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MG TD TF 1500 - ROAD FORCE BALANCER

Does any one have any experience getting their tires ballanced with a "ROAD FORCE" Balancer???

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Steve,

You mean one of these (pictured)? I had it done AFTER I had the shop lug-centric balance my wheels. Although the technician looks young (and is also a DJ for parties) his father was one of the best tire men in the Twin Cities and taught him his trade.

I used to think that the hub on the TD road wheel was concentric with the lugs. Not so, as balancing them both ways revealed. There is enough of a difference on some wheels to result in a 1/2 oz. change in weight. After the lug-centric balance, we applied the on car balancer. He does it by feel and a jug of water on the hood... looking for resonances. Although it is really only suitable for the front wheels, the balance achieved by lug-centric means was verified by this method. Of course, then you'll want to keep the orientation of the wheel and the drum consistant in the future.

The whole saga is in the on-going portion of my website.

Of course if you meant something else... nevermind.

warmly,
dave

Dave Braun

Nope,,, this system,,

http://www.gsp9700.com/
STEVE WINCZE

Not familiar with that unit, but I still contend that the best way to balance a tire is with an on-car balancer. Unfortunately not all that many around any more. Have not found one here in Wisconsin yet.

This type of balancing takes into account the whole issue of hubs, drums, bearings etc.
Bruce Cunha

Steve, if I'm not mistaken that's the machine that my local Discount Tire has. If you have one nearby check in with them.

BobbyG
Bobby Galvez

Yes, I have used Road Force tire balancers.
They do work, they can balance slightly bent wheels, & tires that are not quite perfect, better than conventional balancing.
Land Rover & Jaguar dealers have them.I have one at work, but can not get any tech. to use it!!
Len Fanelli

In one of the garages I worked as a kid we did on-car balancing until the advent of disc brakes. Normally the brakes were backed off for zero drag but there was no way to do so with the discs.

The drive motor promptly burned out. The HD unit for discs was too pricy for the boss so we continued with the bubble balancer alone.

Interestingly, the on-car was normally used for problem cars. It was not uncommon to put the required weights in totally different positions than from the bubble balance.
We painted a mark if that happened.

We rarely used the on-car for rear wheels as you had to lock one wheel and spin the other with the engine. Of course it wouldn't work with posi-traction. Most complaints were from front wheels anyway.

We found rear end problems were often drive shaft alignment problems. The pinion and transmission output angles must be the same. Kids installing lift springs would inadvertently change that angle.

I guess this post dates me:-)
JE Carroll

Road force is the ONLY kind I'll use. My tires last a very long time after being balanced by these. Plus they have at time had to index tire to wheel for high spots.

Most all dearlers have the Hunter 9700, around here the Ford, GM, Acura, Toyota, all of them have it, plus my local tire shop. I go to them purely for that reason. They seem to always match the prices I could get from Tire Rack with shipping so that's good enough for me.
L Rutt

Steve

For me Road Force is the way to go.The machine has alerted me to bent wheels on the TR6, and when I balanced the Michelins
on the TF (Steel Wheels) road force was 9 Lbs, 11 Lbs,
8 Lbs, 16 Lbs, and 22 Lbs. The tire/wheel reading 22
pounds of road force is my spare. If I install on any
other cornor the TF shakes and vibrates. I think most
New Car Dealers have these balancers. Note the required procedures. For example the tires should be balanced after driving, if the car has been parked for very long flat spots can fool the the balancer.

DOUG BULTHAUS

How is the Road Force for wire wheels? Do they have the proper hub adapters?
http://www.daytonwirewheels.com/pdf/balancinginstructionsforspline.pdf
Gene Gillam

It used to be that a good tire shop also checked the tire for roundness. I remember having tires shaved to get them perfectly round. Has that gone by the wayside? Are today's tires manufactured that more round?
Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 13/10/2011 and 15/10/2011

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