What are the steps for wheel balancing?
2 Answers
Here are the steps for wheel balancing: 1. Inflate the tire to the appropriate pressure, remove the original balancing weights from the tire, and clean out any stones or mud. 2. First, install the conical positioning pin on the balancer, then mount the tire on the balancing machine and secure it with clamps (the conical positioning pin must be aligned with the center hole, otherwise the data may be inaccurate). 3. Measure the distance from the balancer to the tire rim, the rim diameter, and the rim width, then input the corresponding values into the machine. 4. Press the Start button on the machine, and the tire will begin to rotate. When the tire stops, the machine will display the tire deviation value (do not stand near the tire to avoid accidents). 5. Rotate the tire by hand. When the machine displays full bars on the inner side, add the corresponding balancing weights to the inner side. 6. After adding weights to the inner side, continue rotating the tire by hand and add the balancing weights to the outer side. 7. Press the Start button on the machine again. When it stops, if the machine displays two 00 values, it indicates that the wheel balancing is complete.
The first step in wheel balancing is to remove the wheels from the vehicle—this is the basic task. Then, clean the tire surfaces to ensure there’s no mud or debris, as impurities can interfere with the balancing test. Next, mount the wheels onto the balancing machine, which will spin them rapidly to detect any imbalance; the machine’s screen will show the location and magnitude of the weight discrepancy. After that, attach counterbalance weights, usually small lead pieces, to the wheel rim at the indicated imbalance points. Once done, carefully reinstall the wheels onto the vehicle, ensuring everything is secure before tightening the bolts. The process isn’t difficult but requires attention to detail—for example, if the weights are placed incorrectly, the wheel may still wobble, rendering the effort pointless. It’s best to perform wheel balancing every 10,000 kilometers or when installing new tires to prevent high-speed vibrations that can damage the car and extend tire life. I always watch the technician perform this task, as it’s a low-cost procedure that significantly improves ride comfort, making it worth scheduling regularly.
