Centramatic wheel balancers????

[Bug Out]

I'm interested in buying a set but the company site shows a price of I believe $200 for a set (4) and dealers are asking $200 for (2). . :--) Whats the deal??





Where to get the best price??



Thank for your help.





Ed

 

[jelag]

These are the gadgets that have loose weight and balance the wheel as it spins..... is this right.....

When I was young I spent some time running a tire store... . and now and than we'd get a tire in that was not in balance would shake the vehicle... We'd dismount the tire... . and usually find small balls from the excess tubeless liner that was loose and spinning in the tire... . We'd remove it, balance it and the customer would go down the road very happy... .

I personally don't think these things can work... in addition as you speed up or slow down these weights are going to either be ahead or behind the spin of the tire as they speed up and slow down... . this of course would tend to make the tire out of balance...

If someone has a better answer I'd love to hear it... . other than the stuff published on the web sight of the vendor..... Common engineering tells me that something that accelerates and de-accelerates needs a good approach to balance.....

 

[BNH4221]

I'm pretty happy with mine. Had them on about a year or so, pushing 70K on the stock tires. They still have plenty of tread and no cupping. I might guess that I will get at least another 10-15K out of them.



I'm not a scientist, (and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night either). From a strictly seat-of-the-pants feel, they seem to have smoothed out the ride some.



Did it make a dramatic improvement? No. But the tires were fairly new, and I rotated them frequently so they should have been in good shape to begin with. Was it a good investment? I think so.



JMHO



Bug out - I got mine direct from Centramatic. Don't forget to coat the back of the balancer with anti-seize. Otherwise they will stick to the steel hub. You'll NEVER get them off.



Steve

 

[Mundgyver]

4 for $200 is what I paid for mine. I have had them for about 3 years now and over 100,000 turns. They work very well for me. No complaints

 

[camsv3500]

they didnt work for me on a ford... I threw them away. . it shaked more with the balancers than it did without any wheel weights...



you cant beat a good balanced wheel... but for me. . I wouldnt buy these again... just another moving part...

you can balance alot of tires for 200.....

 

[Dieselnerd]

Mine work great. I have them on my truck and fifth wheel. I'd get them again.

 

[BNH4221]

you can balance alot of tires for 200.....

Actually, Camsv, the local tire place hit me for $20 per wheel to balance and rotate mine. I thought $80 plus tax for 20 minutes work was a little excessive.

We had "conversation" about the ridiculous price and I have not returned.



I am perfectly capable of rotating tires myself. I just wanted to support a local, independent, businessman. So much for that.





Added the Centramatics and no more balancing or rotating. Works for me.



Steve

 

[CBrahs]

The only way they work is if the tires that you have are in great shape to begin with. You can balance a square tire and I have a TON of experience with it. Unless you have the tires on a road force machine you will never know that the tires are square. They balance out great and the machine shows ZERO but get back on the road and they vibrate. I have seen some tires show 60lbs out of round on the road force machine. SO, if you have good round tires to start with, then you will be ok. They do work, a lot of over the road trucks use them, military uses them on some rigs. The only downfall is that the tire/wheel combo that you have require more weight than the centramatics can handle. Get them balanced before hand, install them and drive it!

 

[amsoilman]

I have used the "Balance Masters" on my truck for the past couple of years, and find them very worthwhile. My truck runs as smooth at 85 as it does at 20 MPH. NO complaints at all.



I'm certain the Centramatics would work as well.





Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Bertram65]

These are the gadgets that have loose weight and balance the wheel as it spins..... is this right.....



When I was young I spent some time running a tire store... . and now and than we'd get a tire in that was not in balance would shake the vehicle... We'd dismount the tire... . and usually find small balls from the excess tubeless liner that was loose and spinning in the tire... . We'd remove it, balance it and the customer would go down the road very happy... .



I personally don't think these things can work... in addition as you speed up or slow down these weights are going to either be ahead or behind the spin of the tire as they speed up and slow down... . this of course would tend to make the tire out of balance...



If someone has a better answer I'd love to hear it... . other than the stuff published on the web sight of the vendor..... Common engineering tells me that something that accelerates and de-accelerates needs a good approach to balance.....

This is a different product but same principle, you can read about how the physics of dynamic balancing work here, http://www.innovativebalancing.com/news.htm



I have used these on my tires and they work very well, there are many others on here who have also had the same results.

 

[wheatman]

I put centramatics on the front of my '06 within the first 500 miles. I can tell you that I don't have any cupping after 7k where on my '04 i did. I still think you keep your wheels balanced the old fashioned way but I do think the centramatics are doing something positive.



wheatman

 

[Mundgyver]

What I have found is that you still need to balance your tires, but the Centermatics give you a fine tunning for balance as the tire wears. As already mentioned, no cupping, the wear is very even across the tread. I am very satisfied with mine.

 

[monkeyman]

I sent my centramatics back as noise at low speed with windows open was unbearable. Now have Balance Masters which are completely silent, also put one on drive shaft. Nick is great at balance masters and they make products for Harley's as well. Call 1-800-786-8324 or go to : www.balancemasters.com
Rick

 

[TowPro]

I have the Centramatics. I had a vibration on the back, installed the Centramatics and vibration went away.

When I got my cooper snow tires mounted the guy never took the wheel weights off from the original tires. I ended up with a vibration at 50mph. I pulled off the old wheel weights and vibration went away.

I bought them because I have a tire machine to change my own tires, but no balancer. (then I broke my tire machine )

 

[RHoppe]

BalanceMasters

I sent my centramatics back as noise at low speed with windows open was unbearable. Now have Balance Masters which are completely silent, also put one on drive shaft. Nick is great at balance masters and they make products for Harley's as well. Call 1-800-786-8324 or go to : www.balancemasters.com

Rick

monkeyman,

I've been debating about the BalanceMasters or Centramatics. I like the fact of the silent running of the Balancemasters... . Iwill be putting them on my 02', that has factory aluminum alloy 16" wheels. What are the correct part #'s for the front and back ?? everytime I inquire, I get a different answer.

will the same ones fit on an 06', with 17" factory alloy wheels ??

Any issues with clearance or rubbing ?? Are they worth the money ?



Thanks ,



Randall

 

[monkeyman]

Call Nick at Balance masters, tell him Rick Freed told you to call: 800-786-8324, I have 19. 5 wheels, and Balance masters on all wheels, They make them vehicle specific, and are painted black, You have to take off all wheel weights.

Rick

 

[monkeyman]

Go to Balance Masters web site they list all part numbers. I have 19. 5's and dual wheels so the numbers are different.

Rick

 

[rweis]

What do you think about sluggishness in cold temperatures? Not able to move the material as easily when the fluid gets cold.



Sort of like a Fluidampner. You have to let it warm up some (a couple of minutes) before you put your foot in the go pedal.



Bob Weis

 

[rbattelle]

What do you think about sluggishness in cold temperatures?

Mine have been down to -7°F and I didn't notice any abnormal behavior.



Ryan