Don't have your tires balanced at the Dodge dealer

[Pit Bull]

Had the dealer install some new front pads, while they were at it I had them balance my front tires. Big mistake!!! Bounces all over the road. Checked the weights they put on my wheels, WOW. The idiot put about 50lbs of weights on my front wheels. I should of known better. I will be taking it to the local tire store first of next week to get this fixed. Funny thing about dealers. They hire some new idiot to do the oil and filter and tire balance stuff and the only time you get any good machanic is when it is the hard stuff. I will never let this dealer do anything other than warranty work to my truck again. I have learned from this experence.

 

[nickleinonen]

my tire guy did a pretty good job balancing my goodyear at/s'. i didn't want any weights on the outer lips, and he made good with that. . 0 weights on one front, normal amount of weight on the other front and one rear, and like 8" of lead on my other rear. lotta of lead, but no vibes until 110 kph [±68mph] according to speedo [which is about 10% slow]



no problem though, cause i normally drive like 90kph [±55mph] over that speed and fuel econemy goes down the poop hole and when you are a student just out of school and working part time jobs... fuel costs get up there...

 

[Dieselnerd]

I'm really happy with the performance of the Counteract Balancing Beads. My truck has NEVER run this smooth before and no more rebalancing needed down the road.

 

[Shovelhead]

My last tire change (one month ago) the store used a product called "Equal", another brand of balance beads.

I must admit to being skeptical at first.

THEY WORK!

No vibration, no wheel weights to look bad and fall off.

So far, road tested to 90mph+



The tire place said they use this exact product on OTR truck tires for millions of miles, so it must work.

Have you seen many tractor-trailers with hammer-on wheel weights?



Check it out here http://www.stemco.com/Equal.pdf

 

[JJW_ND]

Internal balancing is great!

Ditto the "Counteract Balancing beads" http://www.counteractbalancing.com/



I have had it in for about 15K miles. Very smooth running. Always adjusting for changes in tire balance (including mud and snow).



Less then $10 per tire, can be used over and over.



jjw

ND

 

[Rob Thomas]

Pitbull,



I had a local tire shop do mine. The day I bought the truck (new) I went and had new tires but on, however I told them DON"T put on ANY weights on the edge of the rims. (it messes up the clear coat, and they look like ***** anyway) Instead they installed stick on weights on the inside of the rim, they are ballanced great, I've had my truck to 119 mph with no abnormal vibration, also this is on 315 75 R16 BFG's on factory aluminun wheels. I have over 60,000 miles on the truck now, still no problems. I will NEVER have those clip-on weights on a rim again. JMHO



Later, Rob

 

[shendren]

what are counterbalancing beads? never heard of them. how do they work? the site is temporarily under construction. thanks. scott.



p. s. is it true that the michelin tires have no road hazard warranty? that's what i heard. i really love my michelin's and i will need a new pair soon. thanks.

 

[Shovelhead]

Scott, check the link above to Equal.

pretty much, same product, same theory, different name.



HTH

 

[E7mack96]

Equal Rules!!!!!

I run Equal in my big trucks. otherwise, it is nearly impossible to balance a 425/65 tire. I was skeptical too. Now I'm a believer.



Later boys,



E7

 

[shendren]

like i said... ... .



the site is temporarily under construction. thanks. scott.



so, what are counterbalacing beads? anyone?

 

[JJW_ND]

Here is another site....

Scott,



Try this one site for more info: http://www.wheelweights.com/balancing-beads.htm



I got mine for Mike's Tire Supply in Minneaoplis MN.



jjw

ND

 

[Dieselnerd]

This site will explain all you need to know about the Counteract Beads. My understanding is that it is much better than Equal. I heard that Equal breaks down into a powder and can cause your valves to leak when it gets under the valve core seat when you check air pressure. The Counteract are tiny beads that do not turn into powder.



http://wheelweights.ca/balancing-beads.htm

 

[Jammar9082]

PitBull: The last time we met up at the dealer I was having the recall's for the throttle cable and the hood safety latch done. I was concerned about anyone working on my truck and my concerns were verified. They did both recalls in about 40 minutes which is no where near the planned time and the idle was not reset during the throttle cable work. (indicated 550 RPM) I talked to the young mechanic (?) and asked what the instruction sheet for the recall directed to be done for this job and he told me there was no instruction sheet. The service writer seemed to have no knowledge of the task at hand, either. I ask him if he was familiar with the Turbo Diesel Register and he said no. This was the same answer I got at the selling dealership, too. They are probably aware that the TDR is an excellent source and an informed customer is a threat to them. I suggested to the selling dealer that they subscribe to the TDR but that went over like a lead ballon.



This is the second dealer that has not done good quality work and it is as you say. They put the new hires and inexperienced on jobs that require some experience. Little do they realize that that type of management costs them dearly in customer satisfaction and credibilty.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Jammar9082



The service writer seemed to have no knowledge of the task at hand, either. I ask him if he was familiar with the Turbo Diesel Register and he said no.

Jammar, I have talked to both their service writers and the service manager about the TDR. I also talked to their GM, who said he wanted to put an add in the TDR but was told he could not because he was a dealer. It is the hiring of inexperenced "new" labor and having them touch your vehicle that has made me not want to take my truck to them except for warranty work. Since warranty work will be free and normally require them to have their experenced guys work on your truck. Two of their diesel machanics just bought new Dodge CTD 3500 4x4's and they already have bombed them with boxes. I know they have good people it is just a matter of getting to them.