19" alloys causing steering wheel vibrations

[sattie]

Hello,

Finally managed to find a nice set of BBS 19" alloys and fitted them yesterday to my car. Driving it to work for the first time and hit around 40mph, the steering wheel is shaking more than usual and i then took it to 60mph and it felt really bad.

Alloys were balanced prior to being fitted.

What could be causing this?

I previously had the standard 15'' alloys fitted.

TIA

 

[evdok]

Have you got quality locking wheel nuts?
Are the wheels new?
Are the tyres good make?
Are the wheels meant for your car?

 

[brucemillar]

As Evdok says. Several things to check here. Are you using the correct studs for your wheels - there are different fitments of studs for OEM wheels (radius bolts etc)

The bigger the diameter/size of wheel you have the more critical balancing becomes. Did the wheel company use a computer balancer? The positioning of the weights on the rim is critical and I mean the width of the rim.

Sticky weights do fall off. Check that you haven't lost any.

First port of call is back to your company that balanced them. They should be able to answer all the points above. IF not then go to a somebody who can like WIM on here.

 

[whitenemesis]

Are BBS wheels hub-centric? If not they will never balance correctly unless there is a fitting/adaptor kit for MB applications?

 

[m2287]

You probably need spigot rings off eBay. £5

 

[sattie]

Have you got quality locking wheel nuts? yes
Are the wheels new? yes
Are the tyres good make? pirelli p700
Are the wheels meant for your car?

yes

 

[m2287]

When you put the wheel on the hub does it fit flush and stay on without the bolts?

If not, you need the spigot rings to make sure your wheel is on in a central position.

 

[sattie]

do i need to do the laser 4 wheel alignment? Will this help?

 

[A210AMG]

As above..

They are like big plastic washers that make the wheel fit neatly and tight on the hub.

Everything else is probably fine you just need these...


It feels as though the wheels are not balaced but you know they are.

 

[npuk]

You need to check the bore of the BBS alloy and get the correct ring. mercedes spigot | eBay

TBH I dont know why the tyre place fitted them without telling you this. Also did you get new bolts for the alloys as the OEM bolts are not the correct ones to use.

 

[sattie]

Just phoned a company they have the spigots for the bbs, apparantly they are 82.2mm and the merc is 66.6mm The wheel nuts are currently radius and the bbs are tappered. Even the wheel locking nut is incorrect!

All in including delivery spigots and bolts £67.

Should this make all the difference?

 

[brucemillar]

Yes it should.

You need not to be using your balancing company anymore either. They should have noticed all of the above faults. The Spigot rings are a big miss on their part. So big most would not think to mention them assuming that they had been done correctly.

 

[A210AMG]

^ yes.

I bought a set of wheels for an ML I had, had the balanced and checked / fitted.

Never even noticed the spigots attached to some paperwork and packing tape.

Car drove fine up to around 50mph then just like missing a wheel weight it would wobble the steering wheel.

Went home found these spigots, back to garage, refit = perfect.

Amazing realy for a piece of plastic

 

[paulyV6]

Spigot rings ensure that the wheel is sat perfectly on the hub and that the hub is fully taking the weight. That looks like a big gap mm wise between the BBS centre bore size and the MB hub size - meaning that most, if not all of the weight will be being taken on 5 little wheel bolts. 5 wheel bolts which are also not correct.

That is a wisely spent £67 I reckon.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

An issue with some/ most thicker wheels is alignment of the PCD inner and outer. If the wheels centre hole is used by the mounting dye on the balancer it will generate incorrect balance values although the end values will suggest it has been correctly balanced.

A solution for this error is to mount the wheel to the balancer by the stud holes, this mimiks exactly how the wheel is mounted on the car.

 

[whitenemesis]

My AMG wheels have always been mounted on the balancer using the centre hole.

Does what you describe only apply to non-MB wheels?

 

[sattie]

garage tested for buckles, none present. Ordered bbs spigot rings and should arrive today. The bolts are correct, all been checked out.

 

[sattie]

Spigots on and its made the world of difference. The car drives perfectly, only managed to hit 60mph but feels much better.

Really appreciate everyone's input and it goes to show how important spigot rings are.

 

[evdok]

Its great when your car gets sorted!

 

[sattie]

Its great when your car gets sorted!

yes such a good feeling

nearly 7 years of ownership and lots of repair bills but still love the car.

Needs some TLC, rust appearing on one arch and boot lock and the roof has green mould that needs looking into.