Wheel weights fell off

lostagain · February 21, 2017, 06:58:13 AM

90% of charter buses and trucks I have driven the last 40 years don't have balanced wheels on them, and they ride nice and smooth. One of the weights installed by the previous owner of my 5C fell off recently (3 oz) on a front wheel, doesn't make any difference, so I won't bother putting it back on.

JC

Lin · February 21, 2017, 08:59:45 AM

We have Centrmatics on all four wheels. I believe that I noticed the difference when they were installed. It's nice that even if you need to change a failed tire, you remain perfectly balanced. They can be expensive, but we were able to find them on Ebay or Craigslist very reasonably. Whatever you want eventually turns up on one of those sites.

Jim Eh. · February 21, 2017, 09:08:33 PM

FYI, 1 oz of weight = 6 lbs of force hitting the pavement. Just because you can't feel it in the seat of your pants doesn't mean it's not there (and not doing damage to your tires/suspension).
I'm just sayin ...

Scott & Heather · February 21, 2017, 09:27:29 PM

I am a believer in keeping all
Of my tires/rims balanced if nothing else to relieve vibration on the drivetrain/suspension components. But I agree, stick on weights especially on the viewable portion of a polished rim is schlocky...same shop that messed up my wheel bearings last summer. Anyway, I'll stick them back on for now. Eventually I'll just get beads.

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B_K · February 21, 2017, 09:59:11 PM

Scott FWIW we used to have the wheels on our buses balanced too.
And the shop that did it would ONLY use the stick on weights as they said they'd had too many complaints of scratches on aluminum wheels from the clip-ons.
But they also took extreme measures to make sure the wheel was clean where the weights were to be applied and I NEVER had one come off before it was removed by them to rebalance a new tire. (and again they took measures to make sure all residue was removed form the old spot!)

BTW I also understand why you have to keep it so smooth riding so Emily can sleep like a baby going down the road. After all she needs all the energy she can get to keep those wheels spit shined for you at the next stop!

BK

Scott & Heather · February 23, 2017, 08:30:04 PM

LoL. Yeah the shop has caused me all kinds of headaches. I'll restick in the same location. And yes Emma loves to kiss the chrome. She's the cutest weirdo this side of Portland.

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dtcerrato · February 23, 2017, 08:54:16 PM

Have you tried centramatic balancers?
We have them on our drive axles - end to any future balancing.