I google searched “Hunter (brand) road force wheel balance machine” and found the contact info for the “Hunter” brand, and emailed the local rep, who emailed me back on a Saturday morning with a partial list of shops in the Twin Cities who operated their “load bearing” wheel balancing machines. I was already 5+ calls into local tire shops and found two that verified they had this specific machine, 4 wheel balancing ranged from $59 to $89 plus tax. Some shops never even heard of the technology, or machine.
I kept calling because I wanted to find a shop within 10-30 minutes from my home, and open on a Saturday.
Discount Tire in Apple Valley MN’s Manager Dustin is a Stud! He verified they had the machine and “knew how to use it, too!” I guess this is an issue . Dustin also asked my what my issue was in detail and then offered that I might need specialized Lug Nuts because the Lexus Stud was 12mm and the holes in my wheels were 14mm, and this could also be the reason why my wheels “suddenly” became even worse after new CV Joint, Front Brake Rotors and Ceramic Pads—the front two wheels may not be centered properly on the wheel studs. He’d “personally” check out my vehicle once the tires were off of it.
He then let me know that the new brake rotors/pads looked good, but I should upgrade the Lug Nuts with a specialized set that would “self-center” each wheel because of a sleeve/collar that would take up the 12-14mm gap. I said sure, as the total cost of Hunter Road Force Balancing and these new Lug Nuts was only $85 plus tax, and I wanted my “New-me” Lexus to ride smoothly again.
When I picked my 2004 GX470 from Discount Tire, Dustin went into the shop to grabbed a standard lug nut and the Sleeved/Collared lug nuts he had installed—visually they totally made sense to me and I was excited to test drive my Lexus. Dustin also mentioned that my new front brakes seemed to be “on” the rotors all the time, and they were “grabby” compared to the rear brakes, possibly heating up the pads/rotors and told me to see if a brake shop could adjust them. I called the local Lexus dealership and they said they were not adjustable calipers.
After paying, I eagerly drove my Lexus and tested the brakes and my vehicle at different speeds—no steering shake or shimmy! It felt even better than it did the day I test drove it prior to purchasing it! I am so relieved!
I don’t know which service solved my shake/shimmy steering wheel and ride quality problems, but I am glad I did both as they were under $100 total. I am still going to have my Lexus get a four wheel alignment and it is at the alignment shop now.
I am thankful for the forum members that post here and hope my experience helps others too!
Here is a photo of a similar Lug Nut with the extended “sleeve/collar“, it is NOT the exact ones on my wheels but a good visual representation, and a photo of my broken CV Axle, and my Lexus.