9 replies to this topic

[RCBrookey]

Hi Guys,

Really annoying problem that i just cant figure out

For my birthday i got my mini a set of wheels and since then its been a nightmare. First they broke the wheel arches cause they caught the edges. So got new bigger set then also go adjustable tie bars just to bring the wheels back.

But the biggest and most annoying thing these new wheels have bought is the wheel wobble which comes around at around 50-60mph.

Wheels have been balanced properly and when the new wheels were being fitted everything was checked and it was fine

Latley the front right wheel has been squeeking while moving at low speeds aswell

now i will admit i have done the tie bars but havnt got the tracking checked and when my dad followed me the other day he said my mini is crabbing.

So could the wheel wooble be because of this or something else??? ( i know there are tonnes of things that can cause this)

Cheers
Chris

[jaydee]

Wider wheels yeah..
Get tracking and balancing done by a good garage. I've seen some that really dont have a clue of what they're doing.
But at first, jack up the car, and check for any play in the wheel holding at 3 oclock and 9 clock, if theres any play, wheel bearings are gone. If you can feel play at 12 o clock and 6 o clock them balljonts needs replacement.

[RCBrookey]

well the wheel size is a bit strange.... my old wheels are the same width and size as my old wheels... take same tyres and everything but they look bigger Ok Thanks ill remember that will get on that as soon as I can :)

[jaydee]

. my old wheels are the same width and size as my old wheels..

I can guess too

Anyway if you feel a judder/shake at 50-60 mph the wheels are not balanced correctly, really.

Edited by jaydee, 16 May 2012 - 06:02 PM.

[RCBrookey]

Wheels have been balanced....twice it made it better just still there

[Rich286]

If your moving the tie bars that moves the castor angle what could cause it to drive funny, at college my teacher was explaining when setting the castor you can set it for driving in a straight line or for cornering. But you need both for normal road driving. have a search on the forum about castor angles etc i have read a few topics in the past what gives you a good idea about setting castor etc


I'm not sure if this covers wheel wobble though. I think it may just be how it drives. Like it wont drive in a straight line if you get it wrong. Just a thought though

Edited by Rich286, 16 May 2012 - 06:32 PM.

[cooperrodeo]

If your car is crabbing this could well be the rear radius arms out of alignment. Collapsed bearings cause this.

If your 'new' wheels are not actually new then one being buckled might be the wobble problem. However, I have found that my 10 inch wheels are difficult to balance but I have solved this by having them dynamically balanced at a garage and then tweaking them on a static balancer. Nevertheless I hesitate to recommend use of a static balancer because the cheap ones you can buy are dreadful pieces of kit, but can be made to work by modifying them and adopting a mathematical approach to averaging several readings.

[gus88]

You say they've been balanced twice - was this at the same garage?

I once took my car to a garage for tracking, and they balanced the wheels without me asking (as a 'courtesy'...!) They were fine before this but afterwards were wobbling all over the place - turns out the machine was calibrated wrong.

[RCBrookey]

Well when i bought them they said they were balanced then they still wobbled so had them checked by my local people who did my last wheels :)

Still yet to check bearing or ball joint :) thinking bearing because front right was squeaking when driving at low speed : will check tomorrow :)

Also getting tracking done Saturday... my rear radius arms do wobble a bit and have tried to pack them with grease but grease just dont want to go in..... nipple is fine though

[gus88]

How do you mean it's not going in?

Sometimes the plastic sleeve around the bearing cracks so you don't see the dirty grease being forced out, and it eventually fills the whole radius arm!