Recommendation for a good wheel balance shop?

BA9092

Well, yesterday I left my Z at home in the garage and took in my spare (2000 Jetta) to work. I came home and lifted the front end on jackstands again to inspect the tires and wheel. I inspected all the joints, boots, suspension parts and driveshaft u-joints for any play, leaks or tears and found nothing. My suspension guy didn't even bother since he's done an alignment and noticed nothing out of the ordinary in a test drive. He thinks it's either bent wheel(s) or bad/worn tires - especially since I swapped the spacers from a different brand and the vibration still persists.

I did a quick setup with a paint can and the tip of a screw driver to visually check radial and lateral runout of both wheel and tire. I know it's not accurate, but if I could visually detect any difference, then I'm sure a professional measurement would indicate a fault in either wheel or tire.

I spun both tires by hand, one at a time, and noticed the tires were visually off by a millimeter or so, but even several millimeters in radial. It was in both tires, so I think it's just a result of flatspotting from being parked overnight. I would think the Hunter Roadforce machine would flag that down if it were a permanent runout, no?

The outer edge of each wheel were ok. Maybe a hair under a millimeter when I spun them. Would that indicate a bent wheel(s)? I know there is a tolerance of .01 inch by manufacturers, but I guess it would have to be professionally measured to make sure. I thought the Hunter balancer would also detect that though.

I'm debating on getting the wheels inspected and measured for runout by a wheel repair shop before ordering an entire set of new tires.

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Ark | H&R | iSimple | Moweraxle | OnEighty | Osram | RJM I Sylvania I TWM | Wincos | Z1 | ZSpeed

BA9092

One other thing I forgot to mention. The rear whees/tires have never been Roadforce balanced. I know the Z has a pretty stiff chassis from the factory, but do you think any tire or wheel imperfection in either or both of the rear wheels would be able to transfer the vibration to the front of the car through the steering wheel? I do have the same feeling/vibration through the floorboard (not so much in the seats) and deadpedal, so maybe I should get the rear wheels and tires looked at? Anyway, that's what my suspension guy recommended too - to get the rear wheels/tires Roadforce balanced.

__________________
Ark | H&R | iSimple | Moweraxle | OnEighty | Osram | RJM I Sylvania I TWM | Wincos | Z1 | ZSpeed