Egged shaped or not ?

[demented]

Apart from the obvious, how can I tell whether a alloy wheel is misshaped/ buckled ?

 

From the inside rim, there's no obvious signs of damage of flat spots.

 

There's the usual but slight kerbing to the outer rim.

 

There's no vibration through the wheels either, car drives smooth and as it should.

 

However, when on the ramps in a garage and a rear wheel was spun, it looked oval whilst spinning.

 

The hub that wheel is fitted to has had a wheel bearing replaced due to excessive play/movement only 6 month ago and requires replacing again for same reason ?

 

However, when the car is on the drive and raised on axle stands, when the wheel is spun, its hard to tell.

It looks like the tyre is misshaped rather than the wheel ?

 

Does anyone know how I can determine which is at fault, whether its the wheel or the tyre or of any garage/service which has equipment to test for this.

[DaweV6]

Apart from the obvious, how can I tell whether a alloy wheel is misshaped/ buckled ?

 

From the inside rim, there's no obvious signs of damage of flat spots.

 

There's the usual but slight kerbing to the outer rim.

 

There's no vibration through the wheels either, car drives smooth and as it should.

 

However, when on the ramps in a garage and a rear wheel was spun, it looked oval whilst spinning.

 

The hub that wheel is fitted to has had a wheel bearing replaced due to excessive play/movement only 6 month ago and requires replacing again for same reason ?

 

However, when the car is on the drive and raised on axle stands, when the wheel is spun, its hard to tell.

It looks like the tyre is misshaped rather than the wheel ?

 

Does anyone know how I can determine which is at fault, whether its the wheel or the tyre or of any garage/service which has equipment to test for this.

 

Any garage/tyre fitting place will tell you what's wrong.

 

I bought a car with a oval shaped alloy and I wasn't able to tell just by driving it. Smooth as Keira's chest. Until the tyre exploded 2 days later.

 

Is there a lot of weights on that wheel ? To counterbalance the flat spot. Bearing might be worn out thanks to excessive workload, or maybe (if we're talking escort) it's just a rubbish bearing with plastic casing. Some cheap replacements barely last 10-20k miles.

[demented]

Yes, we're talking Escort.

 

Bearing was bought from Europarts, cost £25.

 

Must admit, suspicion of misshaped wheel was detected when bearing was last fitted, at least 6 month ago. I believe the oval rotation of the wheel was caused by the worn wheel bearing.

 

All other bearings ok and have been during the 18 months since I've owned the car.

 

I do suspect the misshaped wheel is causing the excessive bearing to wear.

 

When my car is on axle stands and the wheel is rotating, its not noticeable, so much so, I cant tell.

 

The tyre looks more misshaped rather than the wheel.

 

I've been told garage/tyre fitters equipment can only balance wheels/tyres and will only detect a misshaped wheel if its so obvious, it can be seen when rotating.

 

I've been quoted £10 to check a wheel on tyre balance machine and another £10 to remove tyre and check again, don't know if that includes refitting the tyre.

 

I have two wheels which require checking, I don't fancy paying £40 or more for a wheel balancing machine to check, unless that is the only official way of doing so.

[DaweV6]

Blimey you live in an unfriendly part of the world, don't you ?

 

How much to check a wheel ? Bloody hell I'm moving a business.

 

What about tracking ? What is the last time you had a 4 wheel tracking done ?

 

I had 2 escorts with slightly bent rear axle (one of them my fault) which was causing moderate uneven tyre wear and increased bearing workload.

 

But you don't mention the tyre...

[demented]

The wheels in question are both on the rear.

 

The one that's possibly misshaped is on the rear passenger side, which is on the hub that had the bearing replaced.

 

The tyre of the misshaped wheel is only very slightly wearing more than the other, but wearing evenly all round.

 

There is no other issues with tyres or the tracking and all the tyres are wearing evenly.

 

 

The last time I had the the front wheel alignment adjusted, it cost £27 inc Vat, which was during Nov 2010.

 

I was advised that 4 wheel alignment is not possible on an Escort, as the rear wheel are not adjustable ?

