Balance Masters ---Installed---

[Matt400]

I am also curious as to why one would need to remove ALL static weights... If the Balance Masters can eliminate vibrations from out of balance wheels, why can't they eliminate vibrations from wheels that are only slightly out of balance???

It could be they "need" to see some out of balance to work effectively. For example if a tire/wheel was in balance then the media inside the product would have a hard time figuring out where to locate itself since it relies on the upward swing of the assembly.



Sounds confusing but if you take a look at this product and how it works I bet the theory is the same.



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[ILIANBG]

I went yesterday to Balance Masters to see for myself, as I am a bit skeptical about those balancers. Actually I was surprised how well these are made. I also had a chance to compare it to the Centramatics. I do not want to say anything bad about the Centramatics, but there are few big differences- when you move it around you can actually hear the beads rolling, it makes sense that they create noise. I will go with the Balance Masters. To me there was no comparison. I am lucky they are so close to me - couple of miles away. So, I'll be getting two pairs of those next week (front and rear), they'll have it ready for me.
Thank you all for bringing these product to our attention.
Ilian

 

[prestinb]

Ilianbg,

Let us know how they work out for you.

Prestinb

 

[Barry]

We will all be right here staring at the screen awaiting, in earnest expectation, your report... ... ... ... .



Hurry, inquiring minds want to know!!

 

[ILIANBG]

Ok I promise you to write back with my impressions on it.

Ilian

 

[SKehoe]

I went to Balance Masters today too and was very impressed with the quality of the product. I have a Sterling 4500 Bullet ( Dodge 4500 Chassis cab) with 10 lug 19. 5's and would have bought a complete set but they didn't have any that would fit. I'm waiting to hear back about whether they will build a set for me. A little more expensive then centramatics, but the quality and quietness seemed worth it.

 

[ILIANBG]

SKehoe, I'm almost sure I saw a 19. 5" w/ 10 lug pattern on their wall. Are you sure Larry didn't overlook it? He could not fine the ones for my truck, then he asked one of the employees, and he located it quickly. It was impressive to see the few big ones, that have survived what it seems, a big accident. The balancing (top) portion was still undamaged.
I like the drive shaft balancers they make too.
Ilian

 

[JBonpua]

Me too was thinking about installing one on the rear and front drive shaft. Do you think this will make a noticeable difference?

 

[ILIANBG]

I talked to a guy who has one and had it for a couple of years. After he had to replace 2 drive shafts, bearings, and a seal on the back of the transmission (they found out was caused by out of balance drive shaft). The dealer recommended replacing the rear axle, as they could not find the issue. He tried the drive shaft balancer from BM and his problem was solved, that was a problem with an out of balance drive shaft. So, I have never tried it myself, but I probably will.

 

[SKehoe]

ILIANBG, there were 19. 5s with 10 lug patterns, but the inner hole diameter was too big or too small. We tried one that was too big figuering it would be held in place by the studs but then the stud pattern, (distance from stud hole to stud hole was wrong. ) I'm a pretty good problem solver, but we couldn't figure anything out. I'm waiting for a call from Larry(the rep who helped me. ) He said he would talk to Chris, (owner/designer who I met but had to leave before we ran into the snag), and let me know what we can do. I know there are a lot of bolt patterns out there, but I was suprised they didn't have any for 19. 5's on a Dodge CC.

 

[rbattelle]

Can anyone else speak to the issue of noise at low speeds with the Centramatics??

I've had mine since 2005, I think. They make a sort of "shooshing" noise at low speeds and when you come to a stop. But you only hear it if the windows are down and you're in a quiet neighborhood and you're paying attention.



Not an objectionable noise, by any means.



Ryan

 

[Walcott]

Recently installed a set on each axel, was surprised how much it smoothed things out but it completely stopped my cupping problem on the front tires. Balance masters claims 50% increase in tread life.

 

[Blakers]

I wonder how much out of balance either of these products would smooth out? I work in the oil and gas industry and sometimes have lots of packed mud or frozen ice/snow in my wheels. This can be a daily thing certain times of the year, so it hardly pays to try to get it out, especially if you have the stock rims with the stupid mud collector groove around the inside. Lead balance weights are useless as the weight of mud changes from day to day. Do you think the Balance Masters or Centamatics would help?

 

[seafish]

I wonder how much out of balance either of these products would smooth out? I work in the oil and gas industry and sometimes have lots of packed mud or frozen ice/snow in my wheels. This can be a daily thing certain times of the year, so it hardly pays to try to get it out, especially if you have the stock rims with the stupid mud collector groove around the inside. Lead balance weights are useless as the weight of mud changes from day to day. Do you think the Balance Masters or Centamatics would help?

Here is thew FAQ from balancemasters website...



3Q. How much out of Balance will Balance Masters® Correct for ?

3A. Balance Masters® will Build up to 28 to 30 oz at 35 to 40 MPH and More at higher speeds



30 oz. is almost 2# of weight... . don't know how much mud is sticking to your wheels, but if it's anything under 2#, at those speeds it would appear to help out.

 

[Blakers]

Here is thew FAQ from balancemasters website...



3Q. How much out of Balance will Balance Masters® Correct for ?

3A. Balance Masters® will Build up to 28 to 30 oz at 35 to 40 MPH and More at higher speeds



30 oz. is almost 2# of weight... . don't know how much mud is sticking to your wheels, but if it's anything under 2#, at those speeds it would appear to help out.

Thanks! Sounds like that would work. Though there may occasionally be more than 2 lbs of mud, the mud distribution ratio (off balance) around the wheel perimeter should not be that much.

Blake

 

[SWithrow]

I have had the Centramatics on my 03 for 5 + years and would not run without them. I had them on my 265 and now my 315s and the ride is smooth. The folks at Centramatics are great to deal with, had one start to leak and they replaced it free.

 

[ILIANBG]

Yes, as I found out, since Centramatic uses metal beeds and oil, and with time and a lot of friction, a wear pattern develops, so it will leak eventually. On the other hand, in BM, the mercury (in liquid form) is in a rubber "bladder", so never develops a wear pattern, and no friction, therefore, no leaks and most likely longer lifespan.
Ilian

 

[SKehoe]

I still haven't heard back from Larry or Chris at Balance Masters. I without question believe the BM is a better product then the Centramatics, but I don't think the company is quite as organized.

 

[SWithrow]

The balancer did not start leaking until I was scrubbing the wheels and ran the brush over the spot where they fill it with the oil then plug and seal it. They were great as far as the warranty replacement.

 

[SKehoe]

Well, I. Just got off the phone with Larry at Balance Masters. He told me that after talking to Chris, they don't have a set for my 2008 4500 Chassis Cab with the basic factory steel wheels. I could not believe it. They wanted to know if it was a new type of truck or something. I explained that Dodge is the 3rd largest manufacturer in the US and there were a lot of these Chassis Cabs on the road. Unfortunately they didn't seem interested. I told them I wanted to buy their wheel balancers and that I would have no choice but to buy Centramatics. Larry apoligized and then said they didn't want to spend the 1500 dollars it would cost to make a die for the balancers for the Dodge Chassis Cab trucks. I'm willing to spend the $450 to buy them for my truck. I would think they would be able to sell them to Two other truck owners. Not that the Centramatics are bad, they in fact do the same thing, but I wanted the Balance Masters.