| Author | Message | ||
| Gary Reed (Gary_reed)
Junior Member Username: Gary_reed Post Number: 57 Registered: 2-2002 |
I had the front wheels/tires spin balanced on my QV recently by a frame and alignment shop here in Seattle that works on lots of exotics. It really did make a difference in driving at higher speeds. There is zero steering wheel shake/movement, everything is VERY smooth. The shop told me they spin them "on the car" to about 120mph. You do need to remember to mark the wheels and replace them in the exact same position, if you take them off for any reason. I think it was well worth the extra $20. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 302 Registered: 2-2003 |
Ahh yes, I forgot to add that "wire wheels" were also in the equation! I always ask, what kind of balancer do you use? If they don't say Hunter, I bid them a good day. Sunny | ||
| William Heung (William_heung)
New member Username: William_heung Post Number: 10 Registered: 7-2002 |
The reason, I wanted to do "on Wheel" balancing was I got a strong Vibration which shakes the glove box cover when I over 120 km. I thought it was due to the 30mm rear wheel spacers I have added. If it was then the only way to balance it was on Wheel. During the balancing, we then discover the left side Tie-rod was worn and move about 1/4 inch. This could be culpit and not the wheel spacers. I still need the parts. Where can I get some quotes?? | ||
| William Heung (William_heung)
New member Username: William_heung Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2002 |
The reason, I wanted to do "on Wheel" balancing was I got a strong Vibration which shakes the glove box cover when I over 120 km. I thought it was due to the 30mm rear wheel spacers I have added. If it was then the only way to balance it was on Wheel. During the balancing, we then discover the left side Tie-rod was worn and move about 1/4 inch. This could be culpit and not the wheel spacers. I still need the parts. Where can I get some quotes?? | ||
| Patman36 (Patrickr)
Junior Member Username: Patrickr Post Number: 137 Registered: 4-2002 |
I just had my wheels balanced with Hunter equipment. I watched the whole thing... the machine is pretty neat. Everything is computerized. They put the wheel on the machine and it basically does everything. All the guy has to do is put the weight on. You can go to www.hunter.com and search for a Hunter equipped shop near you  Patrick | ||
| Rob Schermerhorn (Rexrcr)
Member Username: Rexrcr Post Number: 504 Registered: 11-2002 |
I've seen this one used many times. It's the *hit for sure! Costs over $10,000. | ||
| Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Member Username: Lawrence Post Number: 573 Registered: 4-2002 |
Finding an out of round tire is simple. Raise the wheel about 1/8 inch off the pavement. Put flashlight or other source of illumination behind wheel on ground. Turn wheel by hand and look from side opposite illumination source. You can easily see if a tire is out of round. | ||
| John Whelan (Fodee)
New member Username: Fodee Post Number: 38 Registered: 10-2001 |
Go to a tire dealer that uses a "load force measurement" on the wheel/tire combination. The balancer is made by Hunter. Most vibration is the result of the tire being out of round and not being out of balance. This balancer can balance most wheel tire combinations by matching the tire and wheel combination by simply rotating the tire on the wheel. Most Ferrari dealers have them and some Discount Tire locations. | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 500 Registered: 6-2002 |
Has anyone tried to balance a wheel without the tire mounted? I ask this question to suggest that dynamic balancing is, contrary to other's opinion, unlikely to yield significant benefit. Assume for a moment that the naked wheel is "perfectly" balanced. It is the tire, therefore, that we are compensating for when balancing and adding weights. The tire is at, perhaps, 1.5 to 2 times greater distance from the axis of rotation then the brake drum or rotor. Thus, unbalanced weight at the rotor will impact balance by the above fraction. (1 ounce imbalance at the tire represent 1/2 ounce at the outer radius of the rotor). Furthermore, modern manufacturing must provide for balanced rotors. I believe that little will be gained by dynamic balancing in 2003. This may not have been the case in 1963. When balancing wire wheels one is balancing the wheel as well as the tire. Jim S. | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Intermediate Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 1260 Registered: 11-2002 |
>>Try taking a restored, top to bottom, 54 XK140 fixed head coupe or a 56 XK140 open two seater or a fine condition 71 XKE roadster down a busy stretch of the 5 or 101 freeways at 80mph or 90mph with traffic. There is a lack of "harmony" not because of safety or poor components, but from design and modern conditions. << Interesting, I'm working on a 55 XK140 open 2 seater and before I finish the customer wanted me to check his rear wheels for balance, because he says he can feel the rear shaking somewhat. I'll have look and see if it's balance issues or wire wheels, then try the on car balancing. | ||
