Bent Wheel

[SZR48207]

So I got some new tires last week and noticed that they had some pretty strong vibration above 70MPH. Took them in today to get the balance checked and apparently one of the wheels is bent.

It definitely feels like it is bent because all other tires are smooth as butter now. Inconveniently, the "bent" wheel shakes most @ 45 MPH. Great. Pick the speed that is the most commonly driven at around here.

What are the chances that it isn't actually bent? The tires I had before this set were fine balance-wise for some 50k miles. I did run into some potholes recently (on the old tires), but I never noticed any issues on those.

I've already spec'd out options for fixing the wheel if it is bent (local shop here does wheel straightening for around ~$100 or I can order a like new wheel for $145), but I wonder if I should pay a different shop $25 to balance that one wheel and see if it goes away?

I'm also thinking of moving the tire from the right rear to the front right. I don't know what impact a bent wheel has on the suspension, but the rear suspension in a truck isn't exactly for smooth riding and I don't want to cause any extra stress on the rear axle.

Oh I guess I know the answer already, but I guess I needed to rant.

 

[VK56VD]

Try a different shop or another tech to balance the wheels again. Many chains use the "bent wheel" excuse. A road force balance would help determine if a tire is bad.

 

[FL_Rob]

A pothole bending a wheel?I think weve all hit potholes real hard from time to time but unless the tire compressed all the way to the rim,which would've ruined the tire? is this what happened?Possibly a defective new tire and the shop won't acknowledge it?

 

[5sfe91]

He might have low profile tires which can cause bent wheels if you hit the pothole pretty hard.

 

[FL_Rob]

Wait a min ..truck? wheels, are they factory? profile ?stock ?
Can you see where I'm going with this?

 

[SZR48207]

Low profile tires - nope

Not my exact truck, but you get the idea.

The thing is I have lifetime rotation and balancing with the tire shop, so I'd rather not go shell out cash at a different storeto get the thing balanced. Fortunately, the tire shop is a chain in this area so I can check with a different location.

 

[millerbl00]

Rim might not be the only thing bent if a truck that size has problems. Any other suspension componets checked?

 

[FL_Rob]

Yes,go get your moneys worth ,they owe you that, even though some chains try to make you feel like its in your head, bent wheel balh,blah,blah.So many dont want to admit there are such things as factory defects.It happens ,seek satisfaction,politely .not like me ,I feel like a lunatic afterwards.I agree with Spartuss on the road force balance, they might only need to index it.

 

[SZR48207]

Originally Posted By: millerbl00
Rim might not be the only thing bent if a truck that size has problems. Any other suspension componets checked?


In the past 10K, I have replaced the following:

Shocks
U-Joints
(no easily serviceable bearings on the rear axle)

That's about it besides the leaf springs, which I don't think people typically replace.

 

[FordFocus]

Take to a shop that has a road-force balancer and see if they can force match the tire and rim and make the assemble ride better. I have been suprised what this can do for bent wheels in the shop where I work.

 

[SZR48207]

I took the truck to a different shop after work (same company, but different techs) and they also found that the wheel was bent, BUT they said it was bent at the hub.

I took the wheel off when I got home and looked and everything LOOKS OK, but my guess is they used the balancing machine to figure it is bent.

For safety sake, I put the "bent" one up front and put a smoother wheel on the back. I've got less of a problem replacing a $45 brake rotor/hub assembly than dealing with a rear axle that is shot due to vibration.

 

[SZR48207]

Originally Posted By: FordFocus
Take to a shop that has a road-force balancer and see if they can force match the tire and rim and make the assemble ride better. I have been suprised what this can do for bent wheels in the shop where I work.


Do I specifically ask if a shop can do "road force balancing"? The shops I went to today use the computerized Hunter balancing equipment (I think the GSP#### series), which is supposed to be top of the line, right?

On my last set of tires, which were Kumho HTs, I had a "Big O" place put them on and the tires were balanced for their entire life. I think they use Coates brand equipment (according to Tire Rack).

 

[mrsilv04]

Take the bent wheel off, and put the spare on.

If the problem goes away, then yes, there's a problem with that tire/wheel.

Get another matching wheel and move on with life.

 

[FordFocus]

The hunter balancer with road force is GSP9700

 

[Papa Bear]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Take the bent wheel off, and put the spare on.

If the problem goes away, then yes, there's a problem with that tire/wheel.

Get another matching wheel and move on with life.


+1 .... A bent wheel should be quite easy to verify, fix/replace it.

 

[bullwinkle]

Go to your local junkyard or Craigslist & get yourself another wheel-steelies are usually cheap!