Alignment/Tires/???

[unlimited]

Hey guys, needing some opinions on what to do about a problem I'm having. Currently I'm about to start this out of town job in a few days and it's a little less than 100 miles away (1hr40.) Thing is the job pays per diem of 65 a day so instead of having a hotel there for $54 a day, I'm trying to bank the per diem and make the drive which is approx 20 dollars in premium gas there and back. Wanting to use the extra dough for the J. I've already driven there twice front and back this week and the speed limit is 70 traffic flow is around 75-85 (no police in those parts) I do about 75 (wanting to do a little under 85) but it's only because the car shakes in intervals side to side and steering wheel starts to shake up and down badly right before I hit 80. Right now I can't afford 4 new tires and I know 2 in the front are maybe a size bigger than the back. Before all 4 were different sizes and the car shook badly at 45 but stopped after I replaced two. Car leans immediately to the right a tad if I let go of the steering wheel. I'm assuming it needs a wheel alignment too??

Anyway wanted to know does it matter where I go to get a wheel alignment or are they all essentially doing the same thing? If it doesn't matter then where would be the cheapest place to have it done, lol? Also since all of this is going on before 80mph do you guys think it's mainly the wheel alignment thing that's causing all of it or the tires? I wouldn't think them being different sizes would be too big of a deal since to two front are the same and also the two back on their own. Anywho, need helppp.

Sorry for all the writing but i feel it's all important X] lol

thanks!
Modified by unlimited at 6:26 PM 7/22/2009

[yodawill2000]

Ive read a few places that the Hunter Alignment machine is the best.Not sure who all has one around here though.Need to call around I guess.

[unlimited]

Thanks for the reply, I'll try to look for a place with that then

Just did a peak search on yahoo answers about wheel alignments. One guy was saying if the floor and seats are shaking then it's the rear wheels and if it's the steering wheel then it's the front wheels (for me both are shaking). Also some people were saying that if you've hit a curb real hard recently that it might be a tie rod bent or something (which I've done twice or 3 times, lol.) Also sticking brake caliper but I'm not sure if the car still goes to the right while braking. I gotta check but it sounds like it could be more than my tires and needing an alignment... The guys question I was reading from already had a wheel alignment. All his symptoms match mine except his shaking starts at 50 (mine too but its manageable)

[J30inthe sun]

How many miles on your J?

I had a shake that started at @65 mph, if I recall correctly, even after 4 new tires & balanced, 4 new rotors w/ new pads, new rack & pinion unit, inner & outer tie rods, front struts w/ all related hardware, new front springs & tension bar bushings. The cuprit was the lower ball joints in front which I changed out by way of 2 new front lower control arms.

This was all within 6-9 months ago at @ 110,000 miles. Ahhh.. the ride... PRICELESS!

[yodawill2000]

Any good alignment place will inspect tie rods ect.

If the rear is shaking I would think its the tires.Check for uneven tread wear or cupping on the inside edge.That can be an alignment issue or blown shocks back there.

[Victor]

When was the last time you had your wheels balanced?

[driverdriver]

unbalanced tires lead to violent shaking at cerain speeds. I've had that happen on a few instances when I've lost the metal balancing clip on my tire.

[unlimited]

Whenever I got the two new back tires in January. I don't wanna mention this but when the guy was balancing all the tires he called me over and said that my back right rim is bent and wobbles and I suppose couldn't be balanced. Anyway this problem with the gradually shaking came up a long while after. Not sure how many miles are on the J since I bought it and found out the odometer was broken. When I bought it though it was at 156,XXX and that was in January and I know I've packed some miles on it from all my driving long distance. I dunno, I just don't want to spend money on something and have it be wrong. Hopefully whoever I take it to they will thoroughly look at it and make sure what I'm getting fixes the problem.
Modified by unlimited at 3:11 AM 7/23/2009

[yodawill2000]

the tire that's on the bent wheel is probably worn uneven causing the shake.