On-Car Balancing

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

I'm just catching up on back posts, and saw that Dan Hussey had a bad 
experience with balancing the tires on the car.  I thought I'd offer 
a note in balance (if others have not already - haven't caught up...)

I prefer having the tires balanced on the car whcn possible.  It does 
offer one big advantage:  It assures that the tire, wheel and rotor 
(or drum, depending on the car) are all balanced.  The upside is that 
IF you have a problem with any of these components, you are well 
taken care of.

The downside is that IF you have a problem with the rotor or drum and 
the wheel is removed and not re-installed in the same position on the 
lugs, then you will have an imbalance.  (If you have no problem with 
the rotor or drum, it is not material.)

This can become a problem when removing and reinstalling wheels, or 
when rotating tires.  BUT - since most cars do not have much ir any 
imbalance in rotors (probably more common with drums) it is not 
usually a problem.  In cases where there is a problem, spin-balancing 
OFF the car is the solution which is most likely to work.

I used to use a Hunter spin-balancer (early 70's) on my '66 GTO tires 
and never had any bump or rumble up to redline in top gear!!  An 
operator who knows his/her biz with an on-car spin balance can do 
incredible work.  (I'd LOVE to buy a used Hunter so I could still 
spin balance my own tires at home......)

But all things considered, an off-the-car spin balance is probably 
the best compromise.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Al Powell                        Voice:  409/845-2807
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