Wheel balancing

[Hell101]

just did my wheel rotation and balancing,

found out that they've attached an ugly lead clip on my front wheel.

is that the standard procedure?

or it can be done more nicelt ex:clip at the inner part of my rim

 

one more q

is it true that only front wheels required to do balancing?

[Soya]

the weights are strategically placed as such on the outside (or inside) to counter balance the weight on the opposite side of the rim. do not move them. also, the clip on weights at the edge are more effective than those hopeless stick on weights in the centre (to look better, i presume).

[Pisces69]

Hi Hell101,

 

My tire guy uses lead wieghts with sticky glue to paste the weights on the inside of the rims where it is not so obvious but i think sometimes the weight needs to be either on the inside or outside of the rim to be properly balanced.

 

U can balance the rear wheels too. I get all 4 wheels 'off wheel' balanced & rotated at one go. It helps to increase the liftspan of my rear shocks as well.

 

Normally pple get the front wheels balanced only as un-balanced front wheels r more easily noticed as the steering wheel will shudder at certain speeds.

[Vino]

Just changed my tyres recently n this is what i found out. The lead can be placed either in or outside the rim. My was unable to stick inside as it 'knocks' into the brake. It was placed outside eventually.

 

off wheel balancing needed to be done for all wheels but wheel alignment is only for the front two wheels.

 

Hope this helps.

[Pisces69]

off wheel balancing needed to be done for all wheels but wheel alignment is only for the front two wheels.

=======================================

 

FYI. Most cars can do alignment for all 4 wheels.

 

I do the computerised 4 wheel alignment after any work is done on the steering or suspension systems. The mechanical alignment test cannot check the camber angle. It only checks the toe in/out.

[Yeobh]

Basically there few types of wheel weights normally used by the tyre shops. For metal rimes, the clip on weight is normally being used. For alloy rims, due to the edge design many of them cannot take even those specially designed clip on wheel weights. To over come the installation problem many shops use the stick-on weights (unless the weights come with 3M double sided industrial tap, the chance of dropping off in our hot and humide enviroment is very high.)

Clip on weights have many advatages in term of holding strength and ease to remove but have no cosmetic appear. Stick-on weights are nice but may not withinstand long usage. Once sticked to position, removing them is a problem.

Placing of tyre weights is determined by the off-car balancing machine. The tyres are balanced once on the outer plane and follow by the inner plane. For very skill tyreman he can try to place the weight in a estimated central location and then run the wheel again and again to get the best location.

Hope this helps

[Sky8807]

Hi Vino,

Just for info, the weight can be placed on the inside, the shop need to use the thinner type which is more expensive for them, for customer same price. I know that the inner rim is very close to the brake caliper unit. Fact is there are weight specifically for this, this tyre shop you go to, not very professional or up to date or maybe try to con u becos I believe they (shop) shd know abt such weight. Maybe, they run out of such wt and just tell U the bulls story.

Edited January 27, 2005 by Sky8807

[Sky8807]

just did my wheel rotation and balancing,

found out that they've attached an ugly lead clip on my front wheel.

is that the standard procedure?

or it can be done more nicelt ex:clip at the inner part of my rim

 

one more q

is it true that only front wheels required to do balancing?

 

If your is the standard steel rim, then the ugly clip is the most secure method to attached the wt. If alloy rims, then they should use the stick-on type of weight and place it inside as far as possible.

 

In facts, wheel balancing is recommended for all wheels. I did my abt 10K to 15K during tyre rotation. In my case only balance the rear tyres that are moving to the front since the front is alright and does not indicated steering wheel vib and going to the rear.

Edited January 27, 2005 by Sky8807