Mitsubishi Montero (2002-2004). Manual - part 415

WHEEL AND TIRE DIAGNOSIS

TSB Revision

WHEEL AND TIRE

31-3

Wear on one 
side

Excessive 
camber

Check the camber.

Refer to GROUP 
33A, On-vehicle 
service 

− Front 

wheel alignment 
check and 
adjustment 

P.33A-

5

.

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, and 
check the front 
suspension 
alignment.

Refer to GROUP 
33A, On-vehicle 
service 

− Front 

wheel alignment 
check and 
adjustment 

P.33A-

5

.

SYMPTOM

PROBABLE CAUSE

REMEDY

REFERENCE 
PAGE

ACX00928 AB

ACX00929 AB

ACX00930AB

ACX00931AB

ACX00932AB

ACX00933 AB

ACX00934

WHEEL AND TIRE DIAGNOSIS

TSB Revision

WHEEL AND TIRE

31-4

WHEEL BALANCE ACCURACY AND TIRE RADIAL-FORCE VARIATION CHECK

M1311001900100

WHEEL BALANCE ACCURACY

.

PURPOSE
This section contains tips and procedures for achiev-
ing accurate wheel balance. Steering wheel vibration 
and/or body shake can result if any of these proce-
dures 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 instruc-
tion manual should include calibration procedures. If 
the calibration procedures specifically for your bal-
ancer are missing, use the generic steps in this sec-
tion for zero calibration, static balance, and dynamic 
balance checks. The wheel balancer calibration 
checks are also described in the flowchart. (Refer to 

P.31-6

.)

.

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.

.

<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.

AC000041AB

HUB/SHAFT
ASSEMBLY

CLAMPING CUP

WING NUT

STANDARD PASSENGER 
CAR WHEEL

WHEEL 
MOUNTING 
CONE

SPRING PLATE

WHEEL AND TIRE DIAGNOSIS

TSB Revision

WHEEL AND TIRE

31-5

• 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 manufac-
turer's instructions to verify the correct attach-
ments. 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 bal-
ancer 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 bal-

ancer requires calibration. Contact the balancer 
manufacturer for calibration by their repair repre-
sentative.

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 bal-
ancer calibration checks are complete.

• If the imbalance is out of specification, the bal-

ancer requires calibration. Contact the balancer 
manufacturer for calibration by their repair repre-
sentative.

TIRE RADIAL-FORCE VARIATION CHECK

Measure the radial-force variation of the tires.

Maximum limit: 118 N (26.5 pounds)

If the measured value is more than the maximum 
limit, try to adjust the phase between wheel and tire, 
and to measure again.

If the measured value still exceeds maximum limit, 
replace the tire.
NOTE: The value of maximum limit is guide-line. If 
the vibration of the vehicle body is not observed, the 
tire can be reused even if its measured value is more 
than the maximum limit.

WHEEL AND TIRE DIAGNOSIS

TSB Revision

WHEEL AND TIRE

31-6

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