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[///Mperative]

I had my winter wheels put on my car last week (just like I've done for the last 2 winters). They'e the same set I've used since 2010. Since then, whenever I drive over 65mph, the steering wheel shakes like crazy (mostly when driving in a straight line). The wheels are balanced and there's no snow/ice built up inside the barrels (not even cold enough for snow/ice yet). The steering does not shake below 65mph and the shaking all but disappears when driving through a curve (even at speed).

The steering wheel didn't shake at all prior to the wheel swap and it's never shaken in the past after swapping wheels. Do I need an alignment or does it sound like one of the wheels wasn't mounted flush?

Our roads are crap, so it wouldn't surprise me if I need an alignment. It would be surprising that the OEM set-up didn't shake the wheel (if an alignment is needed).

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

[THE TECH]

Wheel shake normally points to brakes, not alignment. In addition, are you running any spacers?

[哇靠~M3]

Not needed.
Most of the time it's due to a bad balance job. I went for another shop to rebalance and raised the pressure a little higher. went all away.

[///Mperative]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

Wheel shake normally points to brakes, not alignment. In addition, are you running any spacers?

Nope. The wheels have the proper offset, so spacers aren't needed. It's a square 19" x 9.5" set-up.

Originally Posted by WAHHKAOOM3

Not needed.
Most of the time it's due to a bad balance job. I went for another shop to rebalance and raised the pressure a little higher. went all away.

These aren't new wheels. They were balanced when I bought them and I've used them for 2 winters without any issues. Why would they suddenly be unbalanced? I will check to see if I'm missing a wheel weight, but I don't think that's the issue.

[THE TECH]

Try loosening them and retighten.

[///Mperative]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

Try loosening them and retighten.

I'll give that a shot. Looks like I'm going back to the shop.

[tom @ eas]

Stock wheels? Aftermarket Wheels?

If Aftermarket, are centering rings required or possibly forgotten? Also check to make sure rush was cleaned off hub surfaces (both rotor and wheel hub) before mounting.

Inspect weights also, possibly one was kicked off during mounting.

[///Mperative]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Stock wheels? Aftermarket Wheels?

If Aftermarket, are centering rings required or possibly forgotten? Also check to make sure rush was cleaned off hub surfaces (both rotor and wheel hub) before mounting.

Inspect weights also, possibly one was kicked off during mounting.

Aftermarket. No centering rings needed. I don't know if the mechanic cleaned the rust off the hub. I will check the weights myself to see what's up on that score.

[///Mperative]

Update:

So, I went to have the car serviced and it appears that 3 of the wheels needed to be re-balanced. Not sure how that even happens because the wheels were balanced when I unmounted them 6 months ago; and they've been sitting in storage since. Anyway, the problem is now gone. Thanks to everyone for the help. I'm glad it wasn't the alignment.