High speed vibrations Options

[Coligion]

My car just hit 96k miles, but this high speed vibration issue has always been a problem. When going over 55 mph, I'll get a ton of vibration from the steering wheel. I do have aftermarket wheels/tires. When I first bouht the wheels, I did not have centering rings and believed that would solve the problem. No dice. Even after getting the correct sized rings the car still vibrates. Before getting the rings, I did have the alignment and the wheels balanced. I wouldn't think inserting plastic hub-rings--in the center of wheel--could offset the balance, right? The shock/struts are relatively new, so it couldn't be that. Also, the car had this vibration problem even with the original wheels....Any helpful advice is appreciated.

[VieT9sD]

i definitely thought of rebalancing, but it doesn't really explain why the steering wheel vibrates on some roads, while on others is smooth. if the wheel really did needed rebalance, wouldn't it vibrate on all roads?

Mstoochn asks, "...does it calm down at a certain speed bracket?" On the road that my steering wheel does vibrate, it feels smooth when im going 65. When i hit 70, it starts to vibrate. Then anything above 70 just increase the amount of vibration.

This post has been edited by VieT9sD: Aug 9, 2009 - 12:36 PM

[Mstoochn]

i definitely thought of rebalancing, but it doesn't really explain why the steering wheel vibrates on some roads, while on others is smooth. if the wheel really did needed rebalance, wouldn't it vibrate on all roads?

Mstoochn asks, "...does it calm down at a certain speed bracket?" On the road that my steering wheel does vibrate, it feels smooth when im going 65. When i hit 70, it starts to vibrate. Then anything above 70 just increase the amount of vibration.

go to a local tire shop, just ask them to spin your wheel on the balancer, watch the edge of the rim, see if it moves up and down at ALL, it should NOT

second, watch across the tire to make sure its an even surface, no bumps because those you definitly feel at high speed!

also, putting your hands at 3 and 9 will be inconclusive unless you have someone holding your steering wheel VERY tight

This post has been edited by Mstoochn: Aug 13, 2009 - 12:14 PM

[AMCMoe]

also, putting your hands at 3 and 9 will be inconclusive unless you have someone holding your steering wheel VERY tight

If you have one tire in the air and the other is still on the ground, why would it be any different than someone holding the steering wheel?

This post has been edited by AMCMoe: Aug 13, 2009 - 2:54 PM