Front end alignment

[camarocrzy]

I put 17in. rims on my car and when i go about 40-50 mph my steering wheel shakes violently. So i went to Firestone to get a front alignment and they told me i have to put my stock wheels back on to get it aligned. So i called up Monroe and they told me the same thing. I dont get it,all these people with bigger size rims are all out of alignment? If i would put my stock wheels back on,get it aligned then put my 17's on it will just be out of alignment again. And before someone says its my tires that are out of balance, this is the third set of tires i had since i bought them. I was just too lazy to go and get it aligned till now. There has to be something i can do. Please help!!!
I forgot to add that i replaced the left front lower control arm and i know i didnt put it back exactly like it was so this winter my tires wore out to the point that the metal cords were showing on the inside of the tire closest to the shock but on the outside they had a very little bit of tread left. They were almost bald but the cords werent showing. But ever since i bought my new rims the car shook real bad at about 40-50 mph. When i have my stock rims on everything is fine.

[Dominic]

Re: Front end alignment

Alright, slow down next time you post - this is not a place to yell but is a place to get help.

If you go around a corner and the steering shakes, but straight it doesn't, it's not alignment and it isn't wheel balance. Are you sure the wheels fit? What kind are they? Are they torqued to spec? Give more info, and less ranting, and you might get some help.

[camarocrzy]

Re: Front end alignment

Sorry about ranting, i just paid alot of money for these wheels. It shakes whether im going straight or around a bend. They are smaller then the factory wheels, i think they are 17x7.5,i would of got wider ones had i known anything about rim size when i got them. Im not getting any vibration from the rear just the front. They arent rubbing on anything. They are made by KMC. Again sorry for ranting.

[camaronat]

Re: Front end alignment

If it is shaking all the time, it is probably a wheel balance issue, or something is really loose.

If you can drive down the road, let go of the wheel and the car stays straight, it is not alignment.

The two best possibilites are:

1) Something's loose.

2) If everything is fine with the stock rims, your new rim is either out of balance or bent.