I just went from OEM 17" Wheels to a used set of OEM 18" wheels I picked up off eBay. Wheels were perfect condition minus a few scratches, and looked round and true. I got them on the car with Avon M550s (the only all season tires I could find in spec, and they had the best ratings on tirerack) They are great, but at speeds over about 50+ MPH the steering wheel beings to vibrate. I thought it was just a freak thing, but I brought it to the turnpike and was going at about 80-85 for a few seconds and the vibrating was very bad, almost frightening. I love the ride from the new tires, but the steering wheel vibration is absolutely unnacceptable in so many ways. Its not just a slight vibration, at speeds over about 75-80 its vibrating to where my hand holding the wheel is shaken by about an inch and a half each vibration!

I did a quick search, but couldn't find much help. One thing I am concerned about, is that the car is riding on what are marked as three "FRONT" wheels, and one marked "REAR" wheel, but I was informed that they are all the same. Could this make any difference in the matter? I got them put on at a shop by what looked like a young kid, who may or may not have known what he was doing. Should I suspect an improper balance job? Should I bring it into my Infiniti dealer and have them check it out, maybe rebalance it or something?

Any ideas are appriciated. Thanks in advance!

 

Get the wheels balanced ASAP.

 

Yup. I'm thinking about heading down to Infiniti though. Or should I bring it up with the shop that I got them put on at?

 

ill be honest im not sure if the hib is the same size they might be different, if so you need hubcentric rings, again i dont know if the size of the hub is the same if not you need these rings

 

One of the wheels could be slightly bent. Hell, it could be the reason the guy sold them. Take your car to the best wheel balancing dealer in your area, and then tell them your problem. If one or more of the wheels is damaged, balancing will help but you will always notice some vibration.

 

Ok coming from a guy who has posted more Steering wheel vibration threads than anyone i swear, let me tell you about my situation....

I had some 17" stock that i took off for some 18" Zenetti Chromes...Brand new. Any way..my 17's rode smooth as glass but when i had these new wheels on (and new tires obviously) i had some serious vibration - just as you described.

They were supposed to be balanced when they came in the mail...so i thought maybe they fell out of balance and got another "standard" balance - No help.

Thought maybe it was hubcentric rings were off - i checked each one and each was fine.

Took to another place, to have it Hunter Road Forced balanced (25 bucks a rim/tire but he payed for it - found a rim was out of round....

Sent Rim back to the guy and he sent me another one (road force balanced as well) Got it back and STILL vibrated the steering wheel like you mentioned...

I recently got into an accident - crazy old lady drivers - and banged up the front of my car....so I got a free front end alignment out of the deal and that actually helped - not completely gone...but was able to have it very noticably decreased....

Sorry for the long post but all that to tell you this -- have it Road Force balanced (little pricey but it will tell you anything and everything about the wheel) and if that still doesnt work get an alignment....those two things should help with the vibration, unless the rim is bent then there's nothing really you can do.

 

Thanks for the help, I appriciate it.

I don't think the rim is bent. It looks fine. The car is also pulling to the right when I am on a straight road. I sortof have to hold the wheel slightly left to maintain a straight line, but its very minor. I guess I will call up Infiniti and ask them if they can do a balance or allignment, but I understand that is very expensive.

 

Yeah i mean any shop can do it -- dealer charges an arm and a leg for sure...i'd recommend tho the road force balance for sure...it will tell you if you wheel is out of round by just a hair....always a possibility, specially with UPS. They arent the most careful people i know. but yeah if your car is veering to the right an alignment wont be a bad idea either....Post back n let us know how it turns out so we can have a "Steering Vibration Problem -- THE FINAL ANSWER" like the lights thread...

 

heh thanks man.

I just actually took it out for another drive. I am very unhappy. Not only is the vibrating still there, but everything just feels.. wrong. At high speeds, any sharp turning almost feels like the car is going to wobble over. This really sucks. I would have kept my old 17" wheels if I knew it was going to be this bad. I don't even want to drive the car anymore.