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Balancemaster balancers anyone?

relbus

relbus

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I have had a slight vibration at certain speeds (which I can kind of drive around) since I installed the wheels and tires on my truck back around January or February. Discount swapped a new set of Ridge Graps on, and the vibration persisted. They have suggested choosing a different wheel, recommending Fuel wheels. I really don't see any Fuels I like, and am a big fan of the Methods.

I spoke to CJC and they said they sell Method 10 to 1 over Fuel and never have issues. So, I do not know where to go with this. When I have swapped the OEM setup back on the truck, its smooth as can be. So, I decided to try the balance master balancers.
Anyone have experience with these? Hoping to eliminate this vibe once and for all.
 
I have always used Centramatic balancers on all my trucks. In fact, the set I have on my 2020 3500
came off of my 2006 Ford F350. They work as advertised and have great customer satisfaction service.
I have a neighbor who puts on a lot of rough miles into Baja every week and heavy cross-country trailer pulling twice a year. A few years ago he was having the same problem as you and the experts couldn't make it go away. I suggested he try Centramatics which he did and that cured his problem instantly.
Centramatics
 
I was going back and forth between the centramatics and the balance masters. The reason I went BM was simply because I heard they are silent compared to the centramatic which have a slight noise at low speed. Have you found that to be true?

BM suggested trying the Hummer balancers since I have oversized tires. Not sure that is necessary. I would rather stick with what I have read works which is their MHD-206R. They were excellent to work with and said if I am not happy with the MHD-206R they will swap them for the HUM-206R. They look to be almost identical, my hang up is I cannot find anyone else who has run the HUM-206R to get their opinion. 35's aren't THAT big, and I will never go larger...so hoping these will do the trick
 
relbus said:
I was going back and forth between the centramatics and the balance masters. The reason I went BM was simply because I heard they are silent compared to the centramatic which have a slight noise at low speed. Have you found that to be true?

BM suggested trying the Hummer balancers since I have oversized tires. Not sure that is necessary. I would rather stick with what I have read works which is their MHD-206R. They were excellent to work with and said if I am not happy with the MHD-206R they will swap them for the HUM-206R. They look to be almost identical, my hang up is I cannot find anyone else who has run the HUM-206R to get their opinion. 35's aren't THAT big, and I will never go larger...so hoping these will do the trick
Click to expand...
You say they say the centramatic which have a slight noise at low speed. I don't believe that. I've never heard my Centramatics, In fact when I get a rotation I sometimes check to see if the beads are still loose. I have to hold it up to my ear to hear them rolling as I turn the unit.

I'm not at all familiar with Balance Masters. It sounds like you've done your homework. And also sounds like they have great customer service. Based on what you report I would definitely consider them if I had the need.
 
relbus said:
I was going back and forth between the centramatics and the balance masters. The reason I went BM was simply because I heard they are silent compared to the centramatic which have a slight noise at low speed. Have you found that to be true?

BM suggested trying the Hummer balancers since I have oversized tires. Not sure that is necessary. I would rather stick with what I have read works which is their MHD-206R. They were excellent to work with and said if I am not happy with the MHD-206R they will swap them for the HUM-206R. They look to be almost identical, my hang up is I cannot find anyone else who has run the HUM-206R to get their opinion. 35's aren't THAT big, and I will never go larger...so hoping these will do the trick
Click to expand...
I can confirm the set of Centramatics I had were very loud. They did exactly as advertised and fixed a balance issue. The amount of noise they made wasn't unbearable or anything but it was loud enough you would have a difficult time detecting a issue with your truck ex (brakes, wheel bearing etc) They did take them back for a refund minus shipping cost.
 
Pull the wheels off and see if the star washers holding the rotors inplace are there if they are remove them, aftermarket wheels dont have a clearence pocket for the washers so it will cause a vibration….
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
Pull the wheels off and see if the star washers holding the rotors inplace are there if they are remove them, aftermarket wheels dont have a clearence pocket for the washers so it will cause a vibration….
Click to expand...

Done, some time back. Thanks tho, wish that was the fix!!
 
The1adman said:
I can confirm the set of Centramatics I had were very loud. They did exactly as advertised and fixed a balance issue. The amount of noise they made wasn't unbearable or anything but it was loud enough you would have a difficult time detecting a issue with your truck ex (brakes, wheel bearing etc) They did take them back for a refund minus shipping cost.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Mine are old and no noise. I wonder why they make noise now? Larger beads? A new bead material? Larger diameter tubes? Hmnnn
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
Anyplace around do road force balancing? I have a hard time beliving its a wheel issue but road force balance would reveal that if it was
Click to expand...
Discount told me they road forced balanced. I think they did the original set of graps 3x and this set twice.
 
