FordExcursions.com Forums
Scott Coats
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• Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 1/8/2003 |
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• 84 posts |
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 Posted:9/2/2003 07:36 |
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Some time ago I posted info about the Centramatic wheel balancers and said I would purchase and report on their effect on the ride.
Well, after staring at them sitting in the garage for 3500 miles, I installed them as part of my regular rotation. They definitely made the ride smoother and I think they were worth the $200. Smooth as silk up to 85 MPH (about as fast as I go on 315's). There was a noticable change in the ride that I can only attribute to the balancers. Could it have been the rotation? I don't think so. I rotate every 5000 miles and know the feel of the truck pretty well (600 miles of driving a week). The balancers made the difference.
If you're interested, take a look at the Centramatic web site. After putting about 500 miles on them, I'm a believer.
http://www.centramatic.com/
Scott
2001 PSD Excursion, 4" Lift, 315's on 17" Weld Evo Velocity-8 chrome wheels, 315-75-17 BFG AT/KO's, SS Westin Tube Steps, 2200 watt sound system, full pillar gauges, AFE Air Raid, DiabloSport Revolution experimental custom EEC chip (120HP) tune, 4" exhaust, clear turn/head lamps, safety brake light, oversize wipers, 2003 SuperDuty turn signal/heated power towing mirrors, billet grill, limo tint, ProComp steering stabilizer and shocks, the list goes on... |
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Wheels
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• Visalia, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/20/2003 |
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• 214 posts |
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Posted:9/2/2003 10:10 |
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Thanks for the info, Scott. I know that I personally HATE  out of balance tires, so this may be in the future plans...after our big move. |
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Weatherlite
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• Mountain Home AFB, ID, USA |
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• Registered on 10/21/2002 |
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• 133 posts |
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Posted:9/2/2003 13:38 |
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Their website says you can use them in place of balancing the old fashioned way. I wonder if this is accurate or not. It would be nice because larger tires are so hard to keep balanced because for some reason they tend to throw weights around. Any info on that?
Mikie |
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Texas4x4
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• Tyler, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/25/2003 |
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• 289 posts |
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Posted:9/3/2003 05:37 |
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| Quote: | Their website says you can use them in place of balancing the old fashioned way. I wonder if this is accurate or not. It would be nice because larger tires are so hard to keep balanced because for some reason they tend to throw weights around. Any info on that?
Mikie |
I had them on a Hummer. The only way they would work is if the tires were in balance before the balancers were applied. That was not only my experience but others I talked to as well. Of course, stock Hummer tires are 37x12.50x16.50 and on steel 2-piece rims with beedlocks and runflats. The whole tire/wheel assy. weighed in at a hefty 155#'s a piece (ouch!). They were nearly impossible to keep balanced the conventional way.
To answer yor question, I would not trust them for conventional balancing unless the tires are only very slightly out of balance.
One other thing which drove me nuts but was far put-weighed by the benefit was the hissing sound made by the balancing material when driving at slow speeds or coming to a stop. I'm sure you have noticed that, right Scott? 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Kevin Curry
Staff Writer: www.ROCKCRAWLER.com
[email protected]
http://www.texas4x4.com
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Scott Coats
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• Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 1/8/2003 |
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• 84 posts |
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Posted:9/3/2003 18:51 |
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To address Kevin's comments:
You must have had an H1? The H2 tires are BFG 315's on 17 inch rims. Perhaps they are easier to balance? Dunno as I have no experience with the 37's. I know about the H2 stock tires because that's my cheap source for tires--H2 take-off's from my local dealer ($400-500/set compared to the $750 for new). That's the reason I went to the Weld 17's in the first place--cheap source for tires :-)
Centramatic suggests pre-balancing the tires prior to use (at least they did on the phone--I haven't checked their web site). That just makes good sense and I wouldn't trust any balancing system (like shot or injected goop or whatever) that ignores basic static balance.Who wants to rumble along before the balancers kick in?
I have not noticed any noises coming from the wheels as a result of the balancers. Before installing them, I tossed and spun them around in the air just to see what the effect of the gel (or whatever it is) inside was and didn't notice any noise except a FAINT swish--nothing noticable beyond a couple of feet away.
I'm pretty happy with the glass-smooth ride I'm getting. At last rotation I didn't have the tires rebalanced, and the $16.00 savings per rotation will pay the $200 cost pretty quick as I generally average about six rotations a year.
2001 PSD Excursion, 4" Lift, 315's on 17" Weld Evo Velocity-8 chrome wheels, 315-75-17 BFG AT/KO's, SS Westin Tube Steps, 2200 watt sound system, full pillar gauges, AFE Air Raid, DiabloSport Revolution experimental custom EEC chip (120HP) tune, 4" exhaust, clear turn/head lamps, safety brake light, oversize wipers, 2003 SuperDuty turn signal/heated power towing mirrors, billet grill, limo tint, ProComp steering stabilizer and shocks, the list goes on... |
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Texas4x4
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• Tyler, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/25/2003 |
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• 289 posts |
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Posted:9/4/2003 12:08 |
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Yes, sorry. I had a H1 - 1994 4DHT. I don't even consider the H2 a Hummer 
The sound I was trying to describe was more of a swish than anything and was only noticable when I had the windows rolled down. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was complaining about that. Just took a little getting used to on my part.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Kevin Curry
Staff Writer: www.ROCKCRAWLER.com
[email protected]
http://www.texas4x4.com
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E. Long
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,229 posts |
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Posted:9/5/2003 00:52 |
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| Quote: | | Yes, sorry. I had a H1 - 1994 4DHT. I don't even consider the H2 a Hummer |
That's a big 10-4. I don't care for those things...I'll take an X any day.
Scott: How much longer are you (on average) supposed to be able to go with these balancers and not having to rotate tires? Does it mention this anywhere? I just had a sprinkler system installed and will be getting an air compressor to blow the system out before winter...that means I'll be able to rotate tires with air tools instead of by hand. Much easier, but I'm with you on the 6 times per year thing...big $$$ over time.
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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Scott Coats
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• Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 1/8/2003 |
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• 84 posts |
• 1
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Posted:9/5/2003 07:05 |
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You know, Eric? I never even considered (or read on the Centramatic site) about extending the rotation interval. I'm not sure one has THAT much to do with the other as tire balance is really a function of the tire/rim combo, not its position on the chassis (is that so? guessing here).
I think tire rotation has more to do with chassis alignment and shock/bushing condition than with balance, so if that's the case, no change in the rotation schedule would be justified.
I cross rotate and have always enjoyed even tire wear (notwithstanding inflation pressures--I posted on that topic extensively in the past). I cross the front to the rear and move the rears straight forward. That way every tire gets rotated to every corner every four rotations. That has served me well (draw it on paper, it makes more sense).
Scott
2001 PSD Excursion, 4" Lift, 315's on 17" Weld Evo Velocity-8 chrome wheels, 315-75-17 BFG AT/KO's, SS Westin Tube Steps, 2200 watt sound system, full pillar gauges, AFE Air Raid, DiabloSport Revolution experimental custom EEC chip (120HP) tune, 4" exhaust, clear turn/head lamps, safety brake light, oversize wipers, 2003 SuperDuty turn signal/heated power towing mirrors, billet grill, limo tint, ProComp steering stabilizer and shocks, the list goes on... |
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