Mount & Balance Wheels: Weights
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Knoxville Tennessee
Mount & Balance Wheels: Weights
Sorry if this has ever been asked but, I searched & didn't find hardly anything on this topic.
When I bought my 02' coupe new, it had flat weights on the edge of the face on the rim. Not liking the look of weights on the face of my wheels I ask the service manager about putting the weights on the back side of the rim. I am getting new rims & was told by the dealership that it was very difficult to get these rims balanced properly (because of the size of the stock rims) if the weights are on the back side of the wheel. I also asked about the ones that are placed inside of the wheel (behind the spoke) that are applied with double sided tape...Same answer...I don't know what those would look like with the 5 spoke stock wheels, I imagine that they would be real easy to see.
Can anyone tell me if it is that big of a difference to put weights on the face or the back side of the wheels to get them balanced properly?
Thanks alot & I am sorry if it has been asked before...
When I bought my 02' coupe new, it had flat weights on the edge of the face on the rim. Not liking the look of weights on the face of my wheels I ask the service manager about putting the weights on the back side of the rim. I am getting new rims & was told by the dealership that it was very difficult to get these rims balanced properly (because of the size of the stock rims) if the weights are on the back side of the wheel. I also asked about the ones that are placed inside of the wheel (behind the spoke) that are applied with double sided tape...Same answer...I don't know what those would look like with the 5 spoke stock wheels, I imagine that they would be real easy to see.
Can anyone tell me if it is that big of a difference to put weights on the face or the back side of the wheels to get them balanced properly?
Thanks alot & I am sorry if it has been asked before...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
A really proper balance job will have weights on both sides of the rim, because a good balancing machine will sense where the light spot of the tire is, and call for the weight to be placed there. Since most machines assume the use of "clip-on" weights, the machine's computer uses the rim flanges to call out a mounting point.
Some of the really sophisticated balancers, like the Hunter road force machine, have the ability to call out "behind the spoke" locations for the weights, as long as the operator programs the machine to do that. Most "dealership" people just aren't as fussy, so that's the brush-off you'll get at a dealer.
Some of the really sophisticated balancers, like the Hunter road force machine, have the ability to call out "behind the spoke" locations for the weights, as long as the operator programs the machine to do that. Most "dealership" people just aren't as fussy, so that's the brush-off you'll get at a dealer.
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I have both sets of wheels for my car balanced to where there are no weights on the outside rim. The shop put weights right behind the spokes and then on the back of the wheel (used the 1/4 oz stick on types). My wheels are balanced just fine with no shake at all. If the technician is good, the wheels can be balanced without putting the weights to the outside.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 152
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From: Knoxville Tennessee
Put the new rims on this morning & I had the guy use the stick on type. I'm not really fond of how they look if you get close enough but, they still look better than the outside clip on weights. It is also to my understanding that when Chevrolet puts those on at the factory that the weights actually damage the rim where they are put on. I am going to be very happy with the stick ons opposed to damage, that's for sure!
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Columbia MD
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
I have both sets of wheels for my car balanced to where there are no weights on the outside rim. The shop put weights right behind the spokes and then on the back of the wheel (used the 1/4 oz stick on types). My wheels are balanced just fine with no shake at all. If the technician is good, the wheels can be balanced without putting the weights to the outside.
NOTE: the wheels on the C6 come balanced on the inside from the factory, as do all Porsches - nuff said.
