The best trip yet

[andrewh]

I took my 3.8 FHC down to Windsor yesterday for the JEC Windsor event. That was awesome but I will post some picture later in another thread. The car drove beautifully and without a hint of any wheel balance issues a problem that has plagued me since its restoration 2300 miles ago.

When I bought my brand new MWS 6in Dunlop Racing spec centre laced wheels they were sent to Longstone for the new tyres to be fitted and wheels balanced and sent to me. They then sat, off the car for 8 months whilst the car was completed, but fully inflated.

On every outing the car had horrendous wheel wobble which having had the brand new tyres and wheels fitted professionally I concentrated on other factors. Wire wheel to hub fit, wheel shimmy caused by other items, bearing play, upper lower ball joints etc. Still with no satisfaction.

I then took the front wheels to a specialist to have them balance checked once more. He said they were slightly out and redid them. Still no improvement.

After the recent trip to Bicester when the problem was as bad as ever, I decided to take matters into my own hands on the balancing. I bought a set of wire wheel balancing cones from a chap in Nuneaton. Details to follow.

Then armed with the two front wheels and my new mounting cones, I took them to my trusty local tyre shop. He told me he had not seen tyres that far out for a very long time. They were even better when he took off all the previous weights! He rebalanced them for me and well , you know the rest of the story. Perfect driving experience. Go figure? I am at a loss. I have written off the second wheel balancing outfit as maybe not realising they need to be on proper wire wheel cones to centre them on the wheel balancing machine, but not Longstone who do this all the time? Dougal are you there? How can this happen?

[mgcjag]

Hi Andrew...after all you work you deserved a great day......glad you got to the bottom of the wheel wobble
...somehow that phrase if you want it done properly do it yourself comes to mind....

[andrewh]

Thank you Steve. The tyres I should add are AVON CR6ZZ , not cheap and supposedly of high quality as are the wheels.

[Gfhug]

Andrew, it's interesting to hear you went the cone route. When I had my new tyres fitted they used the simple bubble level balancer and my tyres/wheels have been really good with no wobble.

So long as you now have comfort when you drive, that's the important point. Happy and smooth driving!

Geoff

[Heuer]

Mine are balanced by Longstone with every tyre change using their bubble balance and they have always been perfect.

[richard btype]

Andrew

I had a similar problem with Avons quite a few years ago, could it be that the tyres have become misshapen? - I was so disappointed at the time that I have never fitted Avon again.

[AshM]

Thought provoking Andrew - thanks for posting.

I have a similar challenge - brand new tyres on restored wheels from MWS. Down and back to Windsor (from Edinburgh!) - car drove wonderfully not missing beat but horrid wobble on front from 50 - 65mph.

Thought I might swap front to rear as a start.

Car has ben at CMC and they could not balance out the problem.

[Heuer]

Two things:

1. A car that has been standing for a few months over winter will have flat spots which can cause wheel wobble. Usually sorts it self out after a few hundred miles

2. Repro spinners are ****ing terrible and can cause all sorts of problems as they are badly machined and the wrong shape and weight. If in doubt fit some knarled originals and see how you get on. Typically you can get a beaten up set for £40 so good value as a 'gash' set for testing.

In the meantime tighten your spinners with the wheels off the ground to make sure they are centred. Tighten again with wheels on the floor. This is not necessary with original spinners, wheels and hubs but if you have a combination of new/original parts it is a nightmare.

[caveman]

1. A car that has been standing for a few months over winter will have flat spots which can cause wheel wobble. Usually sorts it self out after a few hundred miles

I use these inexpensive tyre savers;