Risks using a bubble wheel balancer?

[josephb983]

What are the risks to the car using a bubble balancer to balance the wheels? The bubble balancer does not indicate if the weight should be on the inside our outside of the rim, like the big machines do. If the tire isn't shaking/vibrating, is there a risk to parts on the car (i.e. axle), with the tire balanced with weights on just one side? If so, what parts are at risk?

[mikeedler]

spend the couple of dollars and just have it done right. It will probably shake still witzh the bubble balancer- those things are for huge truck wheels usually

your balljoints are at risk with skaking wheels, as well as wearing out your shocks alot sooner.

[josephb983]

If the tire isn't shaking/vibrating, is there a risk to parts on the car (i.e. axle), with the tire balanced with weights on just one side? If so, what parts are at risk?

Yeah, obviously if there is a lot of shake there is risk, but if there is no shake at all, is there still a risk? That is my question.

[TwoJ's]

If they're not shaking, then they're in balance or pretty close.

[josephb983]

As long as they are balanced, there is no risk to the car then? Why do the machines have you put weights on the inside/outside of tire, instead of just on one side like the bubble tool?

[Ben Carufel]

As long as they are balanced, there is no risk to the car then? Why do the machines have you put weights on the inside/outside of tire, instead of just on one side like the bubble tool?

Because with weights on the inside/outside edges of the wheel, you get a finer balance than with weights just clipped to the rim.

The bubble balancers are like blunt knives. A true digital spin balancer is like a sharp knife.

Make sense?

[bolognablake]

If you're not getting vibes now, then they're pretty close. Any part failures that happen could most likley be associated with the fact that your car is 17 years old.

FWIW, I drove for 40k mile in my Jeep XJ with just BB balancing the mud tires.

[josephb983]

Because with weights on the inside/outside edges of the wheel, you get a finer balance than with weights just clipped to the rim.

The bubble balancers are like blunt knives. A true digital spin balancer is like a sharp knife.

Make sense?

Ok, so basically having it on both sides of the rim might make it have less vibration, but if there is no vibration than there is no risk to the car. To be clear: no vibration = zero risk... if I understand correctly?

I had been thinking maybe if the weights are only on one side it might place stress on the bearing or something, as it might spin at a slight angle applying pressure to the bearing (even when there is no vibration).

[Farbin Kaiber]

To be clear: no vibration = zero risk... if I understand correctly?

you test drive it up to 120mph to check for vibration? just because there is no harmonic vibration at lower speeds does not mean it is fully balanced. stop being a penny pincher and pay a pro with a machine to do it.

[TwoJ's]

stop being a penny pincher and pay a pro with a machine to do it.

Seriously. How much could it cost to have them balanced anyways?

[Ben Carufel]

I had been thinking maybe if the weights are only on one side it might place stress on the bearing or something, as it might spin at a slight angle applying pressure to the bearing (even when there is no vibration).

Wow. Just wow. If there is no imbalance, there is no weight needed. You only apply a weight to balance the wheel. It's correcting any variation in pressure on the bearing when you ad a weight at the right spot.

Seriously, you don't sound qualified to put gas in your car much less balance a wheel and tire. Take it to a pro.

[josephb983]

Lol, I was talking to an engineer friend of mine, and he was saying it could spin at a slight slant and apply pressure to the bearing without there being any vibration. I don't know if this is possible, so that is why I posted about that. But it seems that friend was incorrect. If it doesn't vibrate I should be fine. It is funny how hard it can be to get these things clear sometimes.

It sounds like the advantage of "dynamic" balancing is that it can compensate for wobble, if you have a bad tire. Static balancing doesn't have a way to compensate for that, or a rim that is slightly bent.

If a static balance can't get it to stop vibrating, then it needs a dynamic balance. Or maybe a new rim/tire.

I'm learning.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Engineer's look too deeply, cars have rolled on these types of sealed bearings for at least 30 years, and a un-balaanced wheel was not the root cause for failure.

go pay the 40 dollars to get a set of wheels balanced, and then start worry's on something worse, like someone rearending you and your vehicle exploding into a ball of flames.





and shrapnel





and, flaming interior padding flying thru the air, causing a forest fire as it lands in the bushes next to the roadway.

[josephb983]

and, flaming interior padding flying thru the air, causing a forest fire as it lands in the bushes next to the roadway.

:rofl:

[Farbin Kaiber]

I have many customers that work for Northrop Grumman, JPL, other assorted firms as well, like the one that uses a hybrid carbon fiber wrap to strengthen highway overpasses/bridges. Most of them are engineers that want their old oil filter/wheel bearing to experiment with, I know how it is. Try explaining to them how their car broke. Damn preconcieved notions.