RT front end wobble

[ABQAndy]

I had the same problem on my 2010 RT-S which happened suddenly on a week long trip. Stopped at a dealer while on my trip and they left some air out of my front tires and said everything felt alright. A few miles down the road it still felt the same as it did before. Got it home to my dealer in PA and they tried everything with the front end, what my problem was in the back sprocket. I had a small stone in my back sprocket which caused a vibration through the frame to the front end causing a bad wobble at 38-42 mph. Never would have thought to look at the rear for a front end wobble.

Now that is an odd one, who would have thunk it:dontknow:

 

[Bob Ledford]

Update front end wobble

Since my last post the front end tires have not thrown a temper tantrum either hot or cold. The biggest change was that I have gotten a new tire. Gauge and increased tire pressure to 18PSIG.

My next challenge is to try to eliminate wandering all over the road It wants to follow the road contours despite what I want it to do... So we are going to have the alignment checked on Friday morning...... Stay tuned in for the results!

 

[bruiser]

Had that problem in my F4D. The stick shaker would raise sand when my airspeed got too low. :joke:

I don't seem to have the problem on my 2012/2010 RTS but will pay attention next time I'm on the road.

 

[Sarge707]

Okay, may have absolutely no relationship but I was having the same problem with the front end wobble at around 45 MPH (2010 RT A&C). Had the Elkas installed and we were thinking might have something to do with it when lo and behold, my "back" shock was absolutely shot at just under 11,000 miles and the airbag was reading 0 PSI. Replaced the back shock, pumped up the airbag to a respectable 30 (I think) PSI and no front end wobble since. Admittedly, only about 600 miles since then what with the winter weather but it was pronounced and almost 100% constant before the repair and nothing since. Waiting for warmer spring weather to give it another try. Just my 2 cents on the conversation.

Diana

I have zero pressure in my air bag and Elka,s and it happens about 38-42 MPH once or twice an outing for a second or 2 at most and seems to be in the same places in my ride BUT it only happens if I have let OFF the throttle AND whenever I have throttle being applied it NEVER happens .
Its steady as "No Hands on Cruise" at 70 MPH or whenever the throttle is being applied?
Gotta find a fix to the air bag first ?

 

[bruiser]

Sarge, have you tried to air up the bag and see if it holds??? It may be the air pump itself. Just my 2cents worth.

 

[DR Buck]

..................
My next challenge is to try to eliminate wandering all over the road It wants to follow the road contours despite what I want it to do... So we are going to have the alignment checked on Friday morning...... Stay tuned in for the results!

Tighten up your shock adjustments.

 

[NancysToy]

I had the same problem on my 2010 RT-S which happened suddenly on a week long trip. Stopped at a dealer while on my trip and they left some air out of my front tires and said everything felt alright. A few miles down the road it still felt the same as it did before. Got it home to my dealer in PA and they tried everything with the front end, what my problem was in the back sprocket. I had a small stone in my back sprocket which caused a vibration through the frame to the front end causing a bad wobble at 38-42 mph. Never would have thought to look at the rear for a front end wobble.

A stone, or even just a mild buildup of debris, in the sprocket can cause a vibration or a "thunking", but it would not cause a "wobble". I guess we all describe things differently. To me, wobble is a side to side movement as well as up and down. Good idea to carefully inspect the sprockets, in any case.

 

[IntoTheWind]

Suggestion -- Spin balance, just my 2 cents.:ani29:

 

[Sarge707]

Sarge, have you tried to air up the bag and see if it holds??? It may be the air pump itself. Just my 2cents worth.

My base RT is manual so I have to put the air in with the slime compressor from the back outlet and it will keep 35 pounds for about an hour BUT the next day its down to zero? I,ll try to replace the core but its just too much of a hassle to leave it at the dealers for who knows how long when I always ride single 200 pounds and NO passenger. Lots of people seem to have the airbag "Air Lose" problem?

 

[bruiser]

OK. I didn't realize what model you had. What we found on BBs RT was the air pump wasn't working correctly. Had it replaced and now works fine. Hope you can get yours fixed soon.

 

[Sarge707]

It takes old-fashioned investigation by an experienced and dedicated technician (or owner). Check the wheels to see if they run true, both axially and laterally, both inside and outside rims of each wheel. Untrue wheels must be replaced. Check the wheel bearings, and replace any with problems. Check the tires to see if the tread runs true. Best checked on a spin truing machine, but it can be done on the vehicle or on a wheel truing stand or balancing machine. Tire treads can be trued sometimes by shaving the tire, but the tires may need to be replaced if a tire defect is at fault or the tread is thin. Spin balance the tires and check to see they haven't changed. If any have excessive weight to balance them, they should probably be replaced. If the tires have Ride-On or another balancing/sealing material in them, that could be the problem. Improper quantities of the material, or tire defects or irregularities, can cause them to create rather than fix an imbalance. Cold tires or tires that have rested a long time will often be imbalanced by the liquid until you do a few highway miles. This causes a "wobble" if the imbalance points hit the ground at different times, and even can cause a wheel hop effect. In some cases removing the substance will improve things, and in some the tires have to be replaced. Note that wheel alignment issues can enhance imbalance or runout problems, and increase the perception of "wobble". Checking alignment is a good idea in stubborn cases. You may have multiple factors involved, which will make finding the cause very difficult. In those cases it is best to swap wheels and tires with a known good vehicle. If the problem is then gone, both the wheels and tires may have to be replaced.

Although my wobble is minor and at Off throttle 38-42 MPH only a few times a ride I noticed the weights on the Right tire which seems to start the wobble first? How many weights is Tooo many 17 in a row on the Right tire and 4 in a row on the left???

