MGB & GT Forum

You may have read one of several threads I have posted about a front end vibration. I also related a bad experience at a local Discount Tire store when I took my wheels/tires back for the second time for balancing.

When I originally picked up my new Moss minilites with Pirelli P4 tires from the DT store, I noticed that there were lots of weights on each wheel. All the weights were on the back side of the wheel. There were from one to two normal rim-weights on each wheel and then, at 180 deg from those there were a number of stick-on weights on the inside of the rim.

When I mounted them and went for a test drive, I had a front end vibration, so I Took the car to the DT store and asked them to check the balance again. I also asked about the large amount of weights on a new wheel and tire and asked why they would place groups of weights that appear to offset each other. They explained that's the way they balance all wheels and the method ensured "both sides" of the wheel is balanced. They checked them on the machine again and said they were balanced properly.

So, I assumed that my problem was in the front suspension. Using my usual "replace parts til you solve it" approach, I replaced literally everything on the front end, all bushings, pins, A- arms, rotors, swivel axles, shocks, etc. and I STILL had the vibration.

So yesterday I took the wheels to another local, non-chain, tire shop that I had had good experience with. They removed all of the weights and installed only one small rim weight per tire.

Guess what - vibration gone. the moral of the story is just because someone gives a good deal on a tire and is a national tire chain shop doesn't mean they know what the hell they are doing.

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“Ideological certainty easily degenerates into an insistence upon ignorance". Daniel Patrick Moynihan

In any debate, the side which strays from civil discussion is usually the side that lacks confidence in its debate position or in the merit of their arguments. Making personal attacks on the opponents instead of staying on the subject is also a sign of weakness.

Anyone who feels compelled to respond in kind to any perceived slight is often suffering from narcissism.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-08-20 04:28 PM by lewisrn.

Very true indeed.

I got REALLY hacked at Sears this week when I took my wife's SUV in to get a wheel rebalanced after it lost the wheel weight.

They literally pulled the car in, and the sound was still in the air from them closing the door of the SUV. They start spouting off that I need the air filter service.

I said…"based on what"? He quickly said…"we checked it and it needs cleaning".

All I could do to not just cuss him out, but I told him he was full of it, and had watched him simply pull in and do NOTHING under the hood.

I also told him it takes tools to get the air cleaner off to even check the filter. What a racket. My last visit to Sears automotive EVER.

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1974-1/2 Roadster, "Bumble Bee", Corvette Yellow - in shambles, wire wheels
1976 Roadster, "Virus", Sandglow - "driver" condition (stock + 32/36 Weber DGEV, cast iron header, 25D distributor), bolt on wheels, ON the road!

With all that has been said through the years about balancing MG wheels, it seems to me the best way to go is to find someone that has the machine to spin the wheel/tire while it is still on the car. I remember that years ago that was the most successful for me. Do shops still use this method?

FWIW, I had a 74 Firebird with ET mags with Uniroyal 70 series tires. They were unable to get this combo balanced after several tries. Ended up using the machine I'm talking about. They were even able to spin the tire and shave the tread to true up a tire that was sightly out of round. 1976 was the year.....

All balance equipment comes with the adapter to do our wheels.

Shops with employees under 50 throw them away as they never use them on clean up day.

One needs to find out where in your area all the MG car club guys take their cars. 90% or more of the shops cannot do our wheels.

Discount tires is the last place I would go with an LBC. They are ok for modern cars.

Fancy spin balancing is swell but, unnecessary, as you have found. No MG sees over 100 mph often.

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L.W.(Larry)Baygents
63B
77 Spit

I have looked in my area, including Indianapolis, and haven't been able to find anyone who still balances wheels on the car. Conversations with my fellow MG club members produced some recommendations, one of which I tried earlier, but no one knows of anyone balancing on the car.

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“Ideological certainty easily degenerates into an insistence upon ignorance". Daniel Patrick Moynihan

In any debate, the side which strays from civil discussion is usually the side that lacks confidence in its debate position or in the merit of their arguments. Making personal attacks on the opponents instead of staying on the subject is also a sign of weakness.

Anyone who feels compelled to respond in kind to any perceived slight is often suffering from narcissism.

Can someone answer Gerry's question about on the car wheel balancing? As a kid there was this one tire shop that we all went to with our cars. They used a small garbage can lid shaped device that clipped to the rim as would an old 'full' wheel cover. for the front wheels, they used a device jammed under the tire that turned to around 50mph. There were 4 (?) bearing size 'wheels' that extended out from the middle of the contraption. The technician would touch these wheels lightly, brining the wheel into and out of balance until he was 'happy'. The device then showed where to put weights, all on the outside of the rim as I recall. For the rear wheels they just ran the car for one or both (posi) sides.

