Centramatic Wheel Balancers

[bjbear]

Just installed a couple of sets of Centramatic Wheel Balancers. First test drive did not show that much improvement, but things were already pretty smooth as I just had new tires and some front end work (new ball joints, drag link and steering stabilizer) done a couple of weeks ago. We are heading out on a long trip (3000 km ++) on Sunday so we will see how it goes. Will report back after the trip.

[billyray50]

BradW wrote:

NRALIFR wrote:
Once any dynamic balancing media is installed inside a tire, it's then impossible to spin-balance the tire/wheel combo without removing the dynamic media first.

Never thought about that. That would be a major drawback.

That's what I was told too...

[BradW]

NRALIFR wrote:
Once any dynamic balancing media is installed inside a tire, it's then impossible to spin-balance the tire/wheel combo without removing the dynamic media first.

Never thought about that. That would be a major drawback.

[NRALIFR]

Once any dynamic balancing media is installed inside a tire, it's then impossible to spin-balance the tire/wheel combo without removing the dynamic media first. The word "dynamic" means "characterized by constant change". Spin balancing machines require the rotating mass to be constant in order for them to determine the correct spots to place the weights.

I've never used Equal, but I have used DynaBeads on several types of tires. They work very well on my truck tires, as long as there are no physical defects with the tire or wheel. Dynamic balancing can only correct balance irregularities, not physical defects like a bent wheel or oval shaped tire.

I've also learned from personal experience that dynamic balancing media doesn't work very well on low-profile tires, so I don't use them on our cars any longer.

:):)

[Reddog1]

As you previously stated, no point in balancing a square tire.

[billyray50]

They removed the equal media and cleaned out the inside of tires. No beads. Then tried to balance them with weights. One thing they did not do is road force the tires. This shop does not do that which is surprising since they service and stock 19.5 and 22.5 RV and bus tires. Stated not needed if tires are not defective Found another commercial tire shop that does road force balance.

[HMS_Beagle]

Maybe the "equal media is was a clumpy liquid mess" was the real problem? For dynamic balancers to work, the weights must be free to move around the perimeter. It seems like anything inside the tire has an additional problem in that the tire flexes at the road continuously while driving. Centramatics keep the weights on a track concentric with the axle (which is what you want here) and prevents them from changing character as the Equal apparently did. Also, of course, you can balance the wheels conventionally so that they at least start close to balanced.

[billyray50]

Well based my personal experience so far as regards to my earlier posts here. American Tire distributors are going to replace my existing Dyna Trac 245/70r/19.5 16 ply load H with new ones next week due to lifetime defect warranty. I will not have any equal put in the new replacement tires for 2 reasons. In my quest to get the defective tires balanced the first 5000 miles I had a real hard time finding any shop to want to balance the tires with any balancing media. Most do not want to touch them. Second reason is when the Plano commercial tire here in Dallas recommend getting the equal out... When they removed the equal media is was a clumpy liquid mess. I am only airing down or up the rear tires when unloading and loading from 100 psi to 80 psi. Hopefully will not need anything to balance new ones. If I had to though I would maybe look into magna Dyna Beads or Centramatics.

[BradW]

http://youtu.be/ullnFQD4F1I

What I would like to see in that video is, are the results repeatable. In other words if he starts and stops that wheel several times and lights it up with the strobe, do the balls always end up in the same place?

Equal works for some people. It definitely does not work if you get a lot of moisture in your tire. Offroad folks air up and down their tires frequently, so they can end up with a lot of moisture in their tires.

[BradW]

pappawheely wrote:
I run 37" tires on beadlock wheels. Worst case scenario for conventional balancing. I run Centramatics. They give me an incredible ride quality and I can take my beadlocks apart to repair a tire and put them back together and they will be just as balanced.

In my 40 years of working with vehicles I have maybe seen one tire that did not require balancing. That covers everything from low profile racing tires to 40 inch tall mud tires. I had a set of street tires trued on my sportscar many years ago and they still needed some weight to balance. At a minimum, you need to compensate for the valve stem. I love my Centramatics!

