Doc's 05 Tacoma Build Thread

[Dave Bennett]

Let me know next time you're in San Diego. I'd love to check out your rig in person. I'll buy the coffee.

Actually, I am trying to get a San Diego Meet and Greet together right now!

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8776

 

[Dave Bennett]

Hub Centric versus Lug Centric Wheel Balancing

There has been alot of debate lately about hub centric versus lug centric wheel balancing on the 05+ Tacoma's.

The party line is that our OEM wheels are "lug centric" vice "hub centric"... and that a Haweka adapter is needed to properly balance out.

I'm not debating the issue here but when balanced sans Haweka adapter, I have decent vibration at highway speed and required what I feel to be an excessive amount of lead weights both inside and outside the rim to balance out. So, I am going to re-balance the wheels using this method at the dealership. I'll post up my results soon.

http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/tsb/ToyotaLandCruiser/tsu00296.pdf

 

[HMR]

So, I am going to re-balance the wheels using this method at the dealership. I'll post up my results soon.

Thanks. I'll be awaiting the results as I contemplate new wheels/tires.

 

[Jacket]

Yea, mine vibrate pretty bad at around 50mph. I've just been lazy about addressing the issue. Big O says it's a problem with larger diameter BFG's, but I suspect it could be a lot better than it is.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Yea, mine vibrate pretty bad at around 50mph. I've just been lazy about addressing the issue. Big O says it's a problem with larger diameter BFG's, but I suspect it could be a lot better than it is.

Funny, they say the same thing about BFG's... I've had 33's before without shimmy so I know this is curable!

 

[slooowr6]

Yea, mine vibrate pretty bad at around 50mph. I've just been lazy about addressing the issue. Big O says it's a problem with larger diameter BFG's, but I suspect it could be a lot better than it is.

Maybe try have Big-O rebalanced it and watch it on the side check if they use the adapter or not?

 

[Jacket]

They used a Roadforce balancer with some sort of adapter - can't say for sure if it was the Haweka.

 

[Dave Bennett]

They used a Roadforce balancer with some sort of adapter - can't say for sure if it was the Haweka.

Sounds like the same setup they used on mine at the tire shop (Roadforce)... I hope the Haweka setup makes a difference.

 

[HMR]

Tacodoc- Keep us posted on what you find. I bought a set of 16" TRD wheels today to replace my 17" TRD Sport wheels. Hoping I don't have any problems getting things balanced.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Tacodoc- Keep us posted on what you find. I bought a set of 16" TRD wheels today to replace my 17" TRD Sport wheels. Hoping I don't have any problems getting things balanced.

Give me a week or so... stay tuned.

 

[Schattenjager]

When I had my 235/85's mounted - the left rear wobbled horribly. After a few attempts at a re-balance the tire pro at Big O told me I had radial pull. I said "Bull" I asked them to dismount the tire and rotate it a little then remount it. Problem was solved. I guess the variations in wheels and tires can sometimes equal a problem. Might even try swapping tires and rims around if this happens again.

 

[Dave Bennett]

She goes in on monday for the Haweka balancing and an oil change. This may help but I fear the BFG MT's may be to blame. I may need a front end alignment as well as I have noticed a slight pull to starboard. I'll wait until after the Anzo-Borrego run next weekend before I consider an alignment. Finally turned over 40,000 miles...

 

[greenhorn]

I've been down this road. When it is in for the balance, the machine they use for the roadforce should be a Hunter GSP9700. It is an excellent machine when used correctly. The problem is 95% of the shops don't use the machine to its designed potential. The machine will tell you the roadforce in lbs. for the tire. There is an acceptable limit, and after that the tire is considered bad. I always watch them do my tires, so I can see for myself if the tires are bad, and if they use the machine correctly. I forget the exact number. I bought a set of BFG AT's for a 4Runner a while back and two of the four had to be sent back to the factory.
The thing that this machine will do that most tire shops won't "waste time" on, is that this machine will tell you exactly where to rotate the tire on the rim to give the best ride and least amount of weight. It measures tire and rim runout, uniformity of the tire, and other radial-force related problems. To do this though, they need to mount-balance on machine-dismount-remount in the correct position on the rim-rebalance on machine. It is a pain for the shops, but it is the only way to get vibe free. Most new cars come from the factory mounted using this method. They don't want to loose a sale from a test drive with a car with easily and cheaply solved vibration problems.
You are halfway there by using the Haweka adapter (it mounts the tire to the balancing machine using the lugholes, not the center hole in the rim) and roadforce machine. Just make sure they are using the machine the way Hunter designed it to be used. Sometimes you need to be persistant. Good luck. Here is more info on the machine:
http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/balancer/4159T/index.htm

PS- Awsome truck, by the way!

 

[Dave Bennett]

Gearing for 255's

Thanks Greenhorn!

Another issue on my mod horizon is gearing. I now have OEM 3.73's... so far it has been OK but I will go lower eventually.

According to this chart, I would need 4.27's. The problem is - 4.27's do not exist for our trucks so 4.56 is the best compromise IMO.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Haweka

OK, the Lug-centric tire balancing method through the dealership worked.

Less vibration now and MUCH less lead weights used to balance each tire ( I had an ungodly amount of weights on each one before...)

And now, my truck no longer pulls to the right! Great Success!

http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/tsb/ToyotaLandCruiser/tsu00296.pdf