Steering Wheel Shake, A solution!

[Bob In Ct]

Hey Kids:
For 3 years now I've been trying to eliminate steering wheel shake in my SPF. It shows up around 60-70 and then comes and goes. I've had the tires spin balanced a few times with no relief. I've played with the steering box, I've played with alignment and air pressure, I've played with the shock settings, no help. I even changed the tires, again the shake lives on.

Then I got lucky. I (by sheer luck) met up with Todd Buttrick (FFR) while out on a ride (40 miles from home). The two of us then got together with his buddy, Rich Gagliardi(FFR). What followed was a discussion on steering wheel shake. They convinced me that the problem was in the tires. I then mentioned that at a Skip Barber Race the previous weekend all the tires had been shaved by a facility somewhere in Connecticut. I called skip and found the garage. I brought in all of my tires(BFGs) and had Dave at Major Traction Tires shave them untll they were round, none of them were round going in the door. Todd and Rich did the same.

Today I did a test drive (150 miles to Lime Rock) and I am happy to report the shake is all but gone!!!!!! I'm ecstatic. Next week I get them spin balanced, I can't wait.

If you're experiencing wheel shake you must explore this solution. If Todd or Rich are out there I will let them weigh in on how their cars a were affected. The only other place I know of that does this sort of "truing" is a place in Greensboro, NC called Hendricks.

Bob

[driver]

Thanks Bob, for that info can be invaluable. Now, for all of us who are waiting for cars or will be buying tires in the future , what brand is least likely to have problems? Toyo?

JohnT

[DonC]

Bob:
From previous discussions it seems that the Hunter balancing system is the way to go for balancing. You might want to look into it to help your final cleanup.
DonC

[Back in Black]

But my 17 inch low profile Pirelli P-Zeros seem rock smooth. Best tires I have ever owned. Maybe for those with 17 inch wheels this is the answer.

[Tony Aprile]

Bob

I have the same situation in my SPF and since the shake is in the streeing is it necessary to also shave the back tires, also where is Major Traction Tires located ??

Tony

[Bob In Ct]

Tony:
Major Traction is on Union Street in Bridgeport. Mine was better after I had the rear tires done.

Don:
Do not equate "truing" to what the Hunter 9700 does. I did the Hunter thing 2 years ago and it was of little value. It identifies the problem but does not cure it (at least in my case).

The amazing thing about getting the tires shaved down to round was how far they were from round to start.

Bob

[driver]

Hey Everyone,
For the folks in DEL MD VA PA the RADIAL TIRE CO in Maryland can shave out of round tires

[RPRICE]

Most cities have retread companies. They have the machines to do this as well as most all heavy truck tire distributors. Shaving was common in the retread days, so find an old line tire company in your area.
Richard
Memphis

[clayfoushee]

Driver,

Where in MD is the Radial Tire Company?

[driver]

Hello,
Radial Tire Co. is about a mile off of Georgia Ave. .....very close to D.C. line . you would take 495 towards Rockville... get off at Georgia ave......go towards DC...maybe a couple of miles. RTC is owned by very knowledgable fellow who has been racing for 25 years. He has a high performance niche.and he does a incredible amount of business.

[clayfoushee]

Thanks John.....I know exactly where it is.

BTW, on Sundays the Marylanders in the Capital Area Cobra Club get togther at Bob Evans on 301, just off 50, while the regular get together with the large VA contingent is still at the Vienna Inn on Sat. You're welcome to join.

www.capitalareacobraclub.com

[Bob In Ct]

Hey Guys:
Just a thought, I would not take the tires (wheels) off the car after it had been sitting for a while. I my case, I went for a ride, got home and immediately took the tires off. I did not want to have any flatspot conditions present before getting them shaved (trued). Be sure they have th inflation you run when getting them done.


Bob

[clayfoushee]

Thanks Bob, this was a new one for me, but very interesting and makes sense.

[Woodz428]

If in the mid Illinois atea, there is Vilven Tires, located in Royal Illinois. They've been shaving SCCA tires for almost 30 years. A small family business located in a small farming community...go figure.

[Rogers]

so...is this just a cobra replica problem? I've had other cars with T/A's and on 15" wheels with no problems. These were factory cars...of my three cobras all with same tires/wheels each one shakes. Is this a lack of engineering problem? Wonder if the CSX cobras or the Kirkhams have this problem. I can't imagine the original cobras had to shave their tires. Its embarrasing when you try to sell these cars with this problem....

[rms427]

This is not car specific. I had the problem with a set of TA radials. I purchased the tires and had a terrible steering wheel shake. I rebalanced them several times. Then one day I spun the tires while the tires were just off the ground and saw that they were way out of round. Got them shaved and the problem was solved. I have 73,000 miles on the car and have run many different tires the TA's were the only ones that I had a problem with.

[casaleenie]

Took the liberty of taking this from the Unique Forum posted by Eliminator... Might be something that is applicable for other brands as well... With tire rounding and this Vibration Resistor, wheel shake and shimmy might be a thing of the past....




Posted - 11/20/2003 : 05:40:09
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Just worked out a deal this week with Flaming River who makes the Unique steering u-joints for a Vibration Resistor. The reason all of us have a vibration problem is that there is no dampner between the Manual Rack and Pinion Steering and the steering wheel. Flaming River use to make a dampner that went in the center of the steering shaft, you had to cut the shaft take out a section then insert the dampner, did the job but a pain in the $ss. At the Steet Rod Nationals I approached them about this. They showed me a new concept, making the Vibration Resistor in with the U-Joint but they didn't have one to fit the Unique spline which is a 3/4"-48, both end's. Now we will have one, we have 6 on order that we should get in 4-6 weeks to try out. This will replace the u-joint that comes directly off the steering shaft (you need it as close to the steering wheel as possible), looks similar but is a little longer, approximately 1", will be nickle plated steel like the present joint, has thermoplastic rubber to absorb vibration and "road feel" from the steering system. Actual does a great job as there are some Unique Cars around with the old system. The short shaft that comes out of this joint will have to be replaced, needs to be shorter, and thats it. So it is pretty easy to do, about a 1 hr job. Price, Unique will have to give us a quote, but around 200.00 or less, need just the 2 parts, a Vibration Resistor U-Joint and a new shorter 3/4"-48 splined intermediate shaft. Keep everyone updated. WWW.flamingriver.com

Eliminator

[driver]

thanks Casaleenie, I earmarked Flaming River just in case !

[A Cobra guy]

Why would you buy tires that aren't round????
I had BFG's on my car for the 1st 26,000. They were OK but nothing to brag about. Had vibrations at different speeds. Sometimes the front, sometimes the rear. The fronts were worn so I put on 4 Yokohama Avids. THEY ARE GREAT. A big improvemnt all around (pun intended) The car rides better in dry and wet. It corners better.


Think about it. Buy a set of tires then pay more money to have the tread removed so they can be round!?!?!?!?!

Harvey R.

[Cobranut]

I just bought 3 tire truers this past weekend.
Two are commercial Amermac machines and one is an unknown brand which formerly belonged to Smokey Yunick.

I bought them primarily to cut tires for my race car and others. I'm modifying the Amermac's to be able to camber cut tires for racing.
The ex-Smokey Yunick machine uses cams to cut different profiles, and can easily be modified for camber cuts as well. It is also capable of cutting tires up to 15" wide.

I'll probably sell two of them, as I don't need all three.

For anyone in the central VA area, let me know if you need tires trued. (Just pick out all the pebbles and rock slivers first, they are hard on blades).

Later,