 

[Rando]

Although my wobble is minor and at Off throttle 38-42 MPH only a few times a ride I noticed the weights on the Right tire which seems to start the wobble first? How many weights is Tooo many 17 in a row on the Right tire and 4 in a row on the left???

Looks just like mine did. I ended up purchasing new tires. It fixed my front end wobble.

 

[NancysToy]

Although my wobble is minor and at Off throttle 38-42 MPH only a few times a ride I noticed the weights on the Right tire which seems to start the wobble first? How many weights is Tooo many 17 in a row on the Right tire and 4 in a row on the left???

Seventeen is huge! I suspect that is your problem. As badly out of balance tires wear, the balance changes. Spin balancing the tire again might bring short-term relief, but a better tire, properly mounted and balanced, would be a likely cure. The off-throttle occurrence could be due to shifting the weight back to the front. Tires that need that much weight to balance usually have excessive plies in one area, and not only are badly out of balance, but also somewhat out of round, and stiffer where the "flaw" is.

 

[DrewNJ]

If you can find a tire shop that will work with you, have them break both beads and rotate the tire on the wheel 180 degrees and then try to rebalance it. I bet then they can remove a lot of weight. Some tires and wheels are just that way....planets align...yada yada yada....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sarge707]

Seventeen is huge! I suspect that is your problem. As badly out of balance tires wear, the balance changes. Spin balancing the tire again might bring short-term relief, but a better tire, properly mounted and balanced, would be a likely cure. The off-throttle occurrence could be due to shifting the weight back to the front. Tires that need that much weight to balance usually have excessive plies in one area, and not only are badly out of balance, but also somewhat out of round, and stiffer where the "flaw" is.

What is BRP,s Responsibility in this? My dealer has a allignment shop nearby do the balancing.
Should I Insist they spin balance and if Needed replace BOTH tires because you can,t just do One?
This is NEW 2012 3,500 Miles and every additional mile is probably affecting the bearings lifespan?

I could put my GS tires on the RT to test BUT it should be up to them to Test and replace!nojoke

 

[NancysToy]

What is BRP,s Responsibility in this? My dealer has a allignment shop nearby do the balancing.
Should I Insist they spin balance and if Needed replace BOTH tires because you can,t just do One?
This is NEW 2012 3,500 Miles and every additional mile is probably affecting the bearings lifespan?

I could put my GS tires on the RT to test BUT it should be up to them to Test and replace!nojoke

The tire warranty is 6 months. If you are within this period, it should be their responsibility if it is a tire defect. The problem is that they are not tire experts, and it will be very difficult to get them to understand it or find the problem. I'd run it up the flagpole, but don't expect them to salute.
3. for the tires, 6 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS or until tires are worn to the last
three thirty-second of an inch (3/32 inch) (2.38 millimeters) for the front tires
and the last five thirty-second of an inch (5/32 inch) (3.97 millimeters) for the
rear tire, whichever occurs first.

 

[ABQAndy]

I have zero pressure in my air bag and Elka,s and it happens about 38-42 MPH once or twice an outing for a second or 2 at most and seems to be in the same places in my ride BUT it only happens if I have let OFF the throttle AND whenever I have throttle being applied it NEVER happens .
Its steady as "No Hands on Cruise" at 70 MPH or whenever the throttle is being applied?
Gotta find a fix to the air bag first ?

Mine is the same in that it only happens if I am steady on the throttle or letting off of the throttle and it doesn't happen if I am accelerating. Also the same as steady and No hands on at 70 MPH????? I do have 12 weights on the left front wheel and it is a wobble, side to side, fender and all, not a shake.

 

[Sarge707]

The tire warranty is 6 months. If you are within this period, it should be their responsibility if it is a tire defect. The problem is that they are not tire experts, and it will be very difficult to get them to understand it or find the problem. I'd run it up the flagpole, but don't expect them to salute.
3. for the tires, 6 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS or until tires are worn to the last
three thirty-second of an inch (3/32 inch) (2.38 millimeters) for the front tires
and the last five thirty-second of an inch (5/32 inch) (3.97 millimeters) for the
rear tire, whichever occurs first.

OK - Tires are technically out of warranty 20 March BUT My dealer said bring the 2 front wheels in and he will send them down the street to the Tire balancing experts and he will pick up the Charge without any warranty claim.
"Land & Sea Marine!" Waterbury CT Thanks Bob!!:clap:

 

[Questions]

wobble

OK - Tires are technically out of warranty 20 March BUT My dealer said bring the 2 front wheels in and he will send them down the street to the Tire balancing experts and he will pick up the Charge without any warranty claim.
"Land & Sea Marine!" Waterbury CT Thanks Bob!!:clap:

yes same here,,, wooble in front since i had the front tire rotated,,,,,,(i had them rotated when i change the rear tire at 33,oookm,,,, )

i guess i will have to live with it until i chage the rear tire at 66,oookm,,,then i will put new one in front to !

 

[Navy Warrant]

Fixed same problem

I have the same thing at 45 - 55 and both feel it and see the fenders shaking. It seems to have started after I had the tires rotated a couple of weeks ago. Heading to the dealer this week to check the balance.

I am 99.5% sure it is not the belt nor do I think it is the new rear tire ...

Shimmy was slight at first gradually getting worse. It seemed to me to be the left wheel causing the problem. Finally it was so bad I couldn't go over 40MPH. Dealership couldn't find anything wrong the first two times I brought it in. Finally, since it'd gotten so bad that even they could see/feel it they pulled a wheel from a demo and the problem went away. Still nothing at all was visible. They ordered and replaced both front wheels since they come with the tire already installed. Luckily it was under warranty. No problems at all since. I think it's possible it may have been a pot hole I hit that damaged the wheel because the slight shimmy showed up shortly thereafter. Not 100% sure though.