Oh Man! What the Dealer Did !!!

[MADDOG`]

I just picked up my new 300C Thursday. The dealer has installed a grille cover and lower fascia covers which look nice. They also installed some GenX Exxen 20's.

At about 58mph and higher, I had a serious vibration front and rear with a shakin' steering wheel. The faster I went, the harder it shook!

Went to the local tire store I have dealt with in the past (20's on the Yukon, 20's on the ImpalaSS, etc...) and found that:

1) Wheels are not hub centric - no problem if you install rings - but no rings were installed.

2) Wheel & Tire balance was not correct. One the driver side rear, they were out almost 3.5 oz. Apparently there was a reason for that...

3) The driver's side rear wheel has a flat spot (bounced up over a curb?) and won't run true.

4) The shop used the stock lugnuts which wouldn't totally seat against the inside of the lug hole!

Dealer is a good one, though. The sales manager had me take him to the shop that provided and installed the wheels and tires. Replaced the lugnuts with a set that will totally seat at the base of the lug hole and installed hub rings. They had a new machine that allows them to balance all axis and runout. Nothing they could do regarding the rear wheel except to get me a new one which should show up late next week.

Ran it out on the freeway, up to 100mph , and it's much better although that rear wheel still vibrates.

If the wheels continue to be a problem after the new rear wheel is installed, I've already got the dealer's commitment that they will re-install the factory 18's, write me a check to cover the returned wheels and I'll go to my favorite shop and purchase some better wheels.

So, if you have a 300 with aftermarket wheels installed by the dealer, I suggest you check them out to make sure you are safe. Especially whether or not the wheels are hub centric (back flange of the wheel mates up to the front hub) or are not hub centric but rings have been installed to properly mate the wheels to the hub.

[JimmyBamSlam]

Sorry about your luck. At least the dealer gave you a satisfactory resolution without you having to pull your hair out. Sometimes $h!t happens!

[MADDOG`]

Originally Posted by JimmyBamSlam

Sorry about your luck. At least the dealer gave you a satisfactory resolution without you having to pull your hair out. Sometimes $h!t happens!

Yeah...some dealers would just throw their hands up in the air and ask, "Well, what do you want US to do about it? You bought the car." This dealer, though, is good about those sorts of things. They've treated me well in the past and that's why I went back to them.

But...about the shop that installed the wheels...the owner is very knowledgeable and has good equipment in his shop. What happened on the day my wheels were installed? Asleep at the "wheel"? In too much of a hurry? Wasn't watching the tech who installed them? Just didn't care at that moment?

He seems genuinely concerned about what I found and wants to make it right so I'm gonna work with him up to the point there's no other fixes that will make it right. Then, back to the dealer for the stock wheels and a check.

Yeah, it's a hassle but it's less of a hassle than it could have been.

[NotYet]

My wheels are going on today and you'd better believe I'm going to be watchin' them like a hawk. I am going to insist one of their techs (preferably the one who installs my wheels) goes w/ me on the initial test drive after the install. If I'm not 100% satisfied (no shake, no shimmy, no wobble, no etc......), they'll be taking them off and refunding my money.

What do you suspect might be the cause for your rear wheels still vibrating? You got the rings and the correct lugs. Perhaps its still out of balance or has a flat spot?? I'm sooo nervous about them screwing mine up. Do you suggest getting the car aligned immediately after the wheel install?

[pmpn8ez]

Notyeta......you wont need an alignment with just changing wheels......only if you alter the drop.........

[MADDOG`]

notyeta300cowner - the driver's side rear has a flat spot. prolly some test driver ran it up and into a curb. in any event, the shop that installed the wheels has ordered a new one for me and it should be here the end of the week. they'll replace it, dynamically 3 axis balance the whole assembly and install it.

then i'll run it out on an open highway up to 100+ and make note of any vibration or shaking and at what mph it occurs. the other three feel fine now, thanks to the shop taking their time with each and every wheel/tire the other day at the shop. my belief is that they could have done this right the first time and not have to do it a second time except for the damage to the one wheel which isn't their fault. but...i gotta hand them kudos for being willing to replace the wheel, install the hub rings, do a rigorous balance and replacing the lug nuts at no charge. that's good customer service in my book.

[stealthsrt8]

Originally Posted by NotYeta300cOwner

My wheels are going on today and you'd better believe I'm going to be watchin' them like a hawk. I am going to insist one of their techs (preferably the one who installs my wheels) goes w/ me on the initial test drive after the install. If I'm not 100% satisfied (no shake, no shimmy, no wobble, no etc......), they'll be taking them off and refunding my money.

What do you suspect might be the cause for your rear wheels still vibrating? You got the rings and the correct lugs. Perhaps its still out of balance or has a flat spot?? I'm sooo nervous about them screwing mine up. Do you suggest getting the car aligned immediately after the wheel install?

i'd get the alignment. it's very cheap compared to buying two new tires. eventhough your car was brand new, there are several things that could have happened to put your fronts out of alignment. if i'm not mistaken, you get one free during the first 12 months/12,000 miles. might as well get it done after the new shoes go on.