sloutrou Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Hi all, Since having upgraded my wheels from 18" to 19", I have had the car aligned by a garage not far from me, they had a Hunter laser system and were recommended to me by a friend of a friend who drifts a 260SX. It feels better, but it's still not right, I did ask the guy about doing the wheel balancing (it was only a fiver a side) but he insisted it didn't need doing (and wasn't done), I got the geometry printout and it's all within limits, but it still feels like the wheel(s) are unbalanced as the car feels quite skittish over 70mph. He did the alignment without taking the wheels off the car which I was surprised about, but assumed that is how it is done these days. Surely it's usual to have the wheels balanced at the same time, or is it all in my mind since upgrading to 19"s have the effect of a harder ride anyway? Jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Not an expert but as far as Im aware alignment is carried out with the wheels on the car(mine was). What do you mean by "skittish" dodo you feel vibration over 70 or the car wandering? Vibration would indicate a balance problem, wandering could have something to do with tyre wall strength or tyre pressure. Best I can do Im afraid hope it helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloutrou Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 I'll try and explain as best as I can, the one tangible thing I do notice is a slight vibration through the steering wheel, this was however worse before the alignment so the alignment has obviously made some difference, and I've also been assured that no garage can completely remove the vibration completely due to the wider contact patch of the 19's. The car doesn't feel like it's wandering as such, more that I seem to be getting excessive feedback from all four corners, almost like too much feedback from the road surface? I really don't know whether it's a placebo from the alignment and the bigger wheels, it's on stock suspension if that helps any. Can anyone tell me what the most obvious symptoms are of unbalanced wheels? I'll get it to a garage if I have to, but it's awkward when all you have to go on is 'it doesn't feel quite right'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Oh wow, where to start? Again, as I've said elsewhere, a Hunter system is not a guarantee of quality. It's a sign the garage has money and is prepared to spend it, but nothing more. A bloke with a ball of string can be better than an average Joe with a Hunter. You cannot tell if the wheels need balancing without either driving the car or removing the wheels, end of. Getting an alignment that is within the OEM limits means nothing, those limits are huge. You need to specify how you want the car to handle and go from there: If that's outside the OEM limits, that's fine. Big wheels will add weight and reduce ride quality, but that doesn't mean your car shouldn't handle in an acceptable way. I'd go somewhere else and get them to do it properly, there must be a Zed specialist or someone we can recommend near you if you let us know where you're based Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloutrou Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 I'm in South East Kent near Dover, I can't tell you how sick and tired I am of trying to find even a half-assed garage who I have enough confidence in to allow them to work on the car, I'm a bit fed up at the moment Abbey Motorsport is 75 miles from me, it's not even about the money, I just want it sorted by someone who knows what they're doing. I'm happy enough to take a day off and plod on up there if I can be assured that everything is as it should be, I've heard some good things about them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 In my day you could get your wheels balanced "Dynamically" ie on the car, so that the discs are balanced as well. My mate has a 330d BM and had slight vibration problems. He had the wheels balanced (not dynamically) but it only made the problem slightly better. As far as I can remember the garage told him he had a slight amount of play in the steering that could have caused the prob, but not sure if he got it seen to and resolved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 http://www.kaizermotor.co.uk/ Sly will sort you out, Trader on here too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloutrou Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 Kaizer is 55 miles from me getting closer lol Do you think he would let me be there while the work's being done? Not expecting a reduction in price but would really love to be part of it and feel a bit involved and see what's going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 (edited) Kaizer has some nice balancing kit, it may be one of the wheels isn't balanced or can't be balanced if it has had a knock. Sly only has a small place and I sometimes stand and chat to him while he works, I am sure he will happily explain what his balancing machine does, he did to me Edited August 14, 2013 by spursmaddave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinyflier Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Plus he has THE BEST road leading to/from his workshop. Ideal place to give your car some beans and check it out before/after he has done the deed! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 He has no problem with you being in the workshop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloutrou Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 What is his username on here, thought I would find out what sort of availability there is as I'm hoping to get a couple of days off over the next week or two... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Plus he has THE BEST road leading to/from his workshop. Ideal place to give your car some beans and check it out before/after he has done the deed! David I have been there 6 times now and seen a police car parked on one of the roundabouts twice so I don't think those roads are much of a secret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 What is his username on here, thought I would find out what sort of availability there is as I'm hoping to get a couple of days off over the next week or two... Kaizer Motors in the member traders section Tell him Papa Smurf & The Jag Man sent you, you won't get a discount but it will make him laugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloutrou Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 Are they action heroes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I am sure he will happily explain what his balancing machine does, he did to me Pity Sly couldn't balance you up a bit +1 Take it to Kaizer Motors - heard nothing but good things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 One's an old sod and the other wafts occasionally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 One's an old sod and the other wafts occasionally Can't work out which is which Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeesiter Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I had my car aligned and wheels balanced by a firm in Norfolk called TC Tyres. Before you scream too far, they have some kind of an arrangement with alignmycar.com who I think initially supplied the equipment, training and backup. They have any agent in your area http://www.classcars...heel-alignment/ that seems to have the same equipment as my guy did. I can only speak as I find and I think they did an excellent job. Wheels aligned and balanced and all tyres refilled with nitrogen. Perhaps worth having a word before you travel unnecessary miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/167-kaizer-motor-company/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT4 Zed Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Without a printout of your geo any comment about your alignment is irrelevant as being with isn't specs could still mean a huge disparity on each side of an axle etc. The significant thing here is the change from 18 to 19' wheels. Can you share the wheel dimensions and tyre sizes with us? My feeling is you are suffering with bump steer the result is going with wider and bigger wheels. This can be reduced with the right adjustment and its easier if you have more suspension adjustability than the stock suspension system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloutrou Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 I've added a photo of my geo, I was told it's all within factory standards so am assuming this is true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloutrou Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 The wheels are Linea Corse Dynas, 8.5 wide front and 10 rear. Tyres are Falken 453, 245/35 and 275/35. Front 19 x 8.5 ET 15 Rear 19 x 10 ET 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Geo all looks good to me, however I have no idea what is good and what is bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloutrou Posted August 18, 2013 Author Share Posted August 18, 2013 Update... I took a colleague to work in the car on Thursday, a 75 mile-ish journey to Tonbridge Wells. It all feels fairly tight up to 70mph, then it feels like every few moments the car is driving on a cobbled road, it's feint but you can tell something's there. We both initially thought it was only a problem when the car's running at full-chat, but even with my foot off the throttle it was still there, I'm guessing this rules out a gearbox/clutch issue (it has a new clutch anyway). If you're thinking to yourself, "just get the b***dy wheels balanced", I'm waiting for a free day in the next couple of weeks I can take it up to Kaiser Motor Jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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