Wheel Balancing

[moroza]

Simple question that I can't seem to find answered anywhere online - how do I balance my wheels (15 x 7.5" basketweaves on a '90 535i) myself, without the use of a balancing machine? Is there any trick to it, or just trial-and-error moving the weights and seeing what happens?

[Don Nguyen]

you pretty much need a balance machine, unless there is some back of the woods method of doing it.

[moroza]

How'd they do it before balancing machines? (Though I honestly have no idea when wheels started being balanced, and when the machines were invented)

[swmnbmw]

you have to use a machine, i mean i spose you could just add wieghts by guessing and then drive it try it again and just add and guess until your shakes are gone but this would be near impossible or take forever

[Don Nguyen]

Yea, cause you don't even know how many or what weights to use and where to put them either. I don't have to do the math for you to see that the possible locations are almost endless.

[bim bim]

the use of the machine started a long time ago. they started doing it in like the 50's or so. its fairley simple technology and it takes me(and the guys at the shop i work at) about 10 minutes to balance your wheels. my advice would be to pony up 20 bucks and take it to a shop and have them do it right.

[PixMan]

Not at all worth the effort compared to the accurate results of using a shop with a Hunter GSP9700 Road Force balancing machine, but if you insist, there are two rudimentary methods of static balancing.

One involves the use of a bubble level that's in the same plane as your wheel's hub mounting surface. Many old service stations will have one in the corner that they'll sell you for peanuts, because for other than tractor tires, that's what one is worth.

The other method is perhaps a bit better. You'll need to find a way of "centering" your wheel on a small-diameter axle, then set that axle on parallel rails that are perfectly level. With ultra-low friction, your wheel should rotate to the heaviest spot down. Temporarily tape weights onto the wheel opposite the heavy spot until it balances, then stick 'em.

I suggest you park the car for a week and spend the cost of a tank of fuel to have the wheels balanced the best way: Road Force Balancing!