alloy wheels vibration, please help - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ztoyota777 · 09-12-2007, 10:55 PM

Hi Everyone,
I'm having a problem with the aftermarket rims.
Here's my quick story. I bought aftermarket wheels for my new camry, I thought to leave manufacture michelins and save some money and go with same size alloys (16). After balancing and installing them I drove the car and felt huge difference, the steering wheel was shaking on 65. Then I did a little research and put the hub rings. It helped a bit, but vibration was stil present. I thought well these are not high end rims so I'll save some money and will buy good quality rims and tires another time, meanwhile put my michelins back on manufacture rims and vibration dissapeared.
Here we go, bought a new set of TSW brand rims, very high quality with new wheels Continental (the same as new cadillacs have). Thought that will be ok, it has hubrings and everything. Beautiful rims and tires and highest quality. Balanced them on high end balancing machine to make sure they are good, and the minute i drove i couldn't believe whats happening. Steering wheel is shaking again!!! I'm so dissapointed. According to balancing machine everything is fine, but for some reason car wouldn't accept anything than stocks!!! Is there anything else I need to do? Please help me who knows what the problem could be? I really don't know what else I can do about it. Put my stocks back and there is no vibration like never been there. I would appreciate if someone could help me with this problem. Thanks a lot for reading and thanks for answers in advance.
Best!!!!
Z

ztoyota777 · 09-12-2007, 10:58 PM

Hi Everyone,
I'm having a problem with the aftermarket rims.
Here's my quick story. I bought aftermarket wheels for my new camry, I thought to leave manufacture michelins and save some money and go with same size alloys (16). After balancing and installing them I drove the car and felt huge difference, the steering wheel was shaking on 65. Then I did a little research and put the hub rings. It helped a bit, but vibration was stil present. I thought well these are not high end rims so I'll save some money and will buy good quality rims and tires another time, meanwhile put my michelins back on manufacture rims and vibration dissapeared.
Here we go, bought a new set of TSW brand rims, very high quality with new wheels Continental (the same as new cadillacs have). Thought that will be ok, it has hubrings and everything. Beautiful rims and tires and highest quality. Balanced them on high end balancing machine to make sure they are good, and the minute i drove i couldn't believe whats happening. Steering wheel is shaking again!!! I'm so dissapointed. According to balancing machine everything is fine, but for some reason car wouldn't accept anything than stocks!!! Is there anything else I need to do? Please help me who knows what the problem could be? I really don't know what else I can do about it. Put my stocks back and there is no vibration like never been there. I would appreciate if someone could help me with this problem. Thanks a lot for reading and thanks for answers in advance.
Best!!!!
Z

***lammydi*** · 09-12-2007, 11:08 PM

Give us more information. What is the spec on your TSW rims? Size, Width, Offset and tire size?

ztoyota777 · 09-12-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lammydi

Give us more information. What is the spec on your TSW rims? Size, Width, Offset and tire size?

Hi Lammydy,
The rims are TSW 17X8 and 40 offset. Tires are 235/55/17. This is very close to stock, so I don't think size matters here.
As I mentioned before I had vibrations on aftermarket rims 16X7 with 45 offset and stock michelins.
But maybe you know something I dont know. Thanks!

niko3257 · 09-12-2007, 11:20 PM

it's a possiblility but the tire balancing machine your useing or they are useing could be out of calibration.

niko3257 · 09-12-2007, 11:22 PM

it's a possiblility but the tire balancing machine your useing or they are useing could be out of calibration.

***lammydi*** · 09-12-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztoyota777

Hi Lammydy,
The rims are TSW 17X8 and 40 offset. Tires are 235/55/17. This is very close to stock, so I don't think size matters here.
As I mentioned before I had vibrations on aftermarket rims 16X7 with 45 offset and stock michelins.
But maybe you know something I dont know. Thanks!

You can do a basic troubleshooting here.
Try your new TSW rims on another Camry if you know someone else whom has a Camry.
If the vibrations follow whereever the TSW rims install to then you just narrow it down to the TSW rims+tires and it's not your car. I have a feeling that it's not your car since your stock rims have no vibration.
Good luck.

