Wheels Will Not Balance

[dsirjuesingh]

I just drove back from Toronto to NJ and could not drive over 70mph...annoying. feel like an old man in an old Caddie, not a V8 Explorer.
Ford suck, and i am seriously thinking of getting an attorney.

 

[Mike10]

So heres the deal, although the Ford dealer is has factory trained Technicians who are very competent to work on the mechanical and electrical aspects of your vehilce, not a single one of them is a tire expert.

If you have the Pirelli's, find a Pirelli tire dealer and tell them whats going on. They will look to see if you have slipped belts or if they can rebalance them.
Worst case, it'll cost you $20 bucks each for the balancing.

If it corrects the problem, send the bill and a note to Ford stating that you had to go outside, but it is now fixed. Chances are they will send you a gift certiticate to use at a Ford dealer.

If the Tire delaer cant fix the problem, contact Pirelli, there is a slim chance that there may be a product or compatability issue.


Good Luck.

 

[waskly]

Not sure if this will fall into the lemon law. I am in NJ and I remember siging a document at time of purchase about lemon laws.

Would it make a difference as I lease the car? In my opinion this is Ford's vehicle and I simply rent it.

call ford, get them involved.

on a side note if its over the legal speed limit for that state or the roads/high ways by the dealership dont expect a fix.

 

[waskly]

I have a 2010 V8 AWD that I bought in March of this year. It came with the polished 20 inch aluminum rims and low profile tires, all stock by Ford. Since day 1 at about 68mph and onwards to 75mph I can feel that the wheels are not balanced, there is a slight shimmy in the steering wheel and the car simply 'rumbles' down the road. Really uncomfortable, especially for my pregnant wife.
Ford have re-balanced the car 5 times including a Forced Road Balance and now tell me that is how the car is supposed to drive; 'its the combination of the rimes and tires and this is the best you can get'.
They will not accept that is could be a defective tire or a warped brake rotor and tell me not to drive over 65mph and that will cure the problem.

Is anyone else having similar issues? I would like to hear from others.

Many thanks.



DRS

could be hubs, rotors, high spots, etc alot of factors will give a vibration at 75 mph. or even bent rims. 20's low profile any make bend real fast on terrible roads.

 

[stocked]

You could always tell them that you recently took a trip to West Virginia (where the speed limits are 70mph), and that while doing the LEGAL speed limits there you experienced alot of problems... Also it would pay to tell them that you will not accept a vehicle that can't be driven in many states at the legal speed limits without problems. There are legal limits in the country that are up to even 80mph... So fight it.

Link to National Speed Limits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_the_United_States#No_speed_limit

 

[snoranger]

I think its time to push ford a little harder:

Is your vehicle a lemon?
A new motor vehicle is presumed to be a lemon if it has one or more defects that continue to exist after three attempts at repairs, OR after the vehicle has been out of service for a total of 20 cumulative calendar days. The Lemon Law requires that the consumer write to the manufacturer giving notification of one last chance to repair the defect (see page 3 for more information about this process). To qualify under the Lemon Law, the defect must substantially impair the use, value or safety of the vehicle. However, the Lemon Law does not cover defects caused by an accident, vandalism, abuse or neglect. It also does not cover defects caused by attempts to repair or to modify the vehicle by a person other than the manufacturer, its agent or an authorized dealer.

Find the rest here:

http://www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/ocp/lemguide.htm#lemguide.htm1


And that BS about the speed limit is only 65 so slow down. NJ isnt the only state, and some of them allow us to travel faster then 65.

 

[waskly]

I think its time to push ford a little harder:



Find the rest here:

http://www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/ocp/lemguide.htm#lemguide.htm1


And that BS about the speed limit is only 65 so slow down. NJ isnt the only state, and some of them allow us to travel faster then 65.

actually he would lose the lemon law over faults over the speed limit. less he moved to a state with a 75mph roadways.

or bring it to a dealer with 75 mph hwys.

 

[dsirjuesingh]

Thanks everyone with the advice, this is exactly what I need. I will go forward and have a Pirelli dealer look at the tires.
On the lemon law and the whole speed limit thing. My stand is that if Ford say that I am driving the car too fast and therefore breaking the law so they will not look at it then they too are at fault as far as the law goes in designing and manufacturing a car that is capable of breaking the speed limit. The law works both ways don't you think.
This so damn frustrating to think I pay over $600 a month for this vehicle and this is my 4th Explorer. I would have thought that customer loyalty meant something,
I called Customer care who left me a voice mail to state that they will not look at the car and that they state the car works properly and they wont even have the balls or decency to return my call.
My wife drives this car and is pregnant with twin girls, if one of these tires separate and anything happens to her, well I just don't want to think about that.

 

[waskly]

this is imo, slow down.

that part of throwing a preg wife with twins speed is actually some thing to think about.

as for the dealer, they are correct, you can actually get around this, goto a dealer that is in a 75 mph zone. this i dont think exists in nj only thing i can think of. then it would be a fixable issues. only problem with this option is there is no 75 mph hwys in the tri state area.