Is there an equivalent now? It occurs to me that this was before off the car spin balancing and may now be obsolete.

I found a place in Daytona Beach that has the machine to balance while on Car. I love what they did to my TR-7. Stephen's Tire on Main St. beachside. This is for the Florida folks of course....
Ken

Thanks Ken! Maybe on my way to Key West next spring!

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“Ideological certainty easily degenerates into an insistence upon ignorance". Daniel Patrick Moynihan

In any debate, the side which strays from civil discussion is usually the side that lacks confidence in its debate position or in the merit of their arguments. Making personal attacks on the opponents instead of staying on the subject is also a sign of weakness.

Anyone who feels compelled to respond in kind to any perceived slight is often suffering from narcissism.

We supposedly have an old time shop over in Norfolk that still can balance a wheel while on the car.

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1974-1/2 Roadster, "Bumble Bee", Corvette Yellow - in shambles, wire wheels
1976 Roadster, "Virus", Sandglow - "driver" condition (stock + 32/36 Weber DGEV, cast iron header, 25D distributor), bolt on wheels, ON the road!

The tire chain "True-Line" in San Diego county used to do mine. Last time I was there was '93.

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Michael J. Caputo
'79, '77, '76, '74.5 (rubber dual SU), and '73 owner. Extensive experience in 12v Audio System design and installation. Vendor of Regalia and Promotional Products since 1993. Supplier of Accessories to MOSS. Forum Member since 2009; with a warped sense of humor since birth. Publisher of the annual MGB & GT Calendar, mailed worldwide.

There's no need to go through the on the car dynamic balancing act. As stated above...these are NOT high performance/high speed/highly modified wheels/tires. They simply need the right adapter and someone who knows how to use it. I'm sure there IS a need for that sort of highly sensitive/accurate balancing...but it is NOT on a 40 Y/O 100Hp street driven car.

I asked my mechanic, who although doesn't specialize in MG's or imports...owns one just to have a little convertible to drive in the summer. He's an independent 3 bay owner who works on virtually everything. He's not a fanatic/club member etc...I had a flat and asked him what all the hoopla was about balancing these Rostyle wheels. He was quite puzzled and said "I didn't know there was one" He said his machine was quite capable of balancing them correctly...and laughed when I said I thought there was some special method. "No...just use the right adapter and that's about it"

Find a competent shop(and that MAY NOT, as in my case, be a shop with the word "tire" in it) and/or contact the local British car club and ask if they have a recommendation.

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"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions"--Alvin "Tex" Johnston...Boeing test pilot.

"Who do you think you are? I am."...Pete Weber

73 MGB. Tires: Round, black, hold air. Oil: Sometimes old, sometimes new...always slippery. Oil filter: Yellow, usually full of oil. Carbs: 2 SU HIF. Distributor: Yes. Headlights: Not that bright but bright enough. A bunch of other stuff most cars have but not really important enough to itemize. Oh, wait...it has a cool sounding exhaust with stickers on the chrome tips. Really slays the ladies...

Hey Bob,

When Josh Strohm realigned Rosie's front end, he also had the wheels balanced. I believe he sent it out to do that--and he didn't say where. They're booked to the rafters right now, perhaps he'd tell you where if you asked him. They turned out brilliantly.

Elena

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"Rosie" Ford Toreador Red Metallic '80
3rd B, "Carmen" Flame Red '77 R.I.P.
B-GT, "Rory" Damask Red '73 Has come Home!
First B, "Screaming PITA" Inca yellow '80

Mazda CX-5 2014 for when I need to actually get there

The topic of proper balancing of Rostyle wheels comes up on a continuing basis. There is general agreement that an adpter that connects to the lug holes, NOT the potentially off-center central hole, is needed for accurate spin balancing. So, are these adapters available, from where and how much $? If not that expensive, I'd consider purchasing one for my own use and that of club members. I also seem to remember someone suggesting use of a front disc wheel hub (modified?)

What does the adapter look like and what is it called?

I watched my mechanic do it. He did it twice. Spun it, turned it 180°, spun it again then added weight. Oh...he also had the chrome "beauty ring" on it as well..not just the rim itself. I HAD a balance issue...I don't anymore. FWIW.

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"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions"--Alvin "Tex" Johnston...Boeing test pilot.

"Who do you think you are? I am."...Pete Weber

73 MGB. Tires: Round, black, hold air. Oil: Sometimes old, sometimes new...always slippery. Oil filter: Yellow, usually full of oil. Carbs: 2 SU HIF. Distributor: Yes. Headlights: Not that bright but bright enough. A bunch of other stuff most cars have but not really important enough to itemize. Oh, wait...it has a cool sounding exhaust with stickers on the chrome tips. Really slays the ladies...