scugpg Posted July 16, 2011 Report Posted July 16, 2011 (edited) Seems trailer questions are appearing lots around here lately I recently picked up a set of new trailer tires and rims and I notice that they both have a slight wobble to them. DanD and I looked at them and I had them balanced but they are still not running true as we saw on the balancer. I've since got a replacement set of rims to go on and returning the others, however I notice a bit of a wobble with these as well when I put them on the trailer and spin them up. Is it normal for these smaller rims to not be 100% true? Also is there actually a place to get Canada/US made rims anymore? Everything I see is offshore. I know the rims are out a bit, but in addition to the rims could the axle/spindle be out a bit? Just wondering if I should take it to a trailer shop to have that checked as well. Thanks in advance guys! Edited July 17, 2011 by scugog
Terry Posted July 16, 2011 Report Posted July 16, 2011 are they 12" or smaller seems they don't put the same quality into the smaller tires
scugpg Posted July 16, 2011 Author Report Posted July 16, 2011 Hey Terry - they are 13's with Marathons
Terry Posted July 16, 2011 Report Posted July 16, 2011 are the bearings loose, that would amplify any wobble.. if you think the axle has a little bend/misalignment in it, just run it on the side of the road in the gravel, if the trailer tires kick up a lot more dust then your truck tires, then it could be bent/misaligned
smally21 Posted July 16, 2011 Report Posted July 16, 2011 elevate the trailer and push/pull on the tire like you were checking ball joints. tire shouldn't wobble much at all. spin it and see if it runs true. id guess a bearing issue for lack of any other idea. all axles are bent, it makes the camber on the tire proper and run straight. marathons are good tires, and no matter where they are made, the wheel was balanced. ived installed hundreds of the offshore rims you are talking about, but never had a wobbly wheel. now, how much were you drinking before all the wobbling started....
scugpg Posted July 16, 2011 Author Report Posted July 16, 2011 (edited) Rims are torqued and hubs are new just got 12 notch castle nuts instead of 8 to get them in perfect spot very little play Edited July 16, 2011 by scugog
Terry Posted July 16, 2011 Report Posted July 16, 2011 (edited) all axles are bent, it makes the camber on the tire proper and run straight. some axles are bent upward for camber and all that does is compensates for the deflection under load however if bent forward or back, it will make it run untrue trust me, I ripped 3 tires apart trying to get my trailer home with a bend in it but if that is the case you should notice a wear pattern on the leading side of the tire Edited July 16, 2011 by Terry
scugpg Posted July 16, 2011 Author Report Posted July 16, 2011 Its not a crazy wobble like its going to fall off but noticeable in rear view mirror maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch out
Rich Clemens Posted July 16, 2011 Report Posted July 16, 2011 however if bent forward or back, it will make it run untrue trust me, I ripped 3 tires apart trying to get my trailer home with a bend in it but if that is the case you should notice a wear pattern on the leading side of the tire Now that's very interesting. Checking out something very similar on my trailer right now. The outside edge of tread, just on one side, is really wearing down. Rest of the tread and the other tire is wearing normally. Less than 4000 miles on them. BPS thinks it's just the tire, but I'm having a hard-time believing that. No wobble on the tires and they seem to be running true. Interesting thread.
Terry Posted July 16, 2011 Report Posted July 16, 2011 easy to check measure form trailer to inside of tire front and back, they should be the same, if there is a big difference..that's your problem
scugpg Posted July 16, 2011 Author Report Posted July 16, 2011 (edited) For "fun" this afternoon I took one of the rims and hub off to make sure the races are in tight...which they were. Put the old hubs on and noticed similar behavior. Repacked the bearings and put the new hub back on. Here's a video of the Rim & Tire (which we verified is way out on the balancer), and one of just the new rim. You can see a noticeable wobble. Like I said the hubs are tight but they wheels also spin very smoothly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9sThmkQGy8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyQKFG1ohI4 Edited July 16, 2011 by scugog
zeeter Posted July 17, 2011 Report Posted July 17, 2011 Is it possible that the rim is bent from hitting a pot hole really hard? I've got the same problem. I replace the bearings and repacked everything with grease, but the tire still wobbles.
scugpg Posted July 17, 2011 Author Report Posted July 17, 2011 Is it possible that the rim is bent from hitting a pot hole really hard? I've got the same problem. I replace the bearings and repacked everything with grease, but the tire still wobbles. The ones without tires are brand new though and still wobbling. Either rim isn't true or something up with spindle etc. any ideas?
SlowPoke Posted July 17, 2011 Report Posted July 17, 2011 Is it normal for these smaller rims to not be 100% true? Also is there actually a place to get Canada/US made rims anymore? Everything I see is offshore. Yep, right here in London. I forget the name of the place but its on Firestone Blvd. at Clark and Gore. I'm not sure if they sell to the public though. Those rims are wayyy out; I think you'd blow a tire from flexing/heat in the sidewalls before they wear out prematurely. That would get you to Fanshaw and back without much trouble but I'd get it cured before heading out to the Kawartha's.
glen Posted July 17, 2011 Report Posted July 17, 2011 Great post and vids Scugog. "Here's a video of the Rim & Tire (which we verified is way out on the balancer)" So the rims are no good on the spindle or the balancer? It must be the rim then right?
Terry Posted July 17, 2011 Report Posted July 17, 2011 I would put a different rim on and spin.. or just the hub and look for wobble.......that rim sure does wobble
scugpg Posted July 17, 2011 Author Report Posted July 17, 2011 Wer could see the wobble on the balancer after the rim and tire were balanced. Haven't put the new rims on the balancer yet. I'll check the hubs.
Terry Posted July 17, 2011 Report Posted July 17, 2011 it is scarey ...13" rims should be better then that...
scugpg Posted July 17, 2011 Author Report Posted July 17, 2011 I put a straight edge against just the hub and spun it around several times and it seems consistent around the outside hub face. Maybe just a bad batch? New rims are the same design just galvanized.
scugpg Posted July 17, 2011 Author Report Posted July 17, 2011 I put the spare on today (which has been sitting for several years) on to see what it looked like. That one had a bit of wobble but seemed to be signifigantly less than the new ones. Not bad considering its been sitting for so long. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJAL_J5NJ5Y
SlowPoke Posted July 17, 2011 Report Posted July 17, 2011 Maybe we should go get them wet at Fanshaw and see if that makes a difference.
scugpg Posted July 17, 2011 Author Report Posted July 17, 2011 Yes we need to get out sometime its been a while! So what do you guys think? Just some bad luck with a batch of wheels?
SlowPoke Posted July 17, 2011 Report Posted July 17, 2011 Yeah. Check the bolt pattern, rim width and back spacing and visit the wrecker for some car rims. They'll probably run you $15 ea. + some paint and effort to make 'em look spiffy.
scugpg Posted July 18, 2011 Author Report Posted July 18, 2011 Verified with vendor today that I'm running the correct bearings and races to be sure. Going to put the new rims on the balancer tonight and also check the hubs again to see what the culprit(s) is and get this figured out.
irishfield Posted July 18, 2011 Report Posted July 18, 2011 (edited) Anyone near you have a dial indicator that you can clamp on to something and put against the face of the hub and turn to see runout?? I have a magnetic base mount in my shop... but I'm not there and you're not close. Edited July 18, 2011 by irishfield
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