Dcoy

So I picked up a set of steel rims from summit racing for my jeep and put them on the same time I installed a 2" lift. I then had mild case of death wobble around 50mph. I then started checking everything and replacing worn parts ( long story short and a different thread later ) I replaced the rims and its now gone. So I thought I would return the rims but the tech said that there rims need to be balanced Lug centric and most tire shops do Hub centric. I called both shops who balanced them and they both did hub, so could this been the cause of my death wobble? Has anyone else ever heard of this problem? I thought the inside mounting surface of the rim looked odd and that was why it wobbled. looks like it only seated to my rotor on the outs side edge.

Jamison

There are two distinct types of wheels found on today's cars and light trucks. There are Hub Centric wheels and there are Lug Centric wheels.

The most common wheels are Hub Centric in design. The center hole of these wheels is the actual center bore of the wheel. These wheels can be properly mounted and accurately balanced using the standard cone system supplied with most off car computer balancers.

Many of today's aftermarket wheels are Lug Centric in design. The center hole of a Lug Centric wheel is not the true center. These wheels cannot be properly mounted and accurately balanced using the normal cone mounting system that came with your wheel balancer.

Many Lug Centric wheels may appear to be mounted correctly with the center cone system, but they cannot be accurately balanced. The wheel balancer will continue to either "chase weights" or the wheel will show signs of imbalance when re-mounted on the vehicle.

To ensure an accurate balance, Lug Centric wheels must be mounted on the balancer through their lug bolt pattern. Lug Centric wheels, when mounted on the vehicle, are centered by the torque of the lug bolts and not the center bore of the wheel.

The only way to properly balance Lug Centric is through their lug bolt pattern. This style wheel must be mounted to the computer balancer in the same manner as it is mounted on the vehicle...through the lug bolt pattern.

Lug centric mounting on the wheel balancer mimics the way the wheel is mounted to the vehicle.

If you are balancing Lug Centric wheels, you must use the Atlas Universal Adapter. The standard cone system will not work properly.

Shmokinjoe

What he said.....
It shouldn't be hard to find a tire shop that has a flange plate adapter to center on your lugs. If they have a Hunter balancer they can even check the wheel once it's mounted on the balancer to see if it's centered whether you're using the lug flange plate or not.

Dcoy

Thanks