[Shotimes] Vibration or picky...again ...Here comes the book! Part 2

[krazgeo@comcast.net]

Part 2



Pretty much this is it.....

You need to balance the wheels on the car.  Spin them up, one at a time, the way I
suggest above.  It is possible that there can be a very small speed range where the
imbalance is noticeable.  This is sometimes due to dynamic balance problems in the
sidewalls, rather than in the tread itself.  You should be able to get the tire
adjusted, if that is the problem.  

If the speed where the vibration occurs is 70 mph, accelerate the tire to 30 mph off
the ground, and then increase very slowly to 40 mph....you will go slowly through
the 70 road mph range, and can determine if the shake is there for each wheel
separately.  When (not if) you find the problem, apply a small amount of
weight....1/2 oz or less...to find the light spot.  If you have a helper, he/she can
check the sidewall at the shake point, to see if it is a dynamic sidewall problem,
which is much harder to remove, especially when it is this small an amount.  

Reducing the wheel balancing procedure from about 4 pages to a few lines, start with
your small added weight at the valve stem, mounted on the rim so that centrifugal
force will help hold it in place (not on a vertical edge, but a horizontal one...you
may need to go inside the spokes.  Move it around as added or reduced vibrations
indicate when you spin it up...more vibrations--maybe halfway around the wheel, or a
third, perhaps....less vibrations--an inch or two either way.  Keep doing this until
the vibrations get as faint as possible.  You may need to add some weight (small
fraction only), to finally get them all out.  Use a sacrificial weight...with the
adhesive side less sticky by touching it with a finger a couple of times.  This
makes it easy to move.  When you find the right place, use a new weight.

There's a whole lot more to this, as the oldsters on the list will attest, but this
should get you going, anyway.  Any questions, ask me here.

George