Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
+6
chevellelaguna
driveit
Tom77
bracketchev1221
thatfnthing
Joe73
10 posters
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Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
So I have these wheels on my station wagon and while they look cool I can't seem to get them balanced. Over 60MPH I get a bad vibration that makes freeway cruising like sitting on a vibrating bed.
I balanced the wheels myself with help from my school's auto mechanics instructor so I am pretty sure the wheels themselves are balanced, but I've heard that the uni-lug pattern can be hard to center on the wheel studs. Anyone have experience with these? I'm considering dumping them (they were a bargain at $200 for 4) for proper "direct drill" wheels.
I balanced the wheels myself with help from my school's auto mechanics instructor so I am pretty sure the wheels themselves are balanced, but I've heard that the uni-lug pattern can be hard to center on the wheel studs. Anyone have experience with these? I'm considering dumping them (they were a bargain at $200 for 4) for proper "direct drill" wheels.
dhw3971- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 3
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
Just to clarify, did you spin just the rim first without the tire. When you spin just the rim, you can see a wobble which would indicate a bent rim. So, if that is the case and all 4 rims were spun without the tires, that would indicate that the rims themselves are not bent. Then, with tires mounted and balanced I would say that it is in fact a unilug issue. The rim needs to be mounted concentrically on the hub, to avoid a vibration. The other more significant issue is from a safety standpoint. With a unilug rim you are relying on the studs themselves to carry the weight of the wheel, this is a dangerous situation. The wheel should always be supported by the machined hub on the axle flange or hub on the front rotor. You can buy spacers that slip over the hub and fit the center hole of your rim. That to me is just a band aid fix. Get the correct 5 on 4 3/4 bolt spacing rims for you wagon and the vibration should go away. I've used unilug rims, they are a pain to align every time you put them back on. And no matter how close you get them concentrically mounted, they still have a tendancy to vibrate.
chevellelaguna- G3GM Enthusiast
- Street Cred : 16
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
I work at a tire shop, and i've always been told that Crager SS's are problematic when it comes to balancing. I think it has to do with the design, and since they are unilug they cant be pin plated using the lug holes. If you can find a old school place the still has a bubble balancer that may just fix your problem.
dynchel- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 40
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
All good advice, thank you!
no, I didn't spin the wheels without the tires, so I don't know for certain that the rims aren't bent. I have one shop in town who I trust to work on the old girl, and if they can't solve the problem then I'm going to get new wheels (already have them on my Summit Racing wish list). unfortunately, I've got to wait until April when all the damn snow is gone...
what is a bubble balancer?
no, I didn't spin the wheels without the tires, so I don't know for certain that the rims aren't bent. I have one shop in town who I trust to work on the old girl, and if they can't solve the problem then I'm going to get new wheels (already have them on my Summit Racing wish list). unfortunately, I've got to wait until April when all the damn snow is gone...
what is a bubble balancer?
dhw3971- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 3
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
I'm curious as to what is vibrating above 60mph? Is it the whole car? Is it the steering wheel? This is what I would do first since it looks like you put some good time into correctly balancing them.
Drive it over 60 mph. Does the steering wheel shake left to right? If so, then the front wheels are out of balance.
If not, put the front wheels on the back and the back wheels on the front. Drive it over 60 mph. Does the steering wheel shake left to right?
If so, then the wheels you just put on the front are out of balance.
If neither is shaking the steering wheel "left to right", not just a vibration, I'd look elsewhere as to what is out of balance.
Anyone you know have a set of wheels that would fit your car so you can take it for a ride to see if you still have the vibration?
For the fun of it, slide under the car and check the perimeter of the driveshaft for missing balance weights.
Check your motor mounts. Rev the car at the carb and see if the motor lift excessively to where the fan might touch the fan shroud. If the mounts are good, check the tranny mount. Jack up the tail of the trans (in front of the crossmember) SLIGHTLY to see if the mount separates.
If the vibration is through the whole car, check you harmonic balancer. If its original, the rubber (elastomer) is probably deteriorated and it slipped. I ran into that problem once that was a pain to find.
Just some things to try. But switching wheels with another car is the easiest.
Good luck with it.
Drive it over 60 mph. Does the steering wheel shake left to right? If so, then the front wheels are out of balance.
If not, put the front wheels on the back and the back wheels on the front. Drive it over 60 mph. Does the steering wheel shake left to right?
If so, then the wheels you just put on the front are out of balance.
If neither is shaking the steering wheel "left to right", not just a vibration, I'd look elsewhere as to what is out of balance.
Anyone you know have a set of wheels that would fit your car so you can take it for a ride to see if you still have the vibration?
For the fun of it, slide under the car and check the perimeter of the driveshaft for missing balance weights.
Check your motor mounts. Rev the car at the carb and see if the motor lift excessively to where the fan might touch the fan shroud. If the mounts are good, check the tranny mount. Jack up the tail of the trans (in front of the crossmember) SLIGHTLY to see if the mount separates.
If the vibration is through the whole car, check you harmonic balancer. If its original, the rubber (elastomer) is probably deteriorated and it slipped. I ran into that problem once that was a pain to find.
Just some things to try. But switching wheels with another car is the easiest.
Good luck with it.
