Steel wheels - more on balancing

[david.g.chapman]

I have had a recurring problem with balancing steel wheels at my local tyre centres (National, Kwik-Fit etc).

I have just lost balance on my front wheels and now have steering shake at 75 mph. Two attempts by the local tyre shop have been unable to fix the problem. When I looked closely at their set-up, I see that a cone is used to "centre" the wheel on the balancer.

This cone just touches the wheel at the rim of the centre hole, not on the tapered face around the hole as the wheel nut does. This is because the cone angle is too sharp (pointy). From what I can see, there is no guarantee that the two contact "rings" are concentric, especially as the quality of these wheels is less than perfect.

I this is the case, a perfect balance cannot be achieved unless you have the right cone angle to match the mounting on the car. Even a fraction of a millimeter out will have an effect.
Does anyone know of a tyre shop in the UK Essex area that has the adaptors to mount the wheel correctly?

Note that on the car balancing has all but died out in my neck of the woods.

Dave Chapman

[david.g.chapman]

I have fixed the balance problem, but only by trial and error - driving up and down the same fast stretch of road and fiddling about with weights.

By removing one 20 gram weight the steering went from bad - a strong 10mm vibration at the steering wheel rim (a small wheel as well) - to almost zero.

Needless to say, I have marked the wheels and a stud to keep them in the same orientation.

I wonder how CN, PM and the others do it?

Dave Chapman.

[stuartgb100]

David,

I, also, distrust the usual high street outlets. I'm thinking along the lines of finding a (local to me) Racing outfit and talk to them. Must be something to learn there.....

Regards,
Stuart.

[tower of strength]

Having watched with great amusement the local Kwikfit oik destroy the scrap tyre he was trying to remove from a +2 alloy rim (tyre was knackered and rim needed painting), I elected to have the job completed and the replacement tyres fitted by an independant outfit in Dunstable, the guys there were both knowledgeable (Oh no, not those bloody things!) very understanding and competant. (they advised and obtained the correct type of tube for these rims ) the balancing was done on a modern machine , with several trial fits of cones to suit the rim.

if you fancy a shaky trip to Dunstable and a smooth ride home try Chiltern Tyre and Exhaust on 01582 609600

Mark

[david.g.chapman]

Thanks Mark and Stuart,

I will see if I can live with what I have done so far - If not it is off to Dunstable!

Dave.

[david.g.chapman]

More sad thoughts on the subject...

A 65mm diameter steel tube with a good wall thickness (5mm or so) could be the solution. The length is not important - say 1 inch.

If the ends are rounded, one end of the tube will lock onto the cone of the balancer, and the other end will nestle in the wheel nut taper on the wheel.

Tighten up the balancer and we have a centralised wheel - just like on the car! The back plate of the balancer presses against the flat part at the back of the wheel where the 5 holes are.

Oh yes.. the tube ends must be accurately machined to be square with the tube body, which itself must be perfectly straight - to within 1 thou at least.

I will see if I can get one made and let you all know.

Dave Chapman.