[406 bug]

HI FOLKS- 96 MAZDA PICK UP (SAME AS FORD RANGER) . I FIGURED IT WAS BALANCE OF FRONT TIRES/ NOPE. PURCHASED NEW TIRES, NOPE, STILL SHIMMIES AT 60 TO SAY 68 , AND DOES NOT FELL PERFECT AT OTHER HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE HAD THE FRONT TIRES EVEN BALANCED ON THE VEHICLE AND STILL NO LUCK. A FRONT END GUY SEZ IT MUST BE THE BALANCE. A AM AT A LOSS !!!!! ANY ONE HAVE SOME IDEAS. SINCERELY APPRECIATE ANY HELP.
THANKS - KEN

[home brew]

Did you check out your rear tires for balance???

[Bluejackets67]

Check you alignment. Sometimes you can get a “Caster-shake” that happens at only a certain speed. It typically seems to be in a 5 mph range. Up to that speed it’s smooth and over it smooths out. This means that you need more positive caster.

[el pollo]

If the tires were balanced, and your front end guy says the alignment/suspension is in good order, I'd suggest having the tires road forced. Balancing tires only takes care of the harmonic vibration. And any tire guy will tell you that we can balance a square.

There are two types of "road force" balancing. A Hunter road force balancer places a barrel on the tire and applies roughly 1,400 pounds of pressure to the tire to simulate going down the road. It will tell the balancer if the tire is out of round based on how much force is hitting the road (measured in pounds), or the tire/rim relationship is not exactly perfect. If they can change it, the tire can be indexed on the rim to make the assembly rounder.

The second type of "road force" balancer is pioneered by Coats. It's a sonar equipped balancer that maps out the tire's rotation. I like this version better because if you have a guy who knows what he's doing, he can index the tire for a more precise match.

There is a third possibility. You didn't say whether you had aftermarket rims. If the rim is lug centric, you may not have the rims centered properly and may require a hubcentric ring. Also, with aftermarket rims, if someone sold you a 5-115 rim (your truck is a 5-114.3, or 5-4.5"), you will get a nasty vibration and also risk having studs snapped.

[406 bug]

Thanks - For All The Info, I Appreciate Your Help.