Mitsubishi Eclipse / Eclipse Spyder (2000-2002). Service and repair manual — part 547

WHEEL AND TIRE DIAGNOSIS

TSB Revision

WHEEL AND TIRE

31-3

WHEEL BALANCE ACCURACY

M1311001700010

PURPOSE

This section contains tips and procedures for
achieving accurate wheel balance. Steering wheel
vibration and/or body shake can result if any of these
procedures are not carefully observed.
1. Wheels and tires must be properly mounted on a

balancer in order to achieve correct balance.
Centering the wheel on the shaft of the balancer is
essential for proper mounting.

2. Off-the-car wheel balancers must be calibrated

periodically to ensure good balancing results. An
inaccurately calibrated balancer could cause
unnecessary replacement of tires, shocks,
suspension components, or steering components.

Check your balancer's calibration approximately
every 100 balances. Your wheel balancer's
instruction manual should include calibration
procedures. If the calibration procedures specifically
for your balancer are missing, use the generic steps
in this section for zero calibration, static balance, and
dynamic balance checks. The wheel balancer
calibration checks are also described in the
flowchart. (Refer to

P.31-5

.)

PROCEDURE <Balancing Tips>

1. Confirm that the balancer's cone and the wheel

mounting cone are undamaged and free of dirt
and rust.

2. On this vehicle, the wheel's center hole on the

hub side has a chamfered edge. Use a back-
mounting cone on your wheel balancer to center
the wheel on the balancer shaft.

3. Install a wheel mounting cone. The appropriate

size cone for this vehicle is 67.0 mm (2.64
inches).

4. Before balancing the wheel, remove any wheel

weights from both sides. Also check both sides for
any damage.

5. When installing wheel weights, hammer them at a

straight (not diagonal) angle.

Feathered
edge

Incorrect toe-in

Adjust the toe-in.

Bald spots

Unbalanced
wheel

Balance the wheels.

−

Scalloped
wear

Lack of rotation of tires or worn
or out-of-alignment suspension

Rotate the tires,
check the front
suspension
alignment.

Refer to GROUP
33A, On-vehicle
Service

−

Front

Wheel Alignment
Check and
Adjustment

P.33A-

6

.

SYMPTOM

PROBABLE CAUSE

REMEDY

REFERENCE
PAGE

ACX00930AB

ACX00931 AB

ACX00932AB

ACX00933 AB

ACX00934

WHEEL AND TIRE DIAGNOSIS

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WHEEL AND TIRE

31-4

<Confirming Proper Balance>

1. After balancing the wheel, loosen the wing nut

and turn the wheel 180 degree angle against the
balancer's hub. Then re-tighten the wing nut and
check the balance again. Repeat wheel balance if
necessary.

2. Turn the wheel again 180 degree angle against

the balancer's hub. If the wheel becomes out-of-
balance each time it is turned against the
balancer's hub, the wheel balancer may require
calibration.

<Wheel Balancer Calibration Checks>

1. Mount an undamaged original-equipment alloy

rim and tire assembly (wheel) onto your off-the-
car wheel balancer. Balance the wheel.

2. <<Zero Calibration Check>>

Loosen the balancer wing nut, rotate the wheel a
half-turn (180 degree angle), and retighten the
nut. Recheck the balance.

•

If the imbalance is 5 g (0.18 ounce) or less, the
zero calibration is OK. Rebalance the wheel, then
go to Step 4 to check static balance.

•

If the imbalance is more than 5 g (0.18 ounce), go
to Step 3.

3. Loosen the balancer wing nut, rotate the wheel 1/

4 turn (90 degree angle), and retighten the nut.
Recheck the wheel balance.

•

If the imbalance is 5 g (0.18 ounce) or less, the
wheel may not be centered on the balancer, or
the balancing cones, the cup, and/or wing nut are
damaged, dirty, or inappropriate for the wheel.
You may need to refer to the balancer
manufacturer's instructions to verify the correct
attachments. After making the necessary
corrections, recheck the wheel balance. If OK,
then go to Step 4.

•

If the imbalance is more than 5 g (0.18 ounce),
the balancer requires calibration. Contact the
balancer manufacturer for calibration by their
repair representative.