 

 

As for the cost of the a wheel bearing, maybe it was £22 inc Vat.

[DaweV6]

Hmm, you seem to keep a lot of receipts, don't you ?

 

Bit like members of Sex Offenders Register

 

 

Of course you can't realign the rear wheels - it's just a solid axle. But it can tell you if both wheels point in the direction Ford intended them to.

 

Just try to find less scroogy garage and have the wheel checked. Useful advice, I know.

[demented]

Hmm, you seem to keep a lot of receipts, don't you ?

 

Bit like members of Sex Offenders Register

 

 

Of course you can't realign the rear wheels - it's just a solid axle. But it can tell you if both wheels point in the direction Ford intended them to.

 

Just try to find less scroogy garage and have the wheel checked. Useful advice, I know.

 

 

 

Yes, I keep all my receipt; It's a service history, of work done to my car.

 

Wouldn't you prefer to buy a car which has a full service history, that not only has a service booked stamp up to date but also has receipt accumulated over a period of time, which prove the vehicle has been well looked after with repairs carried out as and when required ?

 

I also believe it is good to share on a forum such as this, how much we have paid for the cost of parts or work done, to help compare and not get ripped off.

 

 

 

However, I only have experience as a car owner, buyer and as car enthusiast too. So, I can only base my experience on that.

 

 

I guess you're comparing the keeping of my receipt to your own experiences ?

 

 

 

I guess, rather than admit you don't know the answer, you just add to say something, hey?

 

 

 

Some tyre fitters I've approached even an alloy wheel supplier have said they can spin the wheel on the balancing machine for free but is will only show if the wheel is out of balance.

 

As for being egged shaped, they place their hand just above the wheel/tyre, nearly touching but not quite and whilst rotating, see if it catches their hand?

 

That is hardly technical, I would have expected something more sophisticated than that, especially with what alloy wheels cost to replace ?

[DaweV6]

I guess you're comparing the keeping of my receipt to your own experiences ?

 

I wish...

 

I guess, rather than admit you don't know the answer, you just add to say something, hey?

 

Hell yeah.

 

Do you need me to introduce you to a bad joke concept ? Or are you just gonna be gravely serious throughout ?

 

When you spin wheel without a tyre on a balancing machine and look horizontally over the top of it, you can see pretty small imperfections.

 

If that's not good enough, any machining/engineering place will have an assortment of measuring contraptions and gauges for circle diameter and locate the fault by graduation.

Edited April 21, 2011 by DaweV6

[demented]

I guess you're comparing the keeping of my receipt to your own experiences ?

 

I wish...

 

I guess, rather than admit you don't know the answer, you just add to say something, hey?

 

Hell yeah.

 

Do you need me to introduce you to a bad joke concept ? Or are you just gonna be gravely serious throughout ?

 

When you spin wheel without a tyre on a balancing machine and look horizontally over the top of it, you can see pretty small imperfections.

 

If that's not good enough, any machining/engineering place will have an assortment of measuring contraptions and gauges for circle diameter and locate the fault by graduation.

 

 

 

 

Firstly, please excuse my typing error, I was meaning to say, " You just had to say something"

 

 

To be honest, I've no idea what you are referring to, especially with reference to the Sex Offenders Register?

 

What has that got to do with my initial question and the keeping of my receipts?

 

When someone makes reference to the Sex Offenders Register for no apparent reason, I have to ask myself what the hell are they on about?

 

You may well, now refer to it as a bad joke, you obviously thought otherwise initially.

 

And yes, when it comes to criticism from a total stranger, especially with reference to the Sex Offenders Register, then yes, I will remain gravely serious through out.

 

I'm using this forum to ask a question with reference to a safety issue with regards to my car and the alloy wheels.

 

I'm fully aware that a machining or engineering workshop will have all the appropriate measuring tools for the task.

 

However, they are not alloy wheel specialist and with alloy wheels being so apparent these days and have been for the last 20 years or more, I would have thought there would be a more accessible and accurate alternative available to the average motorist.

 

Apparently not, judging by my own experience and the response I've received on this post.

 

This post is well and truly closed and all the above questions are rhetorical.