Joe73- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 83
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
Dumb Q: Are you sure it's the wheels? A vibe at high speed can also be a bad u-joint on the driveshaft.
thatfnthing- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 65
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
I'm pretty sure it's the wheels because I removed steel Rally wheels and put on these used Cragars. I recall having no vibration and a smoooth ride with the steel wheels.
The motor mounts were replaced last summer and the trans mount has been replaced too.
When driven, the steering wheel has a minor pulse in it, but the worst vibration seems to come from the rear, and if I get up to 80 it diminishes a bit (but driving that monster wagon at 80MPH is not something I like to do).
The motor mounts were replaced last summer and the trans mount has been replaced too.
When driven, the steering wheel has a minor pulse in it, but the worst vibration seems to come from the rear, and if I get up to 80 it diminishes a bit (but driving that monster wagon at 80MPH is not something I like to do).
dhw3971- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 3
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
and when I look at new wheels I see backspacing and offset...I am running 15x7 wheels and stock tire size. I think I want no offset and 4" backspacing...can anyone offer insight on that?
dhw3971- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 3
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
this is a 8" rear wheel with Zero offset and 4" back space
Limey SE- Management
- Street Cred : 97
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
that helps! I think I need the same setup.
dhw3971- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 3
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
I was going to suggest checking the driveshaft as mine is out of balance and I am getting some vibration from it, but it is around 53 to 58 mph, which is very annoying btw.
Also what wheels were you thinking of getting?
Also what wheels were you thinking of getting?
driveit- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 15
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
This may be a stupid question, but I thought the balance machine clamps the wheel on a tapered cone and doesn't use the lugs at all. This centers the wheel on the machine shaft. So the Unilug shouldn't matter at all. But a bent or poorly made wheel will make it look bad.
bracketchev1221- G3GM Enthusiast
- Street Cred : 15
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
Did you lightly sand the drums / hubs and the back of the Cragar's to make sure there was no corrosion on them that will give you a woble.
Tom77- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 9
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
If you have to order new ones I used Discount tire. Believe it or not they are a Cragar dealer and you can beat them up on the price then if you get a woble just take it back and have coffee while they do the work.
Tom77- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 9
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
http://www.discounttire.com/storelocations/Traverse-City-MI.html
Tom77- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 9
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
Alot of newer cars have to be centered up using the lug nut holes per the manufacturer. A center cone is still used but a pin plate also goes over the balancers shaft to ensure the rim spins true.bracketchev1221 wrote:This may be a stupid question, but I thought the balance machine clamps the wheel on a tapered cone and doesn't use the lugs at all. This centers the wheel on the machine shaft. So the Unilug shouldn't matter at all. But a bent or poorly made wheel will make it look bad.
dynchel- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 40
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
I learn something everyday on here.
driveit- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 15
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
So, if there was no vibration with the stock wheels, the there is an obvious problem with the cragers , most likely the unilug design of the rim. Again, on this scenario and application, he can't center the wheel on the hub when he bolts the wheels on.
chevellelaguna- G3GM Enthusiast
- Street Cred : 16
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
The lugs "should" center up the wheel.chevellelaguna wrote:So, if there was no vibration with the stock wheels, the there is an obvious problem with the cragers , most likely the unilug design of the rim. Again, on this scenario and application, he can't center the wheel on the hub when he bolts the wheels on.
dynchel- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 40
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
dhw3971 wrote:All good advice, thank you!
no, I didn't spin the wheels without the tires, so I don't know for certain that the rims aren't bent. I have one shop in town who I trust to work on the old girl, and if they can't solve the problem then I'm going to get new wheels (already have them on my Summit Racing wish list). unfortunately, I've got to wait until April when all the damn snow is gone...
what is a bubble balancer?
old shool tire balancer, works like a carpenter's level only in all directions. Here's a pic with and without a tire on it. The very top is the bubble.
The silver part "floats" when it's engaged, and the wheel is left to balance by you adding weights till the bubble is in the cross hairs, then your good if not your out. Very simple, very slick too.
Dinomyte- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 11
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
Yeah, that was out dated in 1991 when I learned how to do it at my first job (shell gas station)
dynchel- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 40
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
Driveit:
Here's some ideas from my Summit Racing wishlist:
1. Cragar S/S SuperSports, same as are on the car now.
2. MB Wheels Old School chrome wheels http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mbw-62587/overview/
3. Summit Racing Pulsar polished wheelshttp://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-541-5761ps/overview/
4. Wheel Vintiques 03 Series Comet chrome wheels.http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wvi-03-571204/overview/
I think my favorites are the MB wheels but as usual, they are most expensive.
Here's some ideas from my Summit Racing wishlist:
1. Cragar S/S SuperSports, same as are on the car now.
2. MB Wheels Old School chrome wheels http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mbw-62587/overview/
3. Summit Racing Pulsar polished wheelshttp://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-541-5761ps/overview/
4. Wheel Vintiques 03 Series Comet chrome wheels.http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wvi-03-571204/overview/
I think my favorites are the MB wheels but as usual, they are most expensive.
dhw3971- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 3
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
So would this be a bad time to put some Cragars for sale ?
Limey SE- Management
- Street Cred : 97
Re: Cragar SS uni-lug wheels
dhw3971 wrote:Only if they are uni-lugs!
Most all Cragars came in Unilugs unless special ordered
Limey SE- Management
- Street Cred : 97
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