Steering Wheel Wooble After New Wheels And Tires

silverado4891 · September 27, 2011

Here's the story:

Last year bought an 09 silverado for the wife, it came with the factory 20s. We trade the wheels for some rockstars(just the wheels, we used the same tires). After the swap the steering would shake after 55 mph, I figured it was the wheels since the truck was driving fine before the rockstars. I got rid of the rockstars and went back to stock, last friday I went out and bought some new 24's since I need new tires. After the swap I got the same wooble after 55mph!!!! I went back and got the wheels balanced again, same shaking feeling at highway speeds. I've gotten the wheels balanced at 2 other places and still the same . I find it hard to believe that I've gotten 2 bad sets of wheels, Im starting to wonder if the truck just doesnt like aftermaket wheels. Has anyone had this problem before? I just cant think of could be causing this. I know its nothing mechanical, because it was driving fine before the new wheels.

Heysdad · September 27, 2011

Here's the story:
Last year bought an 09 silverado for the wife, it came with the factory 20s. We trade the wheels for some rockstars(just the wheels, we used the same tires). After the swap the steering would shake after 55 mph, I figured it was the wheels since the truck was driving fine before the rockstars. I got rid of the rockstars and went back to stock, last friday I went out and bought some new 24's since I need new tires. After the swap I got the same wooble after 55mph!!!! I went back and got the wheels balanced again, same shaking feeling at highway speeds. I've gotten the wheels balanced at 2 other places and still the same . I find it hard to believe that I've gotten 2 bad sets of wheels, Im starting to wonder if the truck just doesnt like aftermaket wheels. Has anyone had this problem before? I just cant think of could be causing this. I know its nothing mechanical, because it was driving fine before the new wheels.

There are some spacers that need to be there, or need to be removed from the wheel. I just can't remember if they need to be there or removed. I sure someone here knows what I'm talking about and can chime in here and help me out. We just put wheels on my widest 09 Yukon and there were orange spaced rings that fit in the back side of the wheel between the hub and the wheel.

Heysdad · September 27, 2011

I think the spacers have to be there on aftermarket wheels. Stock wheels don't have them because the way the flange is made on the factory wheels. Install the spacers and the shaking will go away. Did the aftermarket wheels you installed have the spacers?

silverado4891 · September 27, 2011

I think the spacers have to be there on aftermarket wheels. Stock wheels don't have them because the way the flange is made on the factory wheels. Install the spacers and the shaking will go away. Did the aftermarket wheels you installed have the spacers?

do you mean the hub rings? When i went back the second the time to the get them balanced where I bought them, he installed the hub rings on the front wheels.

silverado4891 · September 27, 2011

he rebalanced the wheels, but the shaking still there.

BlackZ71Silverado · September 27, 2011

he rebalanced the wheels, but the shaking still there.

Why not stick with the factory wheels since they are the only ones that seem to work? Why keep spending more money trying to fix a problem that really isn't a problem with the proper wheels on the vehicle?.......or you can try some different factory wheels.

spankrz · September 27, 2011

he rebalanced the wheels, but the shaking still there.

Why not stick with the factory wheels since they are the only ones that seem to work? Why keep spending more money trying to fix a problem that really isn't a problem with the proper wheels on the vehicle?.......or you can try some different factory wheels.

because he likes aftermarket wheels more then the stock wheels

TexasAl · September 27, 2011

My bet is on the hub centric rings. From what I understand, they need to be installed on four wheels.Any vibrations from the rear still come up at the steering wheel. I had this same problem on the my wife's Camry. Came to find out that one of the centric rings was missing. Good luck, and let us know if it works out for you.

Al

Dtaylor! · September 27, 2011

The wheels may still not be balanced. If the tire shop doesn't put the weights on the face of the aftermarket rim they cant balance perfect. A lot of shops dont put weights on the face for fear of scratching. They will however put weights where needed on factory wheels

Stevens03 · September 27, 2011

In most cases, the wheels you got are NOT hub centric wheels. GM wheels are. GM uses a little brass clip attached to one of the lugs on each of the corners during production of the truck to hold the rotors and/or drums on while going down the production line. Those little clips cause alot of people problems.

It's not a problem using lug centric wheels, but that clip is whats giving you the issue. Remove the clip and I'll bet your issues go away.

white07gmc · September 27, 2011

In most cases, the wheels you got are NOT hub centric wheels. GM wheels are. GM uses a little brass clip attached to one of the lugs on each of the corners during production of the truck to hold the rotors and/or drums on while going down the production line. Those little clips cause alot of people problems.

It's not a problem using lug centric wheels, but that clip is whats giving you the issue. Remove the clip and I'll bet your issues go away.

Damn it.... You beat me to it. I was going to say the same thing....

pm26 · September 27, 2011

In most cases, the wheels you got are NOT hub centric wheels. GM wheels are. GM uses a little brass clip attached to one of the lugs on each of the corners during production of the truck to hold the rotors and/or drums on while going down the production line. Those little clips cause alot of people problems.

It's not a problem using lug centric wheels, but that clip is whats giving you the issue. Remove the clip and I'll bet your issues go away.

Yes, stock wheel mounting flanges have recesses in them that clear these clips. Aftermarket wheels may not. Not only can these clips cause problems with aftermarket wheels, but they can also cause distortion of the rear brake drums. Always do your homework when installing aftermarket wheels, carefully inspect the mounting surfaces. Do not let someone just slap them on. Years ago, many people damaged their brake drums and even bent rear axle sahfts when they mounted Cragar chrome wheels on without using spacers which would clear the brake drum welded weights. Yes, this also happened to me because I trusted the idiots who mounted the wheels on without spacers on my 1977 Camaro. I had to replace both rear axles shafts and brake drums.

blackout07 · September 27, 2011

In most cases, the wheels you got are NOT hub centric wheels. GM wheels are. GM uses a little brass clip attached to one of the lugs on each of the corners during production of the truck to hold the rotors and/or drums on while going down the production line. Those little clips cause alot of people problems.

It's not a problem using lug centric wheels, but that clip is whats giving you the issue. Remove the clip and I'll bet your issues go away.

Agreed. Pull the clips off of the rear studs and all will be well.

Heysdad · September 27, 2011

That's what I was thinking of....the tabs. That's what I had to remove when my truck had the shakes and the guys here said remove the tabs (clips) and all the shaking went away. Good job guys. That will fix your wobble....

silverado4891 · September 28, 2011

The retainer clips were pulled of the rotors with the first set of wheels. Im taking the truck on thrusday to get the wheels road force balanced, I hope this fixes the problem. If it was up to me I would've kept the the factory wheels, but the truck belongs to the wife. Now that I know that the problem is there I wouldnt be happy just putting the factory wheels back on.