I have 36" Swampers on Allied beadlocks on our TJ. I use internal weighted tire patches to balance. I've thought about buying some Centramatics for years, but reading owner's reports on the internet, they seem to be hit or miss. If I knew they worked, I would definitely buy some for my jeep and big truck.

http://youtu.be/ullnFQD4F1I

[billyray50]

Thanks Wayne. My Bilsteins shocks are only a year and a half old. The first truck tire shop I took it too back in July I watched them did the spin test after I suggest it. 2 out of 4 were out of round But for a truck tire shop the service techs were not well trained with the 19.5s. They advised to take it to commercial tire a few miles away. As in my earlier posts in this thread Commercial tire remounted the tires in the pics I posted here on this thread. Much improved but not 100% still was some vibration Tires went back to being real bad after I had them rotated last week. Most places will not balance these tires with balancing media in them.

I ended up calling wheel rack online after posting today and told me they are going set me up with an authorized Dynatrac tire shop near me in Dallas and will replace all 4 tires if they are defective. Lifetime defect warranty on these tires. Learned Dyna trac has distributors all over the country. I will update soon.

[Reddog1]

It is not difficult to see if a tire/wheel is out of round. Due to how the Vision wheels are machined, very unlikely they would be out of round.

Jack up one wheel. Spin the tire. look at the tread as it spins. If it is out of round it should be pretty obvious. At one time you could have tires trued. Most likely at a big rig truck alignment shop.

Sometimes, you can identify the high spot on a tire, dismount the tire, rotate it and it would be just fine. They do not always seat on the bead correctly. Often you can look at the tire where it touches the rim, and see it is not equal all around the wheel.

I can say, from personal experience this past week. I have an in-cab controller for my shocks. They have a slow leak. I was on the highway and at 65 and up had a vibration, not major but obvious. I then noticed I had no air in my front shocks. While driving, I aired up the shocks and the vibration went away. My point is, could be your shocks are too weak.

As for tire vibration, I have been told by several tire balance shops, if the vibration is felt in the steering wheel the front tires or wheels are the problem. If the vibration is felt in the seat, then the rear tires and/or wheels are the problem. If vibration is in both, then front and rear tires and/or wheels have issues.

Wayne

[billyray50]

Well drove it around town and it felt better at under 50 mph but when I got up to highway speed at 55 mph to 68 mph still shaking and vibration. Brought it back this morning to them and manager called me back and said that all 4 Dyna trac 245/70r/19.5 load H tires were defective?? DW ...whose is already not too happy bout this wheels and tire investment :E drove me down to the shop. Spoke with the manager and he explained to me the situation. I asked him how can this be and he says they deal with this all the time. Asked him if Road force balance would help and he says think of it this way you can balance a square but it is still a square... This shop has been in business for 30 years and they have a huge stock of 19.5 tires, Michelins, Bridgestone's..etc.... and have major contracts with Verizon and power company trucks with 19.5s. Well now I am totally confused.. Do I call the manufacturer? Do I take it to another commercial shop. Already taken truck to 4 other commercial tire shops since I mounted these tires and all of them has different opinions. By the way had the Vision wheels checked and are fine. Help!!

[Reddog1]

So, do you have any problems?

Wayne

[billyray50]

*** HELP!!!! Well Just when I was bragging about my 19.5 wheel and tire setup I am back to where I started in my earlier posts here on this thread regarding vibration and shaking at speeds between 58 to 70 mph empty no load after just having tires rotated and not balanced after the first 5000 miles since firestone cannot balance these tires when tires have balancing media inside. Had my local firestone rotate them since I bought the lifetime rotate/balance /alignment package in 2009 before the TC lifestyle. On my return trip home from upstate New York The Vision wheels Dyna trac 890s ride was better, still had a little vibration and shaking at around 55mph and around 68 mph. Not as bad as before Commercial tire air downed and reseated the tires. keep in mind I thought I was still breaking the tires in... Got back to Dallas and truck empty ride was preety good, little vibration again but thought maybe could be front end issue again. Took the truck another shop where I had all of my trucks front end redone and has a certified Cummins tech and he checked the whole front end. Everything checked ok. Asked them if they could recommend of a local commercial tire shop that deals with 19.5s and recommended Plano tire here in Plano, Texas. Brought Truck down there and told them my situation. Got me in right away and advised me to have the balancing media removed from all the tires and then balanced with their hunter machine. I agreed and later that day went down to pick it up after they called and said truck was ready. Asked if they test drove it and said no they did not but should be all good. since it was closing time I told them I would test drive it now and they said just call next day if I have any problems just bring it back.