again and asks if he can take it for a ride...I said "Hell yes, take it for as long as you need!"....He's gone about a half hour and when he gets back he allowed that it was pretty violent. Back in the shop it goes...
Checks CV shafts, ball joints, etc....everything is fine...finally the boss tells him to put the new ones on the rear and the old on the front and that way if the shake goes to the rear we know that one of new tires is junk....sounded like a plan to me...
Takes the right rear tire off and guess what!!!! Broken belt on it....
How that pounding ever transmitted to the front (especially to the steering wheel!!) I cannot figure out.
Put two new tires on the rear and it is as smooth as glass. I still can't believe it...
Back story...
Hoopty was due for new tires, front two were the worst. Hoopty had a little shake most of the winter, usually that means that crap has built up in the rims again. They get full of snow and road salt, then when you stop the slop slides to the bottom of the rim and re-freezes. When it gets annoying I will pressure wash the rims and wait for the next storm, rinse, repeat, and so on.
Real bad when you run 60 miles or so in several inches of snow...
So I bought two new Michelins and installed them on front with plans to replace the other two by end of March. Did it myself and our balance machine is pretty good but it is still tricky where the rims require regular wheel weights on the backside and stick on weights for the front side. I took my time, really cleaned the rims well and double checked the balance. All zeros when done so back on the car they go.
Still a slight shake depending on speed but the car is fussy, figured I was off an ounce somewhere. You could feel it in the steering wheel and through the gas pedal.
As the days went on it became worse, from 65 mph up it was awful. Monday night I could make it tolerable by driving 80 mph. Tuesday morning it was not too bad but that night I could not find a happy speed. Steering wheel was shaking, throttle pedal was pounding against my foot, it was BAD...
Got it back to Bangor Weds. morning and decided that was enough. Made appointment with a tire dealer that we do a lot of business with and they are a Michelin dealer so if it was a bad tire we could adjust and replace it right there.
Got it in and front tires were only out 1/4 of an ounce so my balance job was pretty close. They have a super duper fancy balancer that will catch other issues like broken belts, etc. So I take the car, get it up to 65 mph and the shake is just as bad as ever. Turned around and took it back.
The tech looks it over again and asks if he can take it for a ride...I said "Hell yes, take it for as long as you need!"....He's gone about a half hour and when he gets back he allowed that it was pretty violent. Back in the shop it goes...
Checks CV shafts, ball joints, etc....everything is fine...finally the boss tells him to put the new ones on the rear and the old on the front and that way if the shake goes to the rear we know that one of new tires is junk....sounded like a plan to me...
Takes the right rear tire off and guess what!!!! Broken belt on it....
How that pounding ever transmitted to the front (especially to the steering wheel!!) I cannot figure out.
Put two new tires on the rear and it is as smooth as glass. I still can't believe it...
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