John Jensen said:
Interesting. Mine are old and no noise. I wonder why they make noise now? Larger beads? A new bead material? Larger diameter tubes? Hmnnn
Click to expand...
From my understanding prior to purchasing them was they are supposed to have some form of hydraulic fluid in addition to the beads to keep them quiet. Mine clearly did not have fluid, in them and sounded like pea gravel in a metal can. When I contacted them to see if mine were defective, I was told no fluid and it was normal. If they had been silent or even tolerably quiet I would have kept them and purchased two more sets for my other vehicles.
 
The1adman said:
From my understanding prior to purchasing them was they are supposed to have some form of hydraulic fluid in addition to the beads to keep them quiet. Mine clearly did not have fluid, in them and sounded like pea gravel in a metal can. When I contacted them to see if mine were defective, I was told no fluid and it was normal. If they had been silent or even tolerably quiet I would have kept them and purchased two more sets for my other vehicles.
Click to expand...
Odd as their FAQ explicitly states there is fluid in them...

1629504059996.png
 
The1adman said:
From my understanding prior to purchasing them was they are supposed to have some form of hydraulic fluid in addition to the beads to keep them quiet. Mine clearly did not have fluid, in them and sounded like pea gravel in a metal can. When I contacted them to see if mine were defective, I was told no fluid and it was normal. If they had been silent or even tolerably quiet I would have kept them and purchased two more sets for my other vehicles.
Click to expand...
Assuming my older quiet ones must have the oil
 
My neighbor is using balance beads in his dump truck tires. Ceramic beads placed directly into the tire. Some information here... https://checkeredflagtirebalancebeads.com/questions-and-answers/how-tire-beads-work/
There is an article about the physics of vibration at certain speeds. Their chart says 8 oz per 35" tire. A kit with four 4-oz bags and four filtered valve cores is $20.99.
I can ask him about noise but likely not perceptible in a dump truck. Maybe an alternative?
 
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I am kind of after lowest maintenance and set it and forget it. Hoping the BM balancers accomplish that.

They should be here mid week next week. Can’t wait!
 
Skooter76 said:
My neighbor is using balance beads in his dump truck tires. Ceramic beads placed directly into the tire. Some information here... https://checkeredflagtirebalancebeads.com/questions-and-answers/how-tire-beads-work/
There is an article about the physics of vibration at certain speeds. Their chart says 8 oz per 35" tire. A kit with four 4-oz bags and four filtered valve cores is $20.99.
I can ask him about noise but likely not perceptible in a dump truck. Maybe an alternative?
Click to expand...
I've been running balance beads in all tires 35 and larger on my trucks as well as running them in the tires on my Harleys.
No noise at all. Tires are always balanced. Love them.
Have them in the BFGs on my 21 PW.
Only issue I ever had was pulling off a muddy road onto the paved road. But once most of the mud was gone, they balanced right out.

However, my new 21 75th AE PW has a vibration between 65 and 70 MPH. Not sure if it's the roads or what. Gonna go get the alignment checked soon. Not sure if it was there with the goodyears as they were only on for 250 city miles. Still running the stock rims.
 
Beads are great but save some cash buy a case of airsoft bbs and weigh them out for each tire according to the charts and just dump them in, you have a bit more noise than the powder when stoping, i have always run them in my 3/4+ trucks
 
Update: Got the BM balancers installed yesterday, and the vibration is worse than it was before. I did remove the weights on the wheels per the BM instructions.
For the time being, I will remove these and have the wheels and tires RE-balanced. I have also asked discount to order me another set of Methods, as thats the only damn thing that hasnt been replaced.

They will road force balance them tonight and said they will be able to tell if something is out of round...which I doubt because it hasnt worked the first 4 or so times. However, I cannot tolerate the shake until the new set comes in, so this is necessary for the time being.

I am close to throwing in the towel and running the stock old man looking setup :mad:
 
relbus said:
Update: Got the BM balancers installed yesterday, and the vibration is worse than it was before. I did remove the weights on the wheels per the BM instructions.
For the time being, I will remove these and have the wheels and tires RE-balanced. I have also asked discount to order me another set of Methods, as thats the only damn thing that hasnt been replaced.

They will road force balance them tonight and said they will be able to tell if something is out of round...which I doubt because it hasnt worked the first 4 or so times. However, I cannot tolerate the shake until the new set comes in, so this is necessary for the time being.

I am close to throwing in the towel and running the stock old man looking setup :mad:
Click to expand...
Any idea what balancer they use? I used to work at Hunter Engineering and their balancers could handle anything. Might try finding a shop with different balancer equipment, might make a difference.
 
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