| Rob Schermerhorn (Rexrcr)
Member Username: Rexrcr Post Number: 494 Registered: 11-2002 |
William, I know of this method, it's not worth the time. Brake and other rotational components are dynamically balanced enough. Just dynamically balance the wheels off the car. The theory is to compensate and balance all rotating parts. In practice, it's not worth it. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 292 Registered: 2-2003 |
Some cars are not made to be towed on the rear wheels. My first loves, my sedans, are not. BMWs might be the same way for some models. In my owners manuals it says 5 miles if absolutely necessary, otherwise, serious damage can result. I'm curious as to how balancing on the rear would have the same result.. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 291 Registered: 2-2003 |
A potentally serious problem in design perhaps. Try taking a restored, top to bottom, 54 XK140 fixed head coupe or a 56 XK140 open two seater or a fine condition 71 XKE roadster down a busy stretch of the 5 or 101 freeways at 80mph or 90mph with traffic. There is a lack of "harmony" not because of safety or poor components, but from design and modern conditions. Then, raise the SAME car from a corner in the air with a prior MACHINE balanced tire, spin the tire to that speed, and watch the way the suspension and the body move - they have a slight vibration. Then, watch a balancer remove the SAME weights, and add them back in DIFFERENT places minus or plus an ounce to the SAME tire until that slight vibration disappears and the tire is balanced WITH the car in unison. Then, take the same car on the road and there is a noticible difference in handling, comfort, and safety. A modern method for a modern car built with modern design and components is fine! A old car requires a fine touch that modern cars do not require. Believe me. Try it, you'll like it. | ||
| Dave Burch (Merlyn)
Junior Member Username: Merlyn Post Number: 54 Registered: 8-2002 |
Benefits of �on car balancing� are that the entire tire, wheel, hub, and brake rotor mass is balanced as a unit. If you do this you must be sure to replace tire/wheel assy. in the same relative place on hub if you remove a wheel. To get a good balance new tires should be driven about 500 miles then rebalanced when final tire �set� has taken place. The statement about damaging the gearbox or differential sounds bogus to me as those cars are commonly towed without difficulty. Truth is I doubt many on car tire balancers have sufficient torque to turn the rear wheels fast enough to be effective. | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 642 Registered: 8-2001 |
Sunny: What you are suggesting is dangerous!!!! It appears that you are compensating for other suspension problems, with a balancing done on the car. This makes no sense to me at all. I consider a suspension problem to be a potential hazard in driving. I would rather have it properly fixed, as opposed to "covering it up" by balancing of the wheels on the car. Even if you could "cover it up", as the suspension problem gets worse, the balancing is off, again. What now......re-balance the wheels? It is these cases that show me there are people who can afford to buy the car, but can't afford to fix it.......what scares me is, even when they do it to cover up a potentially serious problem! | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 289 Registered: 2-2003 |
For older cars and older suspensions, in my experience, balancing on the car is the fine touch that a Hunter balancer cannot account for. Take a ride in a Hunter balanced XKE with a good suspension and excellent alignment at high speed over a bumpy road. Then, have the wheels balanced on the car, and then take it up to high speed on the same stretch of road. There is a noticible difference. Especially the older the car is. For a modern suspension on a modern car, I wouldn't do it and don't think you will notice that difference if everything else is in proper order. | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 640 Registered: 8-2001 |
Taking drive shafts off? That will take hours.......WHAT are you trying to accomplish? | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 639 Registered: 8-2001 |
What is so wrong with balancing the wheels off the car? MUCH easier!!!!!!! | ||
| William Heung (William_heung)
New member Username: William_heung Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2002 |
Dear Gang, I took my 348TB to the tyre shop on Saturday and try to balance the wheels by "On Wheel balancing" without taking the wheels off. I was told they can only do the front wheels as the rear has the drive shaft connected and could damaged the Gear box and differecial. They said they damaged a BMW previous but I not sure if it was an Auto Transmission. Can this be true? If it is can we take the drive shafts off during the balancing? I also need a new Tie-rod. Who can I order it by mail in the USA? |