 

[dsirjuesingh]

Imo? Not sure what this means.

Now to the issue of speed, it does not matter if I am driving at 65 or any other speed above that. There is no one out there that actually NEVER exceeds 65mph. Sometimes you have to just to pass another vehicle on the highway. The actual issue is the fact that the car has a fault as determined by me, the driver, the consumer and the person paying a lot of money for this car, and that Ford are totally ignoring the fact or not paying proper attention to it.

In a world where just had the Toyota scandal and that Ford had issues with tires before you would think they would do something about it.

Right now I am sick of major corporations taking the stance that the customer is not right unless they say so and i am going to take a stand against this.

The advice from this thread has been brilliant. Please keep it coming and I will continue to keep you all updated as well as ask questions.

 

[waskly]

Imo? Not sure what this means.

Now to the issue of speed, it does not matter if I am driving at 65 or any other speed above that. There is no one out there that actually NEVER exceeds 65mph. Sometimes you have to just to pass another vehicle on the highway. The actual issue is the fact that the car has a fault as determined by me, the driver, the consumer and the person paying a lot of money for this car, and that Ford are totally ignoring the fact or not paying proper attention to it.

In a world where just had the Toyota scandal and that Ford had issues with tires before you would think they would do something about it.

Right now I am sick of major corporations taking the stance that the customer is not right unless they say so and i am going to take a stand against this.

The advice from this thread has been brilliant. Please keep it coming and I will continue to keep you all updated as well as ask questions.

imo == in my opinion.

the fact that they are correct, it performs as it should up to the rated speed limit. anything over your being a retard and putting your life in danger.

its also against the law, which means they dont have to do anything about it.

i never said people dont speed, but by society you are are braking a law, this is not eu and we have no autobahn in the states with no speed limits.

also they are correct who says its a fault, if every explorer with 20 low profile acts the same its a characteristic of the vehicle.

you dont like the ride quality of a low profile tire put regular tires on it.....

you lose ride quality with low pro's this is a know fact.....


you can try lemon law, don't think you will win over speeding tho, while the vehicle operates normally driving at posted speed limits.

you remind me of some crazy fool complaing his expidtion has a noise at 90 mph.... he even tried a lemon law, and that was lost.

 

[dsirjuesingh]

Hey Waskly,

thanks for your insight into all this, but in my opinion I dont need a lecture on the boundaries of the law as far as speeding is concerned. You, like all of us speed everyday, even if its 1mph over the posted speed limit. Thats still speeding.
Let me reiterate one more time. Ford are being a**holes about this. Its not about a speed issue, its about the fact that I feel there is an inherent problem with the ride. After having 4 explorers and this is the first time it happened I think I should be listened to. As far as your advice about putting regular tires on it this is what came with the car and therefore in Ford's mind this is the tire and wheel combo that has been designed for that particular model. there is no special order.
As far as ride quality is reduced with low profile tires, I have to disagree. I have a 2008 MB C350 Sports Sedan with AMG 19' wheels and low profile Continental tires that drives beautifully. But as I said this is all IMO.

 

[OneLever]

You could always tell them that you recently took a trip to West Virginia (where the speed limits are 70mph), and that while doing the LEGAL speed limits there you experienced alot of problems... Also it would pay to tell them that you will not accept a vehicle that can't be driven in many states at the legal speed limits without problems. There are legal limits in the country that are up to even 80mph... So fight it.

Link to National Speed Limits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_the_United_States#No_speed_limit

The statement of 65mph being a speed limit and thus absolving Ford from fixing the problem is moot. There are several states where 70mph is the posted legal speed limit, West Virginia being one I distinctly remember. To claim that a passenger vehicle sold in the USA is limited to operation in only one state is ludicrous. Post #16 by Equnoxe gives the root of the reason they are giving you these problems I think. Besides depreciation this is another reason not to buy new vehicles: the kinks haven't been worked out.

If you have enough money to stand up on the matter of principle I would start looking into ways of dealing with this legally. It will take a long time and cost a bit, but if you have the money there are many legal ways to raise a stink till something happens. If you are like most of us on here and have limited funds then what Mike10 said in post #22 is probably the best option.

And no matter what you choose if you don't feel safe driving legally above 65mph then don't. You can be right or you can be dead right.

