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aburger
Dodge Dakota
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9/17/2006
11:32:46
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 Subject: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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Hey all, I've got a small issue that maybe someone has a suggestion for. I got my new wheels today. I have a set of 18" MOMO Twin wheels wrapped in Cooper Discoverer HT+ 255/55/18 tires. I know it's not that extreme, but for me, going from 15's to 18's is a big deal. My problem is that now there is a lot of steering wheel shake, and the handling really sucks. The steering is really loose. I can't go over 55 without almost loosing control. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, what should I do? I do plan on lowering it a mild 2/3, will that make any difference? Thanks in advance.
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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9/17/2006
12:40:31
|  RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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Sorry guy. Your not the first sob story I have heard sence the after market kicked in on these wheels. Not every make auto acts this way and your situation may be front end ware. a litle here, a little there, it adds up. Could be the tires you picked. Balance. Wheel design. Your choice far as I know is locate a front end problem that these wheels/tires has magnified ,change one thing at a time till you find the problem or go back to proper tires/wheels. Your the first one I heard with a Dakota to complain. Anytime you change factory geomitry/design, you risk creating problems.
So many problems .... So little time
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little jer
Dodge Dakota
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9/17/2006
16:20:04
| RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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usually when you buy wheels from an estasblished company like momo you shouldn't have a problem. could be the seller didn't balance them right, they could be out of round seconds, or they could not have the correct backspacing. As obio says, it could be a combination of things that the new wheels and tires magnified. Is your allignment ok? Did they put on bias ply with radial tires? Are your ball joints ok? If you put back on your old wheels (providing u still have them ) does the problem go away? Are the tie rod ends tight? I'd say it has to do with your front end in some way. Is it 4x4 or 2x4? You may want to take it back to the place you bought the wheels and tires from as they may have done something wrong.
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parts manager
Dodge Dakota
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9/17/2006
23:10:55
| RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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aburger before you do anything else try this first most aftermarket wheels do not have the relief counterbore on the inside to let the rotor retainer clips rest in so the wheel lays flat on the rotor. take off a wheel first and see if this is the case. the wheels wont snug up and will shake on the road like you describe. compare your old rims and new ones from inside and you will see what i mean about the space for the clip just take off the clips and leave them off. hoping this is your problem seen it many times at my shop
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2006
00:41:25
| RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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I forgot that one PARTS. Nice one. And may well be the problem. The clip problem is magnified considerably compared to buying a set of nice wheels same size. I totally agree. It's the first think to check.
So many problems .... So little time
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aburger
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2006
00:53:16
|  RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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WOW, thanks guys. There is a lot I have to check. I thought that maybe the tires were too big, but everywhere I looked, said that this was the correct size. Sorry to be ignorant, but can you explain a little more about the retainer clips? I got the tires at Performance Plus in Signal Hill. They are a pretty well known shop, so I trusted them to do good work. I want to be able to explain this to them if they give me a hard time.
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Josh
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2006
00:53:17
| RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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Also check that the lug nuts (you did get new lug nuts with the new wheels, didn't you?) are not bottoming out before the proper torque is applied, or the wheel might just flop around on the hub.
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aburger
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2006
00:56:25
| RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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Thanks, I'll check that too.
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Paul
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2006
01:24:45
| RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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I just delt with alot of vibrations in my truck... but this is with larger tires and stock wheels... My post is in the offroad section labled "vibrations" I replaced my pitman arm and idler arm got new tires balanced and aligned and i am still getting the vibrations!
I'm so lost! Read my post in the offroad section and post any ideas u guys!! I need suggestions!
Aburger... I did see a major improvement in tightness in my steering after getting those parts replaced! It was VERY loose before hand so take a look at those cause they maybe warn out! The new weight of the wheels could have finally given the next toll on a part in ur truck! Though to wear out that quickly and noticably may be cause by something else as described in the above posts. I would check another place for the balancing, and try the retainer clip issue also!
Good luck!
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partsmanager
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2006
20:59:30
| RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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aburger the shop should know what rotor retainer clips are/look like but here is alittle more help. the retainers look like a star washer thats pushed over the wheelstud against the rotor to keep it in place when the wheel is off the car mostly for the assembly plant but does help you when you change brakes and tire work. most guys just cut them off and toss them (i dont) have the shop take off one front wheel and see if they are on there if the wheel doesn't have a space for it to rest in remove the clips and take it out for a ride. good luck and smooth rides
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partsmanager
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2006
21:00:45
| RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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thanx OBIO3 that one gets forgotten about alot
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aburger
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2006
22:29:38
|  RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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Well, I just got back from Performance Plus. Looks like it was the balancing. Aparently, on Saturday, they were in such a hurry, and they couldn't figure out how to balance this particular wheel, that they just did a half-assed job and left it. The guy who did it today new exactly what the problem was and corrected it. It is so much better. Now all I need is my drop, and I'll be a happy man. Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions. You guys rock.
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DanK
Dodge Dakota
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9/19/2006
00:38:05
| RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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Wait! You're not done yet, Aburger.
Now go get your torque wrench, or find someone who does. One wheel at a time, get each wheel off the ground and loosen the lug nuts, then re-torque them to 100 ft/lbs using the proper tightening sequence. If those guys at Performance Plus used an impact driver for anything other than removing lug nuts, you need to re-torque them.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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9/19/2006
19:24:52
| RE: Handling sucks with New wheels! Help!
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Good point. My girlfriend recently got a brake job at the dealership to resolve a steering wheel vibration issue when braking. Came back with the same vibration when hitting the brakes. She figured her brakes were bad again and the dealer put a bad set on but when she took it in to a Tires Plus for inspection, after they took the front wheels off and put them on again to check brake thickness and suspension the vibration went away. I figure maybe her dealership guy used an impact wrench and didn't torque the lug nuts evenly.
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