hi guys,
got a new set of bk racing rims yesterday,205/40/r17.i fitted them to my mk7 escort,registered in august 2000.problems are steering wheel shaking from 40mph and above,it also happens when im braking and its even more severe when i do this.the car feels like it isnt gripping properly either,like only parts of the tyre is in contact with the tarmac.i cant understand what is wrong.ive gotten wheels re-balanced,lazer 4 wheel alignment has been checked today and problems still exist and suspension and bushes have been checked for damage also.nothing technically is wrong with the car.and neither are the wheels to be honest, they are brand new.the offset on these are et38.the escort is listed as being from et36 up to et41!!! my ford alloys are et41 but are 15 inchers and no probs with these ever.ive done everything possible to make it work but no joy,i cant understand it.have any of you experienced this problem at all? and did you overcome it? even if you didnt,please give me some of your comments or expertise please.im desperate to keep these wheels as they look fantastic on my car.
cheers,
davemk7.

 

do you have the centering rings?

 

have you used new wheel bolts? I had vibration at 70+ and used new bolts and got rid of it, put it down to a slighlty different taper on the bolt head thus centering the wheel better keeping it true to the hub.

 

firstly, there is no mk7 escort, its a mk6!

if you had steelies on before you MUST get new alloy wheel nuts as steelies aint big enough, i know of a few peeps that have not put the right nuts on and their wheels have come off!

as said, are the spigot rings on??

 

If the balancing has been done then it'll be one of 2 things
1. Spigot rings, as said above MUST be used- ford is 63.4mm
2. On the MK 6 Escorts there is a small disc retaining washer fitted to one of the 4 studs coming out of the hub on the front wheels. THIS MUST BE REMOVED . It looks like a little washer with small cuts in it.As said above you must use the correct alloy wheel nuts aswell. If you haven't got any, call me, I have a few hundred knocking about!

 

hi peeps,
ok,the spigot rings are in place and a good tight fit also i might add.checked the number on the ring and its 73.0!!! the nuts came with the wheels and fitted these tight also!! had ford alloys on before these ones and no probs at all.the washer thing is still on the bolt,but i will remove it now.i know for a fact it will not help me.
ive read the max power ford escort book and something was mentioned about cheapish tyres and alloys being a bad mixture as balancing was next to impossible.
this could also be a factor.but as it stands,the offset is ok,ya? the tyre size is 205/40/17 and appears to be fine.im scratching my head on this prob big time.
i just dont know what to do.
thanks for your replies.
davemk7.
and yes,i know all about the arguement that my car is not a mk7 but a mk6.
it is a mk7,technically!! just cosmetic changes to a mk6 before it hit the showroom.

 

If that is on that is the problem- trust me we do these all day.
73.0 is the o/d of the ring, this is also the size of the i/d of the centre of the wheel. Measure, properly the I/D of the ring and ensure it is 63.3-63.4mm across.
If this doesn't work, get it balanced else where as balancesr can be out. Ours needs callibrating every month- and it is the best you can buy!!

 

hi there,
its pissing rain outside so when it stops i'll take off the washer and measure the ring and the hub it fits to.do you reckon i need to order the spigots with the 63.4mm? i had a set of tooras before but the offset was 35 and didnt work,but the spigots were 63.4mm.i hope to god this works.also,alot of kwikfit types around my place said they could not balance my wheels are they were too big for the machine!! i went to a guy with a digital balancer where he had to input the wheel size and width first before balancing.does this machine sound like the right one for the job as he said all the other places had analogue balancers and his was brand new and state of the art? my tyres are federals by the way,they are on the cheap side.thanks for getting back to me anyway mate.
cheers,
dave.

 

offset will not determine whether or not the wheels will wobble.
They could be et 15 if you like and they'd be fine with no problems (other than arch mods)

 

hi cossymad,
you've solved my problem mate!! those two little washers (bastards) was causing all this grief.its amazing how much they throw the car off.nice one mate,all my thanks go to you.i know you only saw it as a small problem but to me it was huge!!!
thank god for the english modding scene,ye are light years ahead of us!
thanks mate,
cheers,
dave murphy.

 

 

Don't you just hate it when that happens oh well at least it is sorted now, well done cossymad very useful little tip there

 

hi,
ya,chomp chomp chomp chomping my own words there!!
i wouldnt mind,same probs on a fester before and these washers were removed also.thats why i said it.but how wrong was i!!!!! VERY!!!!
cheers to everyone.fitting kw suspension next week,no doubt i'll be back here asking more questions again!! anyways,wish you all could see the car with the bk's fitted.fooking gorgeous

 

best you get some pictures up then!"

 

will do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!