Can the rear wheels be skipped in wheel dynamic balancing?
2 Answers
Whether the rear wheels need dynamic balancing depends on the specific situation: 1. If the rear wheels have been replaced or repaired, their mass distribution will be altered, making dynamic balancing necessary; 2. If the rear wheels have neither been replaced nor repaired, meaning their mass distribution remains unchanged, then dynamic balancing is not required for the rear wheels. Reasons that may alter a tire's mass distribution include: 1. Manufacturing tolerances in tires, or inaccuracies in the axial positioning during the machining of rims or brake drums; 2. Variations in the mass of wheel bolts; 3. Tire wear, out-of-round conditions, or deformation; 4. Tire repairs or replacements of tires and rims.
I think this issue is worth discussing in detail, as I've seen too many similar cases in repair shops. Wheel balancing is definitely not something to be taken lightly - all four wheels need to be balanced properly. When the vehicle is moving, all four wheels rotate at high speeds, and unbalanced rear wheels can still cause significant vibration, especially at highway speeds where the entire car body shakes. Over time, this leads to accelerated tire wear with unusual uneven wear patterns - one side of the tire becomes thicker while the other wears thin, requiring premature replacement. What's worse, the suspension system also suffers, with components like shock absorbers being more prone to failure. Some might think skipping rear wheel balancing saves a little money, but it ultimately leads to much higher repair costs. Actually, wheel balancing at a few dozen RMB per wheel isn't expensive at all - cutting corners here really isn't worth it.