***lammydi*** · 09-12-2007, 11:41 PM

Also, don't forget about the lug nuts too. Are you using the same set of lug nuts between stock and new rims? Sometime the different weight in those lock lug nuts also something to keep in mind.

ztoyota777 · 09-12-2007, 11:56 PM

Thanks Lammydi,
I use different set of lug nuts, because stocks won't fit there, they are too wide, but the set I'm using is ok quality, and there is no lock lug, so yes they are all the same....
I really don't know what to do...maybe to spend another $100 to balance in another place and to see what's happening....but this is second set of wheels and the shaking problem is here again..I even went to toyota, and they said if it's aftermarket wheels they can't guarantee that it won't shake...and I really don't know what to do now. And I don't know anyone who will be willing to try out on his/her camry my wheels....also can't give these wheels back, because i installed them on the car...so i'm really upset and dissapointed, the car rides really bad, put back stocks and really don't know what to do

***lammydi*** · 09-13-2007, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztoyota777

Thanks Lammydi,
I use different set of lug nuts, because stocks won't fit there, they are too wide, but the set I'm using is ok quality, and there is no lock lug, so yes they are all the same....
I really don't know what to do...maybe to spend another $100 to balance in another place and to see what's happening....but this is second set of wheels and the shaking problem is here again..I even went to toyota, and they said if it's aftermarket wheels they can't guarantee that it won't shake...and I really don't know what to do now. And I don't know anyone who will be willing to try out on his/her camry my wheels....also can't give these wheels back, because i installed them on the car...so i'm really upset and dissapointed, the car rides really bad, put back stocks and really don't know what to do

Too bad you're in DC, I would have help you out. I would give you my 18" to test out your car and put on your 17" TSW to test your rims. I'm sure other members around DC would do the same as I would. Just keep asking around on this forum.
Also, It doesn't have to be another Camry (eventhough ideally another Camry is best) if you have a friend who drive Accord, Altima, Galant, or any car with the same 5x114.3 they can test your TSW rims for you. Good luck.
Also, it could be a set of tires too. I remember another thread, the dealership has to change from Michelin to Bridgestone for the car to stop vibration on the same stock wheels. That's why I said let's narrow it down to test the TSW on another Camry/car to see if vibration is still with the TSW or not.
Good luck.

***lammydi*** · 09-13-2007, 12:44 AM

Here is the thread as I mentioned above.
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t208950.html

ztoyota777 · 09-13-2007, 01:45 AM

Thanks for all your replys lammydi! I appreciate that so much.
I will try to get different set of lug nuts tomorrow, those I'm using came with 16' alloys when all this vibration story began. Starting to think and to hope maybe those lugs are not good and they won't center the bolt right? Can't try stocks, because they are too wide to go with alloys, but will go to autozone tomorrow morning and will buy new lugs. Hope this is the problem. HOPE HOPE HOPE!!!!

ron.p · 09-13-2007, 05:42 AM

Please define high end balance? What you need to get a is a road force balance. Look here http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/ba...159T/index.htm and read about it. Page also has a shop locator, most goodyear shops have them. It is a little more expensive but it works.

akira751 · 09-13-2007, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lammydi

Too bad you're in DC, I would have help you out. I would give you my 18" to test out your car and put on your 17" TSW to test your rims. I'm sure other members around DC would do the same as I would. Just keep asking around on this forum.
Also, It doesn't have to be another Camry (eventhough ideally another Camry is best) if you have a friend who drive Accord, Altima, Galant, or any car with the same 5x114.3 they can test your TSW rims for you. Good luck.
Also, it could be a set of tires too. I remember another thread, the dealership has to change from Michelin to Bridgestone for the car to stop vibration on the same stock wheels. That's why I said let's narrow it down to test the TSW on another Camry/car to see if vibration is still with the TSW or not.
Good luck.

Good point my oem 17s are just sitting around.

Bear95 · 09-13-2007, 01:04 PM

I had the same problem with after market wheels and finally gave up and purchased a set of factory Toyota rims for a Solara and put them on my Camry. There is a reason that factory rims are $450.00 a piece. I lucked up and found a set on EBay.
As for the Hunter Road Force machine, yes it is great, but the tech told me that unless you have the option of mounting the weights on the inside as well as the outside of the rim you can't get a perfect balance.
I loved my shiney chrome rims, but I like a vibration free ride @ 75mph better.
Bear