Wheel Balancing
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2004
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Wheel Balancing
Recently bought an 02 coupe and need some advice. I want to get an alignment done and have all wheels balanced. What is the best way? Static balancing or dynamic? I hate wheel weights on the outside of the rim. Thanks!
Le Mans Master
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From: Madison (Huntsville) Alabama
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Dynamic balancing is the only method that I know of. They take the wheels off the car, put it on a machine that spins the wheel and tire up to speed, and the machine indicates where and how much weight is needed. After attaching the weights, they spin it up again to make sure it's balanced. It also indicates whether to put weights on the outside or inside of the wheel. You can opt for stick-on weights that are put on the inner surface of the wheel, or for clip-ons that are put on the outside or inside or both.
There used to be an 'on the car' dynamic balancing which used a machine that somewhat resembled a large floor jack that was placed in contact with each wheel that would spin it up. I haven't seen that used in many years.
I doubt that you can even get a tire/wheel static balanced any more, or at least the kind I remember. They'd take the wheel off, lay it horizontally on a machine, and balance with a built-in bullet-type spirit level by trial and error. I'm fairly certain that is from the long distant past.
There used to be an 'on the car' dynamic balancing which used a machine that somewhat resembled a large floor jack that was placed in contact with each wheel that would spin it up. I haven't seen that used in many years.
I doubt that you can even get a tire/wheel static balanced any more, or at least the kind I remember. They'd take the wheel off, lay it horizontally on a machine, and balance with a built-in bullet-type spirit level by trial and error. I'm fairly certain that is from the long distant past.
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Dynamic balancing has always worked for me. I have them use stick on weights to the inside so I don't have those unsightly weights on the outside of the rims.
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From: Hoover Alabama
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
Dynamic balancing has always worked for me. I have them use stick on weights to the inside so I don't have those unsightly weights on the outside of the rims.
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A friend of mine is having his balanced and what they are going to do is. Spin them and determine what weight is required and then unbead the tire and put the weights on the inside of the tire. So that there are now weights showing at all. Sweet.
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Most of the better shops selling performance tires and wheels will have the Hunter 9700 Road Force balancing equipment. If they don't - go somewhere else! 
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Originally Posted by blacksedan87
Most of the better shops selling performance tires and wheels will have the Hunter 9700 Road Force balancing equipment. If they don't - go somewhere else!
