Centramatics for RVs

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

Just wanted to share Centramatics makes tire/wheel balancers for RVs. I purchased a set (4) for $200 and will be putting on today. Why bother? RV tires out of balance can cause similar problems as cars. My big problem has been losing hub covers at $60 each. Everything was originally balanced, but after removing wheels for servicing and Discount Tire NOT balancing them when I purchased new tires, I thought it would be worthwhile to mount them on my Mobile Suites. I'll add pics as I install them.

I'll report how well they work.

Cheers, Ron

 

[GCroyle]

Ron,

There you go tugging on Superman's cape.

Another hot topic on Airforums, me I wish there was some hard data about how effectively they work. Real oz/in type of data. If measured, I by my gut respect a high dollar balancer correctly used.

But I do balance my new tires on the Airstream, truck, cars and there is another wrinkle to this question that I can't answer. Are your TT brake drums balanced? I bet you'd find that automotive drums are but TT drums? Evidence of material removed would be good proof. I actually tried to find a bubble balancer and see if my trailer rotors are balanced, didn't find bubble balancer or any removals or additions (roll pin tapped into slots) sorta stuff.


Our 15 yr old Kenmore washing machine crapped out a few weeks ago. OK you ask what does this have to do with Centramatics? I'm glad you asked.

I decided to salvage the inner tub for a fire ring. Some places this can be used when others can't.

HEY YouTube how do you take this thing apart? Got it.

Got the tub out and it works but guess what I found. Something that seemed to be a weighted ring mounted on the top of and attached to the rotating tub and marked DO NOT OPEN and it had the ear marks and feel of a weighted balance ring, loose BB inside type stuff.

Bottom line, I have no clue if they work.

Maybe my Dexter rotors are just a bit more nicely cast and don't have all the mass on the OD like drums. I just had new Dill TPMS sensors installed and Discount tire shop mgr actually did the R&R. I asked if he saw ANYTHING on those 16" Michelins to be concerned about. Nope all look great. I assume that noticeable cupping balance divots would have caught his eye.

Awaiting your feedback.

Gary

 

[Wiredawg]

Gary,

My Dexter rotors are true, but cant for sure say balanced. I only figured out Discount Tire didn't balance the new tires when I found the old original stick on weights still in place.

As much testimony as it's worth, I had Centramatics on my 09 4500 and in 9 years, never had tires balanced. Never any vibration, unusual wear, or other tire, steering, or suspension component problem. Moved them from 09 4500 to 17 5500.

So the science theory is sound to me how they work using centrifugal force to balance the weighted beads and to my understanding this happens approximately 20MPH. They won't help physically out of round tires though.

If you have a friend who works at a tire shop, he could run a tire/wheel on it to verify how much it's out of balance then add the Centramatic and verify it balances. If I didn't have lifetime rotation and balance on my Jeep, I would install them on it.... might do it anyway as the mud tires are bad about picking up good size rocks inch to inch and a quarter wedged in the tread.

Anyhoo, I guess if you have them and never have a balance related problem, one could surmise they work.

Cheers, Ron

 

[GCroyle]

Ron,

Rotors I bet will be less out of balance than a drum. Hunch, no data.

20MPH, wonder what RPM (=MPH with some math) balance machines run at?

If we can get this to the attention of SAG2 as he's getting some live in the vehicle vibration testing analyzer, this could be a very interesting test that even the TDR mag might like as a write up.

Example, Vibration analysis w/o any balance correction (or maybe just enough dummy weight to cause an imbalance) on tires, same and add centramatics, balanced tires w/o centramatics and balanced tires with centramatics.

Gary

 

[AH64ID]

I did this to my trailer back in 2014 and there is a difference. Things simply stay put better in the camper. I don't have any actual data, other than before/after. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I like the centramatics as they will balance out the rotating assembly and not just the tire. Trailer drums are known for not being well balanced.

 

[Ozymandias]

I love my centramatics.
Only at 25mph they are a pain, then the whole truck shakes from unbalance.

 

[HPSimpson]

Why are they a pain at 25mph, I am interested?

 

[Ozymandias]

Why are they a pain at 25mph, I am interested?

