New Rims....new Problem

[Jack-]

Recently got some 2nd hand Volk te37s, got them balanced and after they were put on got all of the wheels aligned, and was told I have slightly negative camber in the front...(dunno if this is whats doing it...). They are 18 x 8.5 fronts and 18 x 9.5 rears on an R34. The back tires came with the rims and are chewed up pretty bad, fronts are fine.

I put them on my car and went for a cruise and noticed that my car seems to get stuck in ruts on the road and swerve from left to right or right to left on the road in these ruts sort of thing, like its always swerving both ways by itself.... Never did this before on my stock rims and never heard of a car doing this :S

Anybody had this experienced and fixed it, or know whats going on? I have no idea! Any help's appreciated.

Plan on getting new back tires to see if that'll fix it but I doubt it will, so if anyone can shed some light, I'd be forever greatful, thanks!

- Jack

[Moodles2]

GTR by any chance? Might be the ATTESSA acing up because of the different width rims front and rear

[blind_elk]

What air pressure in the fronts? What are the actual alignment figures ("toe" in particular)

BTW - in Oz, we fit "tyres" on rims (only yanks fit "tires")

[BstewyR33]

i'd be getting a tyre shop to check it out for ya, you might be up for new tyres. ^^^^ like what was said above get them to check the toe & all other alignments

you might have a tyre that looks like __/''''' (highspot)

[blind_elk]

Also, it used to be that radial tyres got used to rotating primarily in one particular direction. If you then swap sides with them, so they rotate primarily in the opposite direction, the belts go all funny and you get symptoms of a bad alignment.

[Jack-]

It isn't a GTR. Before you have a crack at grammatical errors, check the time I posted it; tired!

I've taken it to tyre shops tired to explain they just blame alignment or balancing....I need to get them to drive it to make them understand. Its like its getting stuck in ruts and swerves both left and right...

I'm getting new back tyres this week although I doubt this will solve the problem due to the fronts being the ones that actually steer. When I get the tyres I'll ask them to check the toe elk, dunno what it is though and make sure the air pressure is correct... I'll let you know how it goes, cheers guys!!

[bradsm87]

Get a wheel alignment and see if it's still there. I know the feeling and it can be because of the larger scrub radius of using wheels with less than stock offset. Alignment should help a lot. More caster will also help a lot so consider a whiteline caster kit or similar.

[BASHO]

Check your shockys..

I had a slight tracking problem with roadruts, liked to follow camber a bit to keenly especialy to the left , had a front and rear wheel align nothing realy out but ($60 flung out).

Got a slight clink at slow speeds on little bumps on passenger side took it in for a check, turns out I had a blown nearside front shocky so ($45 flung out) replaced it myself ($205.57 invested), no more tracking drives lovely.

Decided to check the rears myself on a whim (no $) and---fric my old boots---drivers side rear seeping, obviously for a fair period of time, replaced myself ($173.01 invested) drives even lovelier.

R34GTT on Nexen 225x45x17.

[Jack-]

I've already got them balanced and had them all aligned..... first thing I did. Pretty sure the offset is like +30 or something or +45 cant remember.....

[bradsm87]

They prob only aligned toe. Most alignments from workshops are useless. Bigger wider wheels with low profile tyres do make existing problems much more noticeable.

[Jack-]

Right well, I'm getting new back tyres in a few days and while they're at it what should I ask them to check/align?

[Scooby]

sounds just like tramlining. get them to check all the settings against stock. if OK, and there are no obvious issues with dampers or worn / loose components then a really good suspension place could try and dial it out to some extent with different settings, and tyres with harder sidewalls will help but IMHO there isn't much you can do about it.

[Jack-]

Hm, a tyre with a harder wall may help, what do you mean by "get them to check all the settings against stock?"