alms_TT_ny

Thanks, I will give him a call if things can't be fixed next monday

GBW

Probably CYA...I have one bent rim, never noticed....

doctordave

Many shops power up the balancing machine on Monday, and run it all week. The issue with this is that -- like many machines -- it calibrates itself on power-up, so by the end of the week it could be way off. Better shops know this and power up every day and/or calibrate more often to compensate for this well known issue.

An average wheel tech would just run the machine, stick the weights on, and tell you it's something else (wheel bend, damaged tire bead, anything) whereas guys like Little Foreign Car Garage and myriad others we've all grown to love will accommodate this and rectify the problem -- either with preventative maintenance or better service after the fact.

I am a freak about wheel balance; Hogan Tire on Main Street in Waltham is easiest for me as far as location (I also use LFCG for many other items) and they calibrate daily. Bob is the owner and Rich is the manager, with Bill filling in for Rich sometimes.

All this being said, as long as DT doesn't have broken equipment they should be able to rectify your vibration -- this saves you from paying twice, at the very least. I would pursue having them re-do it before you travel elsewhere. It is an absolutely fair question when balancing wheels to ask when the machine was last calibrated. All they do is put the weights on precisely where the balancer indicates, so if you have a complaint they can be just as confused as you are -- but don't always think on their feet (busy day, don't care, etc) when considering how to fix it. I have found that calibration addresses almost all wheel balance issues, or at least confirms that there is in fact a larger problem (bend, broken belt) that should be looked at further.

alms_TT_ny

Thank you so much, its going in monday morning, this forum is great!

illbill

A couple of mine are bent too, had them for a couple years. I just told LFCG to do the best they can, cheapening out on the $75 to straighten them the last time. It drives fine.

meem

pretty sure he has oem alms tt wheels

illbill

"they told me all four of my 17 inch RS4 reps are bent."

meem

ah -- maybe he has those for winter and oem alms for summer.

Boston Driver

That sounds like a great tip!

alms_TT_ny

now I understand why you run 19's year round, my car looks so sad with 17's : (