MellonC00

my car has the shudders right around 80mph and gets quite nasty around 85mph +. From that point, the whole car shakes - rear view mirror shakes so much that I can't see what's behind me. Yet, around 70 mph it's not even noticeable. There are no other noise or leaks of any kind leading me to believe that wheel balance is out of whack. Don't know what threw it off.

Here is the question. Anyone know any good shops with a high precision wheel balancing machine? https://www.hunter.com/wheel-balancers/road-force-elite

salimshah

Ordinarily any good tire shop should have a machine to balance the wheels. [Simple rule: You need specialists when you have expensive tires]

I would start by examining the condition of the tires and if needed take the wheel off and look for odd coloration [place where a weigh may have fallen off]. I would even swap wheel position. I would also consider buying new tires if the wear indicators show the tire is almost at the end of the life.

Check your old tire receipts too .. you may have paid for lifetime balancing.

Salim

RX in NC

My local Discount Tire store has the Hunter road force balancing system. I ensure that it gets used on all of our vehicles when I take them in for new tires or for just a balancing job. It solved the pulling and tramlining issues on my wife's 2006 Jaguar XK8. I highly recommend it.

14RX350

I like the discount tire stores as well. I've always had really good experiences with them. They price match on tires and when u buy from them u get lifetime balance and rotations. You of couse can pay for a balance from them, (and they'll inspect your tires as well) even if u didnt originally buy from them.
If that doesnt solve it, and your tires look good, you may consider an allignment. Firestone has a deal for lifetime allignments for around $150 or so.

ukrkoz

2 suggestions
1. tell tire shop to use only sticky weights. Right up front. I even tell them I'll check on it.
2. if they balanced everything and it didn't work - as it's a bit high of a speed for balancing shake - have your half shafts checked.

MellonC00

Question. What are sticky weights??? Is it different than the square metal things that they stick on your wheels?

RX in NC

Sticky weights are adhered to the rims with a tacky glue. Regular weights are hammered onto the rim edge and are held on by the associated compression.

salimshah

When tires are replaced, the old weights are removed. The tire shop just scrape them off and tack on the new ones. Has any one figured out how remove the tacky stuff. I used wd40, Goof Off and even scraped aggressively. Made a mess of the rim.

Salim

RX in NC

Standard rubbing alcohol combined with a healthy portion of elbow grease and an old cotton rag may be successful in getting the remnants of wheel weight glue off your rims. It sure does a great job of removing pine tree sap.

Darksmil

Hey! Here in New Zeland we have a great Tech Drive company it specilizes in wheel balancing and alignment but they have excellent service and reasonable prices so they are cool guys!

ukrkoz

I do not do regular weights on alloy rims. They do not stay. Seriously. I never had any issues or concerns - outside of looks - with old weight stains. On alloy, use some aluminum polishing compound... unless it's painted alloy... and a power tool. Sticky weights - leftover from glue is inside the wheel, no one can't see it and it does not influence balance. Gets dirty fast, so blends in.

ukrkoz

OP, I'll say it again. 80mph is too high for balancing shake. Balancing shake shows at 55/65 mph. I have no idea why, but it does. Every car I ever owned, every makes, every wheel - they all do it at 55/65. 80? You have something else out of balance. Driveshaft, carrier bearing, half shafts...
Otherwise, locate shop that does road force balancing. Discount Tire doe sit here. But that's for like trucks and such. Tire changes it shape under heavy load....

Fpan87

salimshah

Larger wheels, will shake at higher rpms. The rubber based imbalance happens with more radial distance.

Your observation is correct for say 16" wheels.

Salim

MellonC00