Alingment, Steering Stablizer, Tire Balancing

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landtoy80

landtoy80

Joined
Mar 13, 2003
Threads
834
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5,790
Location
North Front Range, CO
I had my alignment checked 35,000 mi ago.
Do I need to have it checked again (new tires) or can I just measure it with a tape measure?
It doesn't pull to one side when driving.

How do I know if I need a OME steering stablizer?
The orignial stablizer is still on the vehicle. It doesn't leak and was tight when I had the last alignment.
If I replace it, do I need to have the alingment checked after replacing it? I would say not BUT :confused:

I have used Counteract balancing beeds on the last set of tires on the 80 and on the tires on the 60.
Once I got the right amount in the tire, it ran smooth.
Anyone else using Equal or Counteract?
I am thinking of using it on the XTerrains.
 
Kurt,

The steering stabilizer doesn't affect alignment in any way, so no worries there. If you've been wheeling or otherwise were rough on the truck any time in the 35,000 miles I'd get an alignment check unless the tires you took off showed perfect wear patterns. Once a set of new tires gets a bit off from alignment or balance issues, you've gotta live with it for years as there's no way to alter the wear and get them to run smooth again.

DougM
 
Will installing newer rear springs and shocks change the front end alignment?
I still need to change out the rear springs I got from new/used but I want to get the tires on and front end aligned first.

By the way I still don't know which is the right and left rear spring, anyone know how to tell? They measure the same.

I will be trying Equal tire balancing this time. Its what they had at work.
It calls for 3oz per tire. I used 4oz of the Counteract.
 
Changing rear springs/shocks shouldn't have any effect on front end alignment. If you're putting in taller springs, it may cause the rear axle to shift sideways slightly, which might show up if they're doing a 4 wheel alignment.

I tried Equal with 315 MTRs and had no luck with it. Started with 3 oz and went up to 10oz with little improvement. Took it out and had the tires balanced with conventional weights at a good local tire shop. Nice and smooth now.

Bob
 
I had the tire removed with the Counterct in it removed.
I thought the beads would be in a pile on the bottom of the tire.
I was wrong, the beads were sticking all around the underside of the tread. Some placed had more beads that others so it must be working.
They will fall free when I hit the tire of brush them.

This time I will try Equal.
Equal is like a fine sand.
Counteract is bigger round glass beads.
 
You may want to read this link http://www.gadgetonline.com/vibration.htm#Balance / Haweka Adapter:
I know too well this man's pains.
For the price of all the powder you may just try finding a tire shop that meets these things:

1. Knows about "lug centric wheels"
2. Has and knows how to use the flange plate adapter....NO CONES!
3. Understands the wheel may need to be "reseated" on the machince a few times to make sure it is running true.

For the BEST results go to a shop that has the Hunter GSP9700, this machince will do a load test and they can place the light side of a wheel to the heavy side of the tire and get you a balance next to none. The price for 4 tires is just under $100 for the test/remount and balance.


Just check out the link I posted and follow the links on the page to the Hunter site and you can locate the nearest shop with a GSP9700.
 
Kurt,

I also recommend getting a lifetime warranty at a national chain, like Firestone, etc. Techinally, you shouldn't need an alignment after a lift, but it's a good idea. Suppsedly, your alignment #s changes based on load, rake, etc. Probably not much for just a Toe adjustment, I'd imagine. The beauty of a lifetime alignment is that you can go back for a free alignment as many times as you want! After about two times or so, this pays for itself. Pick a National chain so that if you bend a steering component in UT, and you live in WI, then you can find a Firestone and have an alignment done before you head for home. Otherwise, your nice tires are toast! It's just a cheap insurance.

Ali
 
I had the alignment checked yesterday and it was out of allignment.
Next time I will ask about the lifetime warranty.

I got the Xterrains on.
Today I need to add the Equal.
 
Bear80 said:
For the BEST results go to a shop that has the Hunter GSP9700, this machince will do a load test and they can place the light side of a wheel to the heavy side of the tire and get you a balance next to none. The price for 4 tires is just under $100 for the test/remount and balance.


Just check out the link I posted and follow the links on the page to the Hunter site and you can locate the nearest shop with a GSP9700.
Click to expand...


Just to piggyback on this if you are running any type of oversized tires this machine is about the only way to truly get your tires balanced that is worth anything. I know alot of shops that just use the regular balancing machines and it will not nearly come close to the balancing obtained by the Hunter. It is a truly impressive machine.
 
I injected the Equal today with the injector.
Drove it and it shakes at 55mph.
I started with 3oz per Equal. I will add 1oz and see what happens
 
I've read about guys using ball bearings. Anyone heard of this? I am new to this and never heard of that before. They mentioned about a 1/4 cup of BB's. They said it was better than a powder as with repeated air up's and dwn's. excessive moisture can be present. I read this on a random 4wd forum. Can't remember which one.
 
DAM. This is the last time I let someone touch my tires.
First, I wanted the old valve stems back as they had a valve in them with a screen to keep the Equal from plugging the stem. They didn't put them in the cab when they put the old tires in.
Second. The bassturd impacted the lug nuts so tight that I couldn't remove them with a braker bar. I couldn't even remove them with the impact gun. I had to turn the psi to 140 to get them to turn.

I will do my own tire busting next time.
I did bust the tires on the TuRD today.
This is how I brake the bead.
Then the fun starts, removing and mounting the tire with a crow bar.
I must be the cheapist basturd on this list. I won't even spend litte $ on tire work for the TuRD
 
Rick, and others;
Do you get any slight shaking of the steering wheel?
I get some once in a while when turning slightly on curvey roads.
I don't know it its the Equal or the lugs of the Xterrains.

I added 1oz and its better than before but there is very slight shaking of the wheel from time to time.

Bear80 or others, do you have slight shaking after using the Hunter GSP9700?
 
Kurt, I just had them balanced a year ago on some steel wheels and slapped them on. Put them back on yesturday and all seems fine.

What's wrong with the lead weights, I know it's old school and all, but I've not had any problems with them.
 
<<What's wrong with the lead weights, I know it's old school and all, but I've not had any problems with them.>>

It is recommend you have them balanced every 5k mi.
The crap works great on semi's.
I didn't get the strange lug wear (where one lug is worn deep and the lug next to it shows no wear and where one lug is worn at an angle ).
My rear tires have even tread wear. The front wore the outer side lug due to bad alignment, worn shocks and loose wheel bearings. The rest of the tire is in great shape.
 
Kurt,
FWIW I have over 30k on my bfgatkos with not rebalance and no rotation of the tires. about half of the tread still left and they are even all the way across. I aligned it right before I mounted the tires up. I also used traditional lead weights on a hunter machine ( cant recall the model number) the static balance was perfect but the dynamic was a bit off. whoever said you should balance the tires every 5k ???
Dave
 
I must say that the Counteract worked.
I put on 40,000mi on of a set of Wild Country RVT (mud) tires with no cupping at all. Cupping can come from an unbalanced or out of balance tire.
The tires are still in good condition other than the wear on the outer lug. The outer lug is very worn. The inner lug still has half its life left. With the tire and rim of the vehicle, it leans real bad, it almost tips over.

I am suprised that I had no cupping.
The shock and springs are orignal. I had a loose wheel bearing, very bad alignment ( .25" toe in on both wheels) worn out Newfileds :( ( I don't think it adds to tire wear). I then overinflated the tires (to see if mpg inproved) so the tire would bounce when I hit a bump. There was so much bounce that, when it was raining, the ABS would kick in when I hit a bump and applied the brakes.
 
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