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wheel vibration at speed - what to check?

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SANdMAN_the

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Hi Everyone,

My midget has a harsh vibration once I get up to around 40 or 50 mph. It happens only on the front driver side wheel.

I took it in to a shop this weekend to get rebalanced and it helped the problem slightly, but it's still there.

Any suggestions on what to check next?

Thanks!
John
 
What did you take to the shop ? The Midget or just the wheel?--Keoke-?
 
OK !, I think what you may be required to do is to take the car to a shop that has the capability to do an on the car front wheel balance . Balance both wheels. If this does not correct the problem then its time to look into the entire front end. Do not overlook the ball joints and king pins in the search. ---Fwiw--Keoke
 
I found my "45mph wobble" is due to a bent wheel. I can actually see the wheel wobble as I rotate it, on or off the car. The guy who tried to balance the wheel said there's about a 1/4" in-out wobble as it rotates. It's not the rim of the wheel - it's the center. Can't be straightened.

I moved the wheel from front to back axle, and the front vibration totally disappeared. But of course the rear vibrates now. Only remedy - buying a new wheel (or a set ...).

Tom
 
The most spectacular "wobbles" I've ever had were belts broken on the tires/ tires out of round - try switching the wheels front to back & see what happens.
 
Thank you so much everyone for the suggestions!!!

Pulling/pushing on the wheel with my hands at 3 and 9 o'clock didn't do anything, it's on there snug. I'll switch the wheel to the rear and see what happens tonight.

This actually is a wire wheel car...and I have been itching to convert it to regular rims (I get paranoid that I'll have a flat/puncture when I take her out).

I'll let you all know how it goes tonight.

john
 
Had a wheel wobble on one of my cars recently, found it to be a dent on the inside lip of the front right wheel. Deflated the tyre, took a lump hammer and punded it out til almost gone. Reinflated, stuck it on the balancer and only needed 10g!
Another one of my cars had pretty bad wheel wobble when I was in college, but couldn't be bothered to get it checked. Turns out I'd flat spotted the fronts during some "enthuiastist" driving, and they'd got worse over time. One of them had a 6" strip down to the canvas... the fitter called me a psycho, just cos I said they probably had another 1000 miles left in them. Mind you, it felt like a different car with new tyres on!
 
Aha! That's why I asked if it was wire wheel. Those $#@!^& puppies go out of true if you look at them crosseyed. That's why I steer clear of them. I wouldn't completely rule out buying a wire-wheel car, but I'd be reluctant. Just had too many problems with them.
 
well call me a monkey's uncle!

went to swap the wheels last night and figured i'd give it a couple more tugs just for kicks...and boy was there a lot of play!

i'm thinking i must not have jacked the wheel completely off the ground the first time i checked, but now i know the source of my vibrations (note to self - beer comes after working on the car)

on the brightside, this is the kind of excuse i was looking for to convert those wire wheels :smile:

thanks again guys!
 
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