Got new tires and now the front end won't align!!

[ms260z]

I have a late 260. I have owned it about 6 months and ran the tires that came on it until hot weather got here. They had just a little cracking showing around the rim so I got new tires. I was leery of a blow out in the 100 degree Ms heat. My tire shop cannot get the frontend to align with the new tires on it. There is a terrible steering wheel shake that starts about 45 mph. He has aligned the front end and spin balanced the tires a couple of times. I have mag rims on it and not original wheels. Today he put new lug nuts on it that were supposed to help center the wheel better on the studs but that didn't help at all. The tie rod ends are all ok and they have been greased as well. Does anyone have suggestions? It is practically undriveable as it is now.

[ms260z]

Oh, and by the way, with the old tires the steering wheel had just a slight (hardly noticable) shake to it. I would have driven it away from the tire shop with that little bit of shake and been happy.

[tlorber]

First off, alignment and wheel shimmy are two different things.

Try switching rear wheels to the front-perhaps they are better balanced. If not, try some other wheels, just to see if they solve the problem. At least that way you are isolating one variable at a time.

[ms260z]

Thanks tlorber. It tracks down the highway perfectly and doesn't pull to either side when I let go of the steering wheel. I will get him to try switching rear to front, maybe one at a time, to isolate which side is the problem.

[Zed Head]

What brand/kind of tires did you get? Maybe the old cracked ones were of higher initial quality. If the rims with old tires were balanced, then the new problem might have come with the new tires.

[5thhorsemann]

What brand/kind of tires did you get? Maybe the old cracked ones were of higher initial quality. If the rims with old tires were balanced, then the new problem might have come with the new tires.

My thoughts exactly, if you went with the BF goodrich, check them for roundness. The shimmy is a ballance problem most likely, I had mine match ballanced a few months back and it eliminated the problem. Also, did you go bigger with the new tires?

[olzed]

There is something more than tyres going on here.

Check for wear everywhere in the steering system. Jack up the front. There should be NO wobble at the wheels. Top and bottom and side to side. Is the bottom ball joint loose? Check everything.

[ms260z]

They are the original size tires(195/70/R14). But they are an off brand tire and not Goodyear, etc. He was going to put a different new tire on today and see if that solved the problem. The old tires were not name brand either but may have been a better built tire anyway. I am thinking the new problem came with the new tires too. Thanks guys!!

After I get this problem solved I am going to try to charge up my air conditioner and try to get it working. Whew.... it's hot down here!!

I will let you know as soon as he gets it solved!!

[newtonhubcap]

I had the same problem with a 240 back in early 80's after putting new tires on. I ended up replacing the rack bushings. Would raise the front and check the rack for excessive play.

[olzed]

I had the same problem with a 240 back in early 80's after putting new tires on. I ended up replacing the rack bushings. Would raise the front and check the rack for excessive play.

My thoughts as well. Different tyres might mask the main issue which will be wear in steering components.

[rcb280z]

It may be the new tires. Been there done that! Find a place to road-force them. That's what I had to do. Like your Z mine didn't have a balance (wheel shimmy) issue until I bought new tires. If the shop doesn't have the equipment calibrated often enough it will NOT give them a correct balance. It cost me 20 bucks per corner and was worth it. It's as smooth as glass. I think it's been about 5 months now since I had it done. They spin your rim and tire and put a load on it as if it were on the road giving a true balance reading. Try it you'll like it.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I second the notion to check the rack bushings, steering coupling, and ball joints.

Also, did they have to add an extreme amount of weight to the rim when they mounted the new tires?

Tires are the one component you should never skimp on in my opinion. They are without a doubt the most important part of your entire car. Everything else sends or receives input to and from the tires. I recommend if all is tight, paying for some better tires. Buy some Hankooks, or even some Falkens, they are very reasonably priced. But off brand tires are never a good choice.