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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
88
Dodge Caravan, Wheel Shakes
Q: I've been told by several mechanics that
all four wheels of my 1988 Dodge Caravan are bent. The car has never seen
harsh driving conditions; pot holes, etc. The car has been through numerous
sets of tires since I bought it new. The front end seems to have a shimmy
no one can fix. After balancing the tires everything is fine for a short
while but then the shimmy returns. Can this be caused by bent wheels?
And how would all four wheels become bent without having been in an accident
or something like that?
A: Gee,
seven techs say your rims are bent, maybe one of them is right. Tire rims
do not have to be in an accident, or hit a pot hole to become bent. Rims
can be bent from the factory, or by bumping the tire into a curb. Damage
can also be caused by incorrect mounting of a tire on a rim, or even as
the lug nuts are being tightened.
Bent rims can be seen when a new tire is being balanced, the tread of
the tire will wobble. Balancing will only cover the bent rim problem for
a short time. Because the tire does not run true to the road, due to the
bent rim, it will wear incorrectly and never provide a smooth ride. New
rims are what's needed.
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