4. <<Static Balance Check>>

Attach a 5-g (0.18-ounce) weight to the outer rim.
Recheck the balancer. The balancer should
detect 5

±

2 g (0.18

±

0.06 ounce) of imbalance

170 to 190 degree angle away from the 5-g (0.18-
ounce) weight.

•

If the imbalance is within specification, the static
balance calibration is correct. Go to Step 5 to
check the dynamic balance.

•

If the imbalance is out of specification, the
balancer requires calibration. Contact the
balancer manufacturer for calibration by their
repair representative.

5. <<Dynamic Balance Check>>

Attach a 5-g (0.18-ounce) weight to the inner rim
at 180 degree angle opposite the 5-g (0.18-
ounce) weight that was added in Step 4. Recheck
the balance. The balancer should detect 5

±

2 g

(0.18

±

0.06 ounce) of imbalance 170 to 190

degree angle away from both the inner and outer
5-g (0.18-ounce) weights.

•

If the imbalance is within specification, the
dynamic balance calibration is correct. The
balancer calibration checks are complete.

•

If the imbalance is out of specification, the
balancer requires calibration. Contact the
balancer manufacturer for calibration by their
repair representative.

AC000041AB

HUB/SHAFT
ASSEMBLY

CLAMPING CUP

WING NUT

STANDARD PASSENGER
CAR WHEEL

WHEEL
MOUNTING
CONE

SPRING PLATE

WHEEL AND TIRE DIAGNOSIS

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WHEEL AND TIRE

31-5

WHEEL BALANCER CALIBRATION CHECKING FLOW CHART

AC000040

Balance wheel.

Rotate wheel 1/2 turn.

Imbalance = 5g (0.18oz) or less

Imbalance = more than 5g (0.18oz)

Rebalance wheel.

Rotate wheel 1/4 turn.

Imbalance = 5g (0.18oz) or less

Imbalance = more than 5g (0.18oz)

Verify wheel is properly centered.
Verify cones, cup, and wing nut are clean,
undamaged, and appropriate for wheel.
Make necessary corrections, then recheck
wheel balance.

Attach a 5-g (0.18-oz) weight to the outer rim.
Is the imbalance 5 ± 2g (0.18 ± 0.06oz) at 170

–

190

degree angle away from the 5-g (0.18-oz) weight?

YES

NO

Attach a 5-g (0.18-oz) weight to the inner rim at 180
degree angle opposite the weight on the outer rim.
Is the imbalance 5 ± 2g (0.18 ± 0.06oz) at 170

–

190

degree angle away from both 5-g (0.18-oz) weights?

YES

NO

Balancer does not require
calibration.

Balancer requires calibration.
Contact balancer manufacturer.

ZERO CALIBRATION
CHECK

STATIC BALANCE
CHECK

DYNAMIC BALANCE
CHECK

AB

ON-VEHICLE SERVICE

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WHEEL AND TIRE

31-6

O N -VEH IC LE SERVIC E

TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE CHECK

M1311000900022

NOTE: For information on tire inflation pressure, refer to the
label attached to the center pillar on the driver's side.

TIRE WEAR CHECK

M1311001000022

Measure the tread depth of the tires.

Minimum limit: 1.6 mm (0.06 inch)

If the remaining tread depth is less than the minimum limit,
replace the tire.

NOTE: When the tread depth of the tires is reduced to 1.6 mm
(0.06 inch) or less, wear indicators will appear.

WHEEL RUNOUT CHECK

M1311001100029

Jack up the vehicle so that the wheels are clear of the floor.
While slowly turning the wheel, measure wheel runout with a
dial indicator.

Limit:

Radial runout; 1.0 mm (0.04 inch) or less
Lateral runout; 1.0 mm (0.04 inch) or less

If wheel runout exceeds the limit, replace the wheel.

W H EEL A N D TIR E

INSTALLATION SERVICE POINT

M1311001300023

Tighten the wheel nuts to the specified torque.

Tightening torque: 98

±

10 N

⋅

m (73

±

7 ft-lb)

ACX00651AB

LATERAL

RADIAL