 

[waskly]

Hey Waskly,

thanks for your insight into all this, but in my opinion I dont need a lecture on the boundaries of the law as far as speeding is concerned. You, like all of us speed everyday, even if its 1mph over the posted speed limit. Thats still speeding.
Let me reiterate one more time. Ford are being a**holes about this. Its not about a speed issue, its about the fact that I feel there is an inherent problem with the ride. After having 4 explorers and this is the first time it happened I think I should be listened to. As far as your advice about putting regular tires on it this is what came with the car and therefore in Ford's mind this is the tire and wheel combo that has been designed for that particular model. there is no special order.
As far as ride quality is reduced with low profile tires, I have to disagree. I have a 2008 MB C350 Sports Sedan with AMG 19' wheels and low profile Continental tires that drives beautifully. But as I said this is all IMO.

they are being a holes cause they have no where safely to fix your vehicle, your concern is at 75 the max speed by law is 65. while yes we do speed, they are taking the responsibility of your vehicle, would you want someone speeding, getting into an accident while diagnosis a problem at 75?

again its a safety matter only way around this is togo a state where the speed limit is higher.

as frustrating as that sounds, they have tools, they have to drive and record the the tool for vibration noise, etc. it needs to be that the vehicle can be operated in a safe, and following all rules of the road. the people doing repairs do not get a oh your fixing a car no problem here you go.

only thing that can be done is road force balance if they did that, on trial and error. and its still persistent. you have options of regular sidewall tires since they quality that the 20's give does not meet your needs.

also you can call ford finacing and while its being worked on not pay. you can also try to return the lease for that concern also. but in the end you would need to do it at a dealership where state speed laws are higher.

 

[dsirjuesingh]

The story continues. Went into NYC tonight, using I280. A brand new resurfaced highway and I felt the problem at 56mph then ant about 61 mph...seriously this has got to be the belt in one or more of the tires causing a problem?

 

[waskly]

The story continues. Went into NYC tonight, using I280. A brand new resurfaced highway and I felt the problem at 56mph then ant about 61 mph...seriously this has got to be the belt in one or more of the tires causing a problem?

if it happens at 56 complain! bring it in, show it to the tech, call the 1800-ford number. etc. get a fse involved.

 

[Limited02]

I bought brand new Firestones AT's that I had rebalanced 8 times in 7 months. Original tires that they replaced didn't ever shake. They roadforced them and found two bad tires, replaced and the problem was still there. Ended up selling them and putting 20's on, cured the problem.

So I believe you have a tire issue. Look for another explorer with 20's on the lot and ask to test drive it. If it's as smooth as a babys butt at 70, then you have something to compare it too?

 

[dsirjuesingh]

Limited02....Great advice, I am going forward on that as well as taking the car to a Pirelli dealer and have then take the tires off and check them.
Does anyone know what to look for, even if minute, when the tires are off that would cause the shimmy and bounce? How do i see a failed belt?

 

[jrford]

Sorry for the long winded reply. . .

For some ideas try searching google for "Ford 20 low profile tires vibration" seems a few others 'might be' having a similar issue.
http://forums.focaljet.com/svt-headquarters/448423-steering-wheel-vibration.html
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/998827-found-source-of-vibration-2.html

Posts by swetrid, Mike10 has some very good advice.

Most likely its one of the tires with a manufacturing defect, shifted belt, tread separation or something, and/or could also be a defect in one of the rims. You can feel it as a little bump on the tread or sidewall, similar to a blister.

I bought some new 'stock' tires 245/75-17's on stock rims and also had a vibration issue. But not like yours but some tips hopefully: One of the rims threw a weight right in the parking lot. Took it back a few days later and watched him rebalanced it, he had to add an ounce. Sometimes you can watch them balance, the little LED's on the Machine will read '0.00' when balanced. One trick is to ask if they will just check and add weights don't remove all weights and balance; this will see if they can get a consistent balance. Or as soon as you pick it up take a couple of pics or mark where the weights are, monitor and see if you’re losing any.

Another thing i noticed (since yours is a 2010 this shouldn't apply) but there sometimes some corrosion build up on the hub/rim which prevents a good seat, cleaning them up helps. It can also throw off the balance as the rim doesn’t mount consistently on the machine.

With so many tire mounts and dismounts, they might have warped the rotors. I always check after someone else removes my rim. Once i got close to 200ft/lbs on one and the rest 90ft/lbs; the guy used one of the sticks. Happens a lot more than you would think.

Again being so new I don’t think its the wheel bearings, tie rod ends, shocks all front and rear but any of these can cause it too. Might as well as mention drive shafts, half shafts, and anything that spins while moving. Some shops will put it on a hoist and have someone run it in gear (yes up to 70mph but for very short time) and confirm the vibration; after which they remove things until it goes away.

I thought there was a Ford Test for this, called a ‘NVH’ or ‘noise vibration and harshness’ test. They mount some sensors on the frame or such and supposedly it can tell the ‘What and where’ the vibration is coming from.

For crying out loud the speed limit in Detroit where its designed is 70mph, tickets usually are 15mph over. . .so most (not I however) do about 85-90mph around here, on a side not I thought the limiter was set to 105mph, truck was designed to handle that speed (imho).

just some ideas. . .

 

[waskly]

For crying out loud the speed limit in Detroit where its designed is 70mph, tickets usually are 15mph over. . .so most (not I however) do about 85-90mph around here, on a side not I thought the limiter was set to 105mph, truck was designed to handle that speed (imho).

just some ideas. . .

plain and simple you are 100% wrong in every aspect of that.