Tire Balancing...MUST READ!

[crozhawk]

Thanks cool, well here's the update . .....when I originally went into the shop, I asked the guy to also take off my old spacers because the new TRD wheels have the proper offset ..etc. When he delivered my 4R back to me, he explained that the spacers had to remain for clearance issues......blah, blah, blah (do I sound frustrated!!?? ) ....this morning I took off all four wheels and spacers. I found that they did not mount one of the front wheels properly and there were actually metal shavings from the lug holes of the new rim ....it wasn't seated properly. I put all 4 rims back on without the spacers and torqued them by hand to reinstall. you guessed it, plenty of clearance and smooth like buttah! The balancing machine is fantastic, it actually drives smoother than with my old wheels .... the problem was just putting the wheels back on the truck....just wish I didn't have to do it myself after paying for it, atleast it's all good now:

 

[coolpop]

Thanks cool, well here's the update . .....when I originally went into the shop, I asked the guy to also take off my old spacers because the new TRD wheels have the proper offset ..etc. When he delivered my 4R back to me, he explained that the spacers had to remain for clearance issues......blah, blah, blah (do I sound frustrated!!?? ) ....this morning I took off all four wheels and spacers. I found that they did not mount one of the front wheels properly and there were actually metal shavings from the lug holes of the new rim ....it wasn't seated properly. I put all 4 rims back on without the spacers and torqued them by hand to reinstall. you guessed it, plenty of clearance and smooth like buttah! The balancing machine is fantastic, it actually drives smoother than with my old wheels .... the problem was just putting the wheels back on the truck....just wish I didn't have to do it myself after paying for it, atleast it's all good now:

Sweet. Glad that YOU could solve the problem because vibration is one thing that will piss me off to no end.

It is simply amazing to me that incompetence seems to rule the world.

 

[4runnerndachi]

Ive called 4 places, and no one has heard of these things...
does anyone know of a place in the chicago area that may have these tools

 

[Toyboomer]

Haweka balance equip.

Go to Thai's posting at the beginning of this thread and while I forget exactly, Haweka or one of the associated companies has a search function for those shops in your area that use this type equipment.

 

[Thai]

Ive called 4 places, and no one has heard of these things...
does anyone know of a place in the chicago area that may have these tools

Most reputable Toyota dealership should have all of these equipment.

 

[BC4Runner]

This is why I had my Revo's installed by the dealer. I got the 265/65/17 at $148 per tire, balanced on the best equipment and didn't have to worry about some yahoo screwing up the TPMS.

I'm a happy camper!

 

[blaniac22]

I just bought a 2007 T4R about two months ago and thanks to this site I was able to get my steering vibration solved. Off the lot it shook at highway speeds - took it back a week later and was told 3 of the 4 tires were out of balance. It seemed better, but still not where it should be....I read a lot on here....then it got worse again - or maybe it's just because I went on a little longer trip.

At any rate - went back in and actually asked about road force balancing, the adapter and all of the checks...the service manager assured me that's how it would be done. I got a call a few hours later and was told there were 2 tires with a high road force...they replaced those under warranty and it rides nice and smooth now.

FYI - I have the Dunlops.

Thanks to everyone!

 

[Thai]

Good to hear another successful story...and glad that you're a member on this forum!

 

[24Mitchell21]

I'm pretty new to the site, but I've appreciated all the information here. I bought an '07 sport edition and I've had vibration since my first rotation/balance. I had mine done at a Sear's Auto Center. I use to always have my 3rd generation 4runner serviced there, and I always had terrible vibration. They told me that it was that the tires I bought off of them (BF Goodrich A/T) were just hard to keep balanced. I'm going to check the noted links and see if Sear's offers any of those options. I'll let you all know how it turns out. I REALLY hope I can get my vibration solved like everyone else. More to come...

 

[Ceehris]

LOL all you guys crack me up about tires. flange plate adapter, gsp9700 LOL. Ive done tires for 3 years I own a 90 T4R and half you guys posting on this forum about how to balance tires and with what dont remotely know what you are talking about. Yes measuring radial runout is always a goodthing. As the tire should always be indexed with the wheel. Excessive runout will create problems with ride quality/comfort. but honestly unless you have a cupped or seperated tire. you should not have to worry about this at all. as Most tires unless your buying some over seas crap should balance up quite well and should match with the wheel with no problems. As for flange adapter plate, wtf are you talking about. as long as the centerhole diameter fits the proper cone you are using with the balancer and is properly centered onto the balancer then you dont have to worry about shit.
I guess what I am really trying to say in this heap of crap I just typed is..... dont assume people who are mounting and balancing your tires do not have the proper knowledge and equiptment to do the job properly!

 

[rook]

LOL all you guys crack me up about tires. flange plate adapter, gsp9700 LOL. Ive done tires for 3 years I own a 90 T4R and half you guys posting on this forum about how to balance tires and with what dont remotely know what you are talking about. Yes measuring radial runout is always a goodthing. As the tire should always be indexed with the wheel. Excessive runout will create problems with ride quality/comfort. but honestly unless you have a cupped or seperated tire. you should not have to worry about this at all. as Most tires unless your buying some over seas crap should balance up quite well and should match with the wheel with no problems. As for flange adapter plate, wtf are you talking about. as long as the centerhole diameter fits the proper cone you are using with the balancer and is properly centered onto the balancer then you dont have to worry about shit.
I guess what I am really trying to say in this heap of crap I just typed is..... dont assume people who are mounting and balancing your tires do not have the proper knowledge and equiptment to do the job properly!

Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

 

[coolpop]

Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Agreed. So...the Hunter 9700 just exists for no reason and shops spend, what, $20,000 for the machine bc they like to waste money? And certified Toyota master techs know nothing also? Yeah, I guess we're all just dummies on this forum, idiotic, uneducated morons in comparison (though I will tell you Ceehris, your post can use a LOT of grammatical correction).

And...hmmm...I guess the vibration that I had when I bought my new Urban Runner last month, which was corrected after the 9700 detected two out of round Michelin tires, was what, just a lucky shot in the dark? My Urban now rides as smooth as glass. I must make sure to contact the idiot service manager who replaced my tires and the idiot tech who balanced them and tell them how fortunate they were to luckily correct such an annoying problem.

 

[004Gunner]

Thanks for this post Thai! I just had my tires balanced today on a GSP9700 with the lug centric adapter and it completely eliminated the highway vibration. It was the worst around 65-70 mph and the mechanic told me 3 of the 4 tires were off by 1 1/2 to 2 ounces. The mechanic said he wasn't surprised when I told him none of the dealerships I called had no idea what I was talking about. He also said he doesn't know why tire shops don't have this machine since it can rule out bad tires, bad wheels, and match up tires and wheels to cancel out abnormalities. I would definitely recommend anyone with vibration issues try this first and ask their shop if lug centric balancing can be done. :thumb3:

 

[Thai]

Thanks for this post Thai! I just had my tires balanced today on a GSP9700 with the lug centric adapter and it completely eliminated the highway vibration. It was the worst around 65-70 mph and the mechanic told me 3 of the 4 tires were off by 1 1/2 to 2 ounces. The mechanic said he wasn't surprised when I told him none of the dealerships I called had no idea what I was talking about. He also said he doesn't know why tire shops don't have this machine since it can rule out bad tires, bad wheels, and match up tires and wheels to cancel out abnormalities. I would definitely recommend anyone with vibration issues try this first and ask their shop if lug centric balancing can be done. :thumb3:

Cool. Glad to be helpful.

 

[EVOL ARDNUT]

Do ALL DISCOUNT TIRE stores have this machine or the HAKEWA adapter?

They should, right?

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Do ALL DISCOUNT TIRE stores have this machine or the HAKEWA adapter?

They should, right?

To my knowledge yes...

 

[Mechanic]

I hate to say it, but I'm kinda with ceerhis on this matter. Not that it's going make a difference weather 2 newbs agree on something or not.

I don't know much about this new adapter. All I know, is the procedure that my shop follows when balancing a tire.

Step one, peel tires off rim and run rims alone on balancer
Step two, install new tires on rims already prooven to be strait and balanced
Step three, run all tires on balancer, install weights
Step four, take vehicle for test drive, running through all speeds to make sure no vibration.

Thats it. The shop I work at isn't a tire shop, but does have all the proper equipment, it's not a dealer either, it's family owned and run(except me). They have a 6 year old balancer with all of the proper cone adapters and they have never had a single costumer complane that their tires were vibrating after taking it to this shop. The reason for that is simple. It's not because they have the latest and greatest technology, it's because they run a calibration on their machine every 10 sets of tires they balance, and every time they bump the shaft, and because they drive the vehicle afterwards to make sure the job was done properly. That's it. The owner of the shop(who is 65) told me this summer he is going to show me how they used to balance tires when he got his mechanic ticket, with a cone on the floor and a buble ruler. A balance can be done properly that way as well it just takes longer and has a lower success level.

Now, I'm sorry if I've offended with this post, I certainly don't want to start making enimies so early on. But what I'm trying to get at is that, these machines are great, honestly real cool and makes a mechanics job so much easier. But it just makes it easier, that's it. These new machines just help you detect what is wrong with the tire without having to take it for a test drive and waste time.

 

[scenic-seeker]

Wow, I have nothing but praises for the gsp9700 road force tire balance machine.

Since I haven't read much about "drifting" at highway speeds I have pass along my experience. My 05 4runner would stray off course and I continually had to counter steer to keep her straight. Not a big problem, but really annoying. But after installing 5100 billy's and an alignment, my front end started shaking.

Thanks to Thai I was able to locate a shop using this machine and for something like $30, both of my problems were corrected! Sorry, I don't know if they used a Hawaka adapter or not and they did not give me any reports. I have original 17" wheels and Michelin tires.

In 6 months I will be buying new tires and for the money, I believe the gsp9700 will assure a good ride and good tires.

 

[pauls4runner]

The shop I work in, we have the 9700 and the lug centric plate. One thing to keep in mind. A tool is only as good as the person working it.

 

[vipergrhd]

3 years?

LOL all you guys crack me up about tires. flange plate adapter, gsp9700 LOL. Ive done tires for 3 years I own a 90 T4R and half you guys posting on this forum about how to balance tires and with what dont remotely know what you are talking about. Yes measuring radial runout is always a goodthing. As the tire should always be indexed with the wheel. Excessive runout will create problems with ride quality/comfort. but honestly unless you have a cupped or seperated tire. you should not have to worry about this at all. as Most tires unless your buying some over seas crap should balance up quite well and should match with the wheel with no problems. As for flange adapter plate, wtf are you talking about. as long as the centerhole diameter fits the proper cone you are using with the balancer and is properly centered onto the balancer then you dont have to worry about ****.
I guess what I am really trying to say in this heap of crap I just typed is..... dont assume people who are mounting and balancing your tires do not have the proper knowledge and equiptment to do the job properly!

What a pointless rambling,where have you been in the last decade?not trying to be jack*** why don't you do a bit of research before you speak like you know everything there is to know about tires and balancing.I have been wrenching for 23 years and just like anything time change and you have to keep up with the times.