HAPPENINGS! Got the Murdersofa new shoes!

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
09/24/2014 at 21:05 • Filed to: murdersofa

Ended up paying $298 for all four wheels and tires.

Thoughts:

DEAR GOD MY ALIGNMENT IS SO TERRIBLE

Steering is SO CRISP now

I can feel EVERYTHING on the road

These tires start squealing at about the same time as my old ones, but grip more regardless

Vibration at 65mph. Dunno what that's about.

Below 60 everything is so smooth it feels like something is broken. It's bizarre after a lifetime of constant vibration.

Import-style wheels don't look as bad on a domestic car as I thought they would

DISCUSSION (27)

JGrabowMSt > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:09

Vibration around 65 is your balance most likely (or your wheel bearings, one or the other). Get alignment and balance together and it should fix a lot of things for you. If the vibration doesn't go away, you need wheel bearings.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > JGrabowMSt
09/24/2014 at 21:11

Just got new bearings all around. I think an alignment is needed. It feels like either the camber or toe is wrong and the wheels want to pull apart from each other, and at 65 they start slipping at an angle.

About how much is a full alignment?

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:12

DUDE IT LOOKS SOOOOO GOOD NOW!!!

I own dead car brands only > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:12

check to make sure the wheels are hubcentric.

My citroen won't start > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:13

Check your wheel weights.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier
09/24/2014 at 21:13

Haha thanks! These wheels are super polarizing.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > I own dead car brands only
09/24/2014 at 21:13

They are.

JGrabowMSt > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:13

Your alignment is probably way out then. By me, it varies. There's a really respectable shop that charges $70 and is appointment only. There's another shop by me that I've had trouble with in the past, and they rape your wallet for $110. Needless to say, the $70 shop will have all of my future alignment business because of how well they treated me when I took in a car that couldn't be aligned (bad control arm bushings).

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:13

I've paid about $100 bucks at the dealer to get an alignment all the way up to $170ish at Merchants Tire but theirs included a 3 year warranty.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:13

Are they the ones from Craigslist?

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:14

The more black the better!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
09/24/2014 at 21:16

yep. Mario's Tire shop in NW Wichita. Fantastic place, super inexpensive everything.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:16

Bring it out to me, I can align it for the cost of one race. (I have access to an alignment rack at my college)

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:17

Huh, when I have monies I may have to check out some wheels and tires for the LOLwagen

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier
09/24/2014 at 21:18

I feel like the gas to drive to you (I forget where you're at but for some reason I'm thinking Missouri?) would be more than just getting it aligned here in town :P

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:21

I'm in CT....and most likely.

Trunk Impaired 318 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:22

This could be the first and last time I ever say this but its time for some lowering springs on a Buick. Otherwise it looks good!! Definitely have your wheels balanced, that should solve your vibration issues.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Trunk Impaired 318
09/24/2014 at 21:24

I wish I could find lowering springs for this car. Everything is for the Pontiac Grand Am/Prix/whatever that platform is. Poor LeSabre/Park Avenue/Bonneville gets neglected in the aftermarket parts department :(

Trunk Impaired 318 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:25

I feel like there has to be something out there that would fit the LeSabre

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Trunk Impaired 318
09/24/2014 at 21:26

According to Rockauto the only cars that share the same struts as the LeSabre are the Bonneville and Park Avenue.

EL_ULY > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:27

me gustaaa!!!!!!

Trunk Impaired 318 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:35

Assuming the suspension geometry and chassis is similar enough could you find some struts from a Grand Prix and swap them in? Ive never really thought about something like that but if they can safely by installed it should work, in my mind at least.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Trunk Impaired 318
09/24/2014 at 21:37

I'll have to check with a friend of mine that has lots of parts cars and such lying around. He might have a Grand Prix that we could use as a parts donor

midengineer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 21:37

Nice! I found some wheels for free, hopefully I can pick them up this weekend if they fit Mister. Just need to find some good tires that will fit.

Vicente Esteve > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 22:40

Very cool looking man, keep it up!

Jay Lauer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/24/2014 at 23:59

Vibration is normally due to wheel balance, but an alignment never hurts. Atlas Spring & Axle in town does my alignments when I need them. I think it's about $70 or so, made by appointment.

They did my old GTO back in June and helped it out a TON with just an alignment.

George McNally > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/28/2014 at 19:06

If your balance/vibration problems after you get it aligned.....there are places that balance the tire/wheel while it is still on the vehicle. Not sure how much it cost though......