You might know that I drive a 82 Rabbit pickup gasser. It shakes whenI drive it. It is directly proportional to road speed. At low speed,I can see the wheel turn slightly back and forth on its own. At highspeed the whole truck shakes. At illegal speeds, the truck shakesviolently. It has been a while since I have had the wheels balanced,but they have been balanced a few times with these tires a few times.I think that it changes greatly when I have the wheels rotated. I amthinking the one of the two front wheels are messed up, whether it be abent rim, or 'f'ed up tire. I dont think that I have a bad bearing,but one of the bearings is original at 185k miles. I have beenthinking of ditching my steel rims for cheap alloys. Anybody knowwhere I can get aluminum rims that would fit this?

Well you can start moving combinations around, two at a time, and find out which one it is.I am You are going the wrong way. Those alloy wheels are prone to damage and getting bent and the cheap ones are the worse. Steel is less likely to cause problems. I suspect the problem is a tyre. Sometimes belts shift so if you look at the tread as the wheel turns you will see it move left and right at one spot on the wheel as it spins. The only fix is replacement. It is also possible that there is a dynamic balance problem. Dynamic balancing cost more (sometimes called computer balancing) they spin the wheel at high speed on the machine. Of course there are other possible issues, but your description seem to fit a wheel or tyre. Don't mix old and new tread on the same axle and put the best rubber on the rear. It helps keep your car pointed in the direction you are moving in an emergency.

I didn't miss it , They are wrong. If you rotate 4 tires equally , every 5000 miles or so, from new, they will all be near worn at once, and likely cause hydroplaning on the highway, or excessive skidding in the snow, before they are legally worn out. So you have to buy more tires, and are not safer. And pay for more rotations. The better tires go in the front , on a front wheel drive car. except for people who use their brakes incorrectly during a skid or let off the gas on a front wheel drive car. Since this is most of the people, that's the stand tire resalers , insurance companies, and manufacturers take. The better tires could go on the rear of a rear axle car, because of the added weight and the engine weight in the front on the worse tires, And because you do stop a rear wheel drive car from skidding , by applying the brakes, not the gas. but I still would rotate front to back, at half life, and replace the worn rears first.

My theory is that most other drivers DO NOT have the ability to handle the situation in an emergency. And that is what the best tires on rear is for. When they hammer the brakes, probably the rears may work better, and they may stop quicker, but they will still spin worse. There is no good logical, rational reason at all, except to protect the BASIC drivers from themselves. It is not Safer at all. It is all is only safer when the tires are brand new. I don't want 4 tires 3/4 or more worn out equally on some idiots car at once. Because somebody told him its safer. He's gonna kill somebody in the rain , when he hydroplanes and hammers the brakes and slides. A Basic driver with New tires is more dangerous then an advanced driver with bald tires, If he's going to use the brakes in a skid. All the safety, logic, and rational, laws and pro drivers/ instructors will say to put the best on front in front wheel drive cars. You must know and understand why you use the gas to stop a spin....

90% of accidents are caused by people using their phones, putting on lipstick, fiddling with the radio, driving too slow, or some other distraction. It has nothing to do with where someone said my new tires should go.

what causes shaking?

Apr 20, 2006 24 Replies

Rate this thread:

Joseph Meehan 20 years ago

I take it you missed #1 " For increased stability and handling, particularly in wet or slippery conditions, buy tires in sets of four and rotate them often. If you don't buy four, always install the best tires on the rear of the vehicle. "

Vote

none2u 20 years ago

Vote

Joseph Meehan 20 years ago

In that we agree and MOST people should follow that advice.

Vote

none2u 20 years ago

Vote

none2u 20 years ago

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required