I just got 18in ADR Design rims with Exclaim UHP 225/40 ZR18 92W low pros. My stock were 15in Touring tires. After swapping to 18's, I notice a shake when I brake (more shake at 50+mph). I took tha car to get balanced this mornin, and tha shak'n is still there. My car is an 07 LT, 2.2 with less than 7k miles-about 4months old. 4 lug. Tha guy at tha shop said that my brakes were bad, and tried to sell me new ones. Last night after I put tha rims on, I notice tha shake...swapped back to stock and no shake. Shake follows tha rims. Does this mean I need alignment? Perhaps tha weight of tha rims need a bigger brake system? No problem with shake when drivin, only when I use brakes with rims on. Only other info was from https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/show...ht=brake+shake, but ppl stated that alignment wasn't needed. I'm gonna be driv'n 9hrs to TN later tonight and need to know if alignment would make a difference? Srry for long post.

 

Do you have hub centric rings on with your new rims? I ask you this because I had the same problem but worse when I put my rims on. They balanced the tires and the whole jazz, but the rings were causing the tires to wobble and prematurely wear out.

 

It is probably not your alignment.
The heavier wheels and tires will be harder to stop so you probably have to brake harder to stop as quickly as what you are used to.

If the new wheels weren't a good fit on the hubs they might move when you brake but then would probably vibrate at freeway speeds too.

It is possible that your rotors or drums are slightly warped and the bigger wheels are amplifying the warp. Your rotors could be warped in 7K miles if they were overheated or the lugs weren't torqued evenly.

just my 2 cents, your reality may differ

 

yeah make sure if the wheels need hub centrics that you put them on because that will cause the shake definitely

 

I'm not sure what "hub centric rings" are, but if they are additional pieces, then no. Only parts mounted/torqued were tha rims. Any more info on these rings? And how hard are they to install? Need a shop or can do with lift in driveway?

 

You don't have to have the rings if the center hole of the wheel fits snugly over the hubs of the car. The rings are to adapt wheels to different cars.
It is really important that the wheels fit your hubs. If not the only thing keeping them centered is the lugs and they will be stressed and possibly break.

When you put the new wheels on, where they centered on the hub or did they move around? Take a wheel off and measure the center hole, compare it to the stock wheel.

 

They fit over tha 4 lugs without any movement. RalleyCobalt06 had them on his LS and said they fit prefect with no problems. I just came from Sears where they stripped tha weights and rebalanced them and put them back on, so they woulda centered them properly upon reinstalling, but same shaking when braking.

 

mosdt places wont check unless they are the first ones installing. Take one wheel off and look at the back the hole should be about the exact size of the hub on your car

 

Problem solved. It was tha metal clips on tha brakes. Took tha clips off and they fit like a glove. Next, gotta throw on my springs that have been sitt'n in livinroom. Thank you for ur guys' input and helpfull suggestions.

 

metal clips on brakes? I hope you dont mean the shims, those have to be there. I just replaced all for rotors and pads yesterday and everything is back the way it was with no issues. You might want to double check what you took off