I went to discount tire the other day to have my wheels balanced, I have the front end shakes at highway speeds and there are no wheel weights on any of my wheels, so I assume that is why.

anyway, (after waiting 45 min) they pulled my first wheel off, and the guy brought out one of the washers, said it was broken off from the wheel and too rusty to work on.

1. Aren't those washers normally separate? Guy is off his rocker?
2. All I saw was a bit of surface rust I can clean off with a wire brush, how much rust is too much?

thanks