This vibration will be intermittent, and show up at certain high or mid-range speeds that usually start at about Forty to Fifty mph. The steering wheel will shimmy from side to side in a rhythmic frequency.2.
Slight increments in weight distribution can be adjusted once the tire has been mounted on the rim, with the addition of small lead weights. With the loss of weights, or a front tire that has been balanced improperly, some problematic symptoms will occur to alert you.
Instructions
1. Feel the steering wheel under normal driving conditions. The effects of missing weights from the front tires on a vehicle will cause a noticeable vibration in the steering wheel that can become uncomfortable. The vibration in the steering wheel will be felt through the hands of the driver.
Tires should be balanced regularly for optimum performance and fuel economy.A vehicle's tires have the responsibility of receiving transmitted power from the engine and making contact with the grounds' surface for the purpose of acceleration, directional control and braking. Tires come from the manufacturer as perfectly round (symmetrical) and as evenly weighted as possible.Increase the speed of the vehicle, but stay within the maximum allowable speed limit. Notice any change in the steering wheel vibration or shimmy.The faster the vehicle speed, the faster the rhythmic frequency. Sometimes the shimmy can disappear over a certain top speed, but recur when the vehicle has slowed down to fall within the frequency range.
3. Have your suspension parts inspected by a certified mechanic. Tires without sufficient weight on the front end will cause a vibration that transfers from the axle shaft and upper and lower control arms to the other suspension components. The upper and lower control arm ball joints will receive the first vibration impacts, then transfer the vibration to the upper control arm bushings, then on to the tie rods, drag link and steering column. Constant vertical vibration will cause premature wear in the ball joints, bushings and tie rod ends, since they must endure an additional up and down movement that causes unneeded friction.
4. Look for any indication that a wheel weight has been thrown off your front wheels. Look for clean silhouettes where the wheel weights might have been installed on the inside and outside of the rim. Look at the tire for unusual wear, comparing it with the rear tires (if all tires were installed new). The up and down skipping movement produced by an unbalanced tire causes microscopic bits of rubber to detach from the treads. Look for scalping or cups in the tire tread that cannot be attributed to the deformation caused by bad shocks.
5. Note any recent decrease in your fuel economy. Check your mileage log book for discrepancies. Unbalanced tires do not spin smoothly and evenly. If the tire does not rotate with ease, it causes minute friction spots over the tire's entire surface area. Such friction not only slows the vehicle, relative to horsepower-to-road ratio, but causes drag, which makes the engine work harder to maintain the best RPMs. More fuel must be used to rotate the tires, resulting in less than optimum fuel economy.
6. Use a tire gauge to check the depth of your front tire treads. Place the needle of the gauge between the treads (inside the valley) and press the gauge down to get a reading. Refer to your owner's repair manual for the minimum amount of tread allowed to show. Generally, any tire that reads below three-thousandths of an inch will need to be replaced with a new balanced tire.
