Road force tire/wheel balance

Nobody balances wheels on the vehicles anymore, no matter what you've read (ahem). Not even F1 or NASCAR does that. The rotors are small enough in diameter that an out of balance issue isn't too horrible. Balance the tire/wheel assembly, and you're good to go. We have a balance here, but if I were to pay a shop to do it, I'd ask for a calibrations sheet beforehand. Odds are, it's never been calibrated.

 

Some dumb car forum. Something about how all the 'best shops' balance on the vehicle.

 

I think something is way out of balance over there.

 

There is still one guy here in Tennessee who does on the vehicle balancing. First step for him mounting new tires is to check the bare rims for runout. If they pass he mounts the tires then makes a couple mile circle to set the tires on the rims and heat the tires a bit. As soon as he pulls back in the shop the vehicle is raised to remove the weight from the tires. He then removes the wheels from the vehicle and trues the tires. Next he balances each rim and tire on ancient "Bear" equipment that literally uses a balance beam ( Best I can explain it) to the point where a glass of water placed on the end of the beams has no ripples at a wheel rotation speed of around 90 mph. Wheels placed back on the vehicle and spun up to the same speed with that electric motor powered roller on a cart. While he spins the individual wheels he holds a pencil against the fender watching for vibration from the rotor or drum. From experience, he adds or moves weights until his pencil is motionless.
I have never experienced modern balancing that can match his work. 0 to over 150 mph perfectly smooth. Sean, the rotors on all my junk are huge, even that 2006 Mercedes has big rotors, are you speaking about standard domestic vehicles ? I have to agree about most balancers receiving zero maintence, bolt it to the floor then run it till it quits seems to be standard practice.

 

Rotors shouldn't be out of balance by much after they are machined (good ones), and a lot of their mass is near the center. On the other hand, tires aren't machined. Each one is a little different. You balance a wheel/tire assembly perfect, you'd never notice a slightly out of balance rotor (even if it was). NASCAR teams do balance the rotors, but they also spin 3x faster than most cars will see.

That dude is wasting his time, and if were to buy a new Hunter balancer it would pay for itself with the time he saves.

 

Those old guys that really know their craft are something special...and, I'm afraid, a dying breed. Always enjoy your stories, Hillbilly.

 

Definitely. When a fellow was around long enough to attend school with Jesus, he's built up a nice collection of tales!!

 

Jesus knew nothing about wheel balancing.

 

He knew better than to try it with the wheel on the car, that much we know.

 

That should have gone without saying, but thanks.

We have a Coats DirectDrive at work. I had new tires put on the C-class (we also have a tire changer, but it's not a low-profile tire friendly one), and they were balanced. At highway speeds, I noticed a slight vibration in the steering wheel - this was 6 months after the install. I can drive for months without hitting 55 mph, because we live in the boonies. I put them on our Coats and found they were off a little off. The next highway trip it was smooth, like butter. That's when I asked Costco for their calibration certificate. Which they did not provide.

 

Why the hell are you bothering them?

 

They installed and balanced the tires. Jesus was off that day.

 

You could have mentioned that, Willy. And of course He was off that day or they would have been done right, no need to mention that.

 

Glad you didn't.

 

Is Jesus ASE Certified and if he is what in blazes is he doing at Costco ?

 

Sam's Club didn't need him.

 

He is that, and a big ol' bag of chips. Costco pays better than that slave factory Sams.

 

Wait - "blazes" ? Won't that get you in trouble?? Better get to church quick.

 

Not that Jesus! For Christ sake, get a grip.

 

C'mon in! Make it on-topic, though. There's another thread for 'that'.