Normal driving (<95km/h), no vibration significantly can be felt. After exceeding than 95km/h, steering started to be shaking. Enough to irritate me!! Been lasting for about since brought back the car to Malaysia. Actually in Japan, I never drove above than 90km/h. Embarrassed to do so because the Japs never drove like most of the typical Malaysian driver. Moreover they tend to drove fast only if driving real sport/performance car. Even Accord or Camry, seldom saw that they drive more than 100km/h. Accord and Camry mostly drove by uncle & auntie (pakcik & makcik).
The vibration can be felt throughout the speed which more than 95km/h. At first, thought that the alignment & balancing could troubleshoot this problem. Nahhhh......Still the same. The foremen who I trusted said that the balancing & alignment could not cure the problem because two of my wheels were already defect (rim bengkok). Send my rims to be straighten back. Cost me about RM45/pc.Did the alignment & balancing again. The vibration still could be felt but the level is slightly reduced. Thought that nothing can be done anymore except change to the new rims.
Yesterday, want to give try another tyre workshop at Batu Pahat, suggested by the foremen. Heard the rumours that the workshop is the best workmanship & quality in town. The shop's owner is a friendly guy. After dissembling the tyre from the hub, he said sure the vibrations cannot be cured based on normal alignment & balancing only. He proposed to me to attach the center cone ring to the hub before attaching the rims after alignment and balancing had been done there. The center cone ring cost me RM60/set for all tyres. Actually have heard about this things but my mind had been setup that my defect rims + Achilles ATR Sport 2 tyre which are the budget tyres not a premium/high quality tyres caused all this vibration.
The center cone ring are made of alloy. The are different size of the center cone rings which associate with the car model according to the manufacturers. In my honest opinion the selection of the center cone ring depends on 2 things:
1. Diameter size of the axle hub (base on car)
2. Diameter size of the hub's hole at the centre of the rim.
Just go the tyre workshop, they know what to do. Cause they have a lot of the center cone rings & can try & error to find the match. Buy from online would be an option too, but risky because the hub would be match for model but the not necessary the aftermarket rims. If using a standard OEM rims, the diameter of the hub and the hub's hole at the centre of the rims would be perfectly matched. No need this center cone rings. If vibration occur, huge probably can be solved just by normal alignment & balancing / changing to the quality tyres.
Cone Ring Attachment
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The Center Cone Rings attached to the axle hub
Testimonial:
Drive about 95km/h - the vibration had been in minimal level compared to undone.
Drive about 120km/h - still the same level as above.
Drive about 140km/h - the level of steering shaking is slightly increase but nothing near the level when drive 95km/h before undone.
>140km/h, will try today on the PLUS Highway (my family are going back to Pendang, Kedah this weekend.)
I believe that the steering shaking & vibration are solved already.
UPDATE: (29/07/2013)
Just came home from Pendang last night.
Finally, the vibration/steering shaking's issue hand been resolved.. ;)
Maintaining about 140km/h ~ 150km/h averagely..no irritating shaking..Enough to give me the confident to drive faster.
New record also, my fastest speed 165km/h..hahahaha, Honestly, 2AZ-FE engine still has a lot to offer but my suspension and tyres/rims dont gave me the required level of confidence needed.
Disadvantages as expected : Fuel Consumption rises...
1 & 1/2 full tank needed for the journey....
NEXT PROJECT : IMPROVE HIGH SPEED STABILITY!!!!!
