First LE with Problems? - Resolved (TPMS sensors loose)

[kulfyur]

I got my LE about 3 weeks ago. About 5 days ago I put on my TSW Nurburing wheels. Last night, while driving, the car started shudder. Now this wasn't like a quick tapping or shake. It didn't seem as though it was a flat, or misalignment. It was much more of a cyclical oscillating shudder. with 2 seconds on and two seconds off at 70 mph (far to slow i would think for a wheel issue). It was like: ......pppPPppp...........pppPPppp...........pppPPppp...........pppPPppp.....

You literally draw a sign wave off of the pattern. It also seemed to speed up the faster the car moved. If you road at 70, put it in neutral and rev'd the engine or let the rpm fall to 750 it would not effect the rhythm. The car doesn't do it at all when stopped regardless of reving. As you slow down it gets less noticeable. Difficult to notice it at less that 40 mph, but I won't say it stops. I'd leave it undetermined. Anything over 40 I know it's there. I feel it very prominently in my seat/butt/back. Very little is felt through the steering and I'm a little uncertain about feeling it through the shifter (I don't think it can be felt through there). I'll put the factory wheels back on today when I get off work but I fear that wont solve it.

Any help is appreciated...

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[gsxr1300]

yep try factory wheels first.

 

[mc lane]

first of all
have you checked if they wheels were still fixed with the correct torque?

 

[Don's Ruby]

Are you positive you are using correct lug nuts? I say this because if the lug nuts are too skinny they will seem to tighten all the way down but after a little driving they will gradually loosen and the wheel will spin irregularly.

 

[Guardstang]

Some aftermarket wheels need centering rings

 

[kulfyur]

Thanks guys. I'll look into all of these.

 

[SVTFreak]

Also, if the little keepers are still in the factory lug studs, cut them off. Usually, aftermarket wheels don't have the relief for them. They are there only to keep the rotor on at the factory until the calipers get put in.

I had a car did the EXACT same thing and that was the issue. Cut those off and perfect ride again.

 

[kulfyur]

Also, if the little keepers are still in the factory lug studs, cut them off. Usually, aftermarket wheels don't have the relief for them. They are there only to keep the rotor on at the factory until the calipers get put in.

I had a car did the EXACT same thing and that was the issue. Cut those off and perfect ride again.

Can you elaborate more on that? I'm not sure what the "keeper" is.

 

[SVTFreak]

Can you elaborate more on that? I'm not sure what the "keeper" is.

It's a little stamped spring steel ring that almost looks like a sheet metal nut. It's pressed on to usually 2 or 3 lug studs on each wheel from the factory. I don't know for sure that these have them as I haven't had my wheels off, but every other mustang I've had had them. It's a cheap way to hold the rotor on during assembly. It's not needed once the assembled. Not really needed for assembly but shaves time off of assembly at factory not having to line up rotor for caliper installation.

 

[SVTFreak]

Scroll down this thread till you see the picture. He's prying one off with a little screwdriver. They are not needed, contrary to what the author says

http://www.hummer4x4offroad.com/forum/showthread.php?1608-BRAKE-JOB-Front-Brakes

 

[kulfyur]

Ah I see what you're talking about. I don't remember seeing those when I changes them the first time but I'll double check. I'm changing the wheels now. With that being said I took off the front left wheel already and I heard something sliding around in there. I think the tpms sensor that was in there has come loose. So that's one things so far that could have been the problem. (Some how I still doubt that was it though)

 

[SVTFreak]

Ah I see what you're talking about. I don't remember seeing those when I changes them the first time but I'll double check. I'm changing the wheels now. With that being said I took off the front left wheel already and I heard something sliding around in there. I think the tpms sensor that was in there has come loose. So that's one things so far that could have been the problem. (Some how I still doubt that was it though)

Let me know what it was.

Yes, something in a wheel would do it. Also, mud clots on a wheel will do it but I doubt you've been doing that. There can't be two of us who have LE's who would go off-road in them.

 

[kulfyur]

Alright so last night I only put the front wheels back stock. That way if it was the wheels I could at least narrow down which set.

Took it for a test drive the cyclic shudder was gone. I left it as is over night and counted the drive to work as a second test drive. Shudder didn't return. Only got a much faster and very subtle bumping.

With that being said I'm pretty sure the shuddering was the tmps sensor being acted on by gravity and friction of the rotating wheel. I'll re-torque the lugs on all the tires to see if that resolves the bumping.

Also there were not stud clips/keepers on mine.

 

[bill@cjpp]

Sounds like you figured it out. I would highly doubt its an issue with the Nurburgrings, I run them on mine and they balanced easily and are perfectly smooth at all speeds. A bouncing sensor would surely cause the issue you are having.

 

[kulfyur]

Put the TSWs back on and took the car to the nearby firestone to have have them remove the tpms sensors. Well turns out not only was the front left tpms sensor torn loose, the rear left had also (probably the other subtle bumping). The car is back to riding like a champ. Also my kudos to TSW for such light wheels. I'm pretty new to having performance wheels but I can really feel the difference in how the car rides with lighter wheels.

Any way case closed guys, sorry for the somewhat false alarm!

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