It seems to me that at that certain speed the whole "filling" of the ring starts to go round with the ring and does not distribute around it to equalize imbalace. As soonas i can go just 30mph all smooths and works as desired.
So, conclusion, below 25mph is nice as the load just stays down in the ring, and above 25mph is also good as it works as desired. But right at 25mph it is really bad.
I can reproduce it at any time and any rood surface.

I run 35er, smaller or bigger tires will have this effect at a different vehicle speed because of different wheel speed.

 

[Ozymandias]

Greatest benefit of the Centramatic i feel on gravel, slightly washboarded roads.
It drives significantly smoother on that surfaces.

 

[DHayden]

I ran centramatics on my 01 up until last year when I bought my 15. Transferred them to the 15 with the dreaded passenger seat shake, no more shake. These were used on 19.5 wheels. This puts them at about 16 years old and going strong. I do notice they dont start spreading out until 25-30mph (if you roll your window down in a parking lot you can hear if you listen for it) but I have not had the same experience in shaking as Ozy.

 

[HPSimpson]

I have these on my '19 Ram when I rotate tires I have been moving the centramatics with the tire. I just thought since tire has been balance with tire should not make much difference, what you think I am wasting my time?

 

[Ozymandias]

I have these on my '19 Ram when I rotate tires I have been moving the centramatics with the tire. I just thought since tire has been balance with tire should not make much difference, what you think I am wasting my time?

Yep thats a waste of time as the centramatics balance actively all the time.
I took away all the leftover balance weights from my rims when i installed the CMs.

 

[Regcabguy]

My friend just got them and loves them. He's got 35-12.50-17 Toyo MT's. He left his weights on and hasn't mentioned any low speed shake. The biggest improvement is freeway speeds. Centramatic states that they don't start to work below 25mph.
Has anyone else out there experienced low speed shake with their Centramatics?

 

[AH64ID]

I had them in the truck for a little while and never had any shape, that was with 255/80R17’s.

My local tire shop wouldn’t reinstall them as they considered them shims. I didn’t want to deal with the hassle so I sold them and switched to counteract balance beads.

 

[Regcabguy]

That's unusual as the part was self-installed. You're referring to the dually's?

 

[AH64ID]

That's unusual as the part was self-installed. You're referring to the dually's?

Yes it's self installed, but they have to put the wheel back on over it. SRW.

It was a Les Schwab, which I don't use anymore for various reasons, but they said it was due to corporate policy that changed after they put a location in Cali. It wasn't worth arguing. Balance beads aren't reusable, but they are just as smooth.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

If you check the balance on most aftermarket drums and rotors (car, light truck, or trailer) they are rarely balanced - even if material was removed to weight added. I've had several that were so bad I took them back and asked for another set. Then I balance them before installing them.

I haven't found a local company yet that will balance a trailer tire - unless you twist their arm....I don't bother anymore since I mount and balance my own.

I was at a shop to have them road-force balance a tire for me. (no, I don't have that 20K+ machine). Another tech was doing a tire balance due to a complaint about a vibration. The tech removed the weights and balanced the tires.....never checked to see if they WERE out of balance and that was the problem.....sigh....

 

[Wiredawg]

If the tires are newly balanced or vehicle is relatively new, I would leave the wheel weights. Discount Tire did nothing wither the wheel weights when they mounted 17.5 H tires, which are big and heavy. The wheels were heavily slimmed from the factory and when DT mounted the new tires, very likely had worse unbalanced condition. So, I'm removing all old wheel weights and installing Centramatics today. I know I was going to do it yesterday, but ran out of steam. Torn rotator cuff really giving me problems last couple days, but feeling better now. Going to work now.

Cheers, Ron

 

[GCroyle]

Ron,

Fix trailer, good. Get tore up and need MD, Rx, CAT, MRI, PT Etc not such a good thing.

 

[Wiredawg]

Ron,

Fix trailer, good. Get tore up and need MD, Rx, CAT, MRI, PT Etc not such a good thing.

Was supposed to schedule shoulder surgery after ankle recover, but after a year with my ankle, I'm going to postpone til next year. It doesn't do badly as I exercise the same as physical therapy back in 2005 when I first injured it.

Everyday is a new day, so is today... feeling pretty good.

Thanks for caring and Cheers! Ron