Troubleshooting Tire Vibration with Proper Wheel Balancing - AutoSuccessOnline

Troubleshooting Tire Vibration with Proper Wheel Balancing

Around 60% of vibration-related comebacks are due to improper wheel mounting or balancing.

A vibration in the steering wheel. A shaking in the driver’s seat or a pulsation in the brake pedal. No, these aren’t the start of tire shop horror stories — relax. Frequently, they’re customer complaints that often point to a common problem: tire vibration.

Around 60% of vibration-related comebacks are due to improper wheel mounting or balancing. That’s why minimizing vibration comebacks starts with the proper balancing of your customers’ tires. 

Mounting and Balancing Missteps 

If you are experiencing a static mounting error on the balancer, it could be a result of nicked-up cones or collets, a worn spring or shaft, or improper clamping.  

Today, many alloy wheels don’t have a simple, tapered center anymore. In addition to the mating surface of the hub bore center, a wheel may have a narrow cosmetic front. With several different taper angles being used, it is critical that the cone or collet supports the wheel on the structural taper for accurate balancing. Incorrect contact can allow the wheel to move while on the balancer, giving false readings and leaving a tech chasing weights or adding more weight because the balancer asks for more, usually in different places. 

Before you secure the wheel onto the balancer, perform a spin check and review your readings. If the balancer is not calling for the same weight amount in the same locations, either the wheel was not centered on the second spin or not centered on the first. Double-check your mount for repeatability. Your goal is to get your imbalance readings as close to zero as possible before adding weight.  

Solving for Tire Vibration  

Following certain protocols and using the correct mounting accessories can prevent or fix most vibrations. First, always back-cone mount the wheel onto the balancer. “Back-coning” is when the technician uses a cone or collet on the back side of the wheel to mount the tire and wheel assembly onto the balancer. Back-coning helps properly center the wheel on the balancer, just as a bearing hub helps center the wheel on the vehicle.

When servicing many tire and wheel assemblies today, a double-sided, low-tapered collet kit is a must. When back-cone mounting the tire onto the balancer, install the spring first on the balancer shaft. Then, select a low-taper collet that fits snugly into back side of the wheel center hole. Slide the collet onto the balancer shaft, then the wheel, followed by the adjustable pin plate. Align the adjustable pin plate with the wheel lug holes, and tighten the hub nut onto the shaft.  

In addition, make sure your balancer is in the right mode.  

Weight Savings: This mode calculates the best spots for weights to minimize static unbalance. However, it may leave excessive amounts of couple imbalance in the assembly. With aftermarket wheels and tires, in some cases, the negative offset and the extra weight from the assembly makes the vehicle more sensitive to couple vibrations.

ProBalance: This mode calculates the best spots to minimize static and couple imbalance to get as close to zero as possible. In this mode, the balancer first balances the assembly dynamically, and the tech performs a spin check. If the assembly needs extra correction weight to fine-tune to zero, ProBalance automatically flags the assembly and identifies the precise weight location.

The ongoing pursuit of increased fuel economy will continue to increase vehicle sensitivity to vibration and drive the need for tighter balancing tolerances in aftermarket wheel service. Identify any vehicle that has a sensitivity issue — many will come with low-profile, high-performance assemblies — or one that has a picky driver, and make sure it’s noted on the repair order.

You May Also Like

Unlocking the Value of Your Data. Don’t Let it Go to Waste.

Explore expert Bobby Gaudreau’s insights on overcoming data challenges in auto dealerships, focusing on CRM and DMS optimization for marketing success.

Unlocking the Value of Your Data. Don't Let it Go to Waste.

The effective utilization of data is essential for driving successful automotive marketing strategies and fostering strong customer engagement. However, many dealerships encounter a significant challenge: their marketing campaigns often fall short due to disorganized and incomplete customer data.

Traditional Dealer Management Systems (DMS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, while vital, are not inherently designed as marketing systems. They lack the necessary functionalities for easy list generation and segmentation, and are not equipped to share, understand or react in real-time to information. This limitation is especially evident when dealing with records that include customer interactions and behaviors, which are crucial for integrating with a marketing system. This gap in capability is where Customer Data Platforms (CDP) become crucial.

The Road to Success: Car Sales Training to Ignite Your Career

What can you do to overcome customer objections and close more deals?

sales training
Leading the Race: The Imperative of Being First

An extension of reconditioning software, the DVP is a versatile customer-facing digital evidence manual or portfolio that warmly welcomes customers and presents your vehicles concisely and professionally.

Leading the Race: The Imperative of Being First - Velocity Automotive
Identifying Gaps in Digital Retailing Solutions & 5 Easy Fixes

Inconsistencies slow the purchase process, erode consumer trust and eliminate the willingness to purchase.

Identifying Gaps in Digital Retailing Solutions & 5 Easy Fixes
The SMS Paradigm: Reshaping Customer Engagement in the Automotive Industry

By reaching out through SMS, we have tapped into the potential of a less invasive, yet highly effective, method of communication.

The SMS Paradigm: Reshaping Customer Engagement in the Automotive Industry

Other Posts

Ashlee Church: #NotLikeTheOtherGuys

This dealer is following her arrow and bringing change to the auto dealer industry.

Vehicle Care RockStar Ashlee Church
Used Car Sourcing and Predictable Appraisal Accuracy

Trade-ins remain essential, so when their owners walk through the door, give them the fairest offer you can — and be sure the spread you need isn’t diluted by appraisal oversights.

Used Car Sourcing and Predictable Appraisal Accuracy
You Want Me to Pay for WHAT?!

Arming yourself with this firsthand knowledge will let you make informed decisions and allocate your budget toward increased profitability in ways you simply cannot hope to when you’re playing telephone with your manager charged with executing on marketing.

Wikimotive, trade shows, marketing,
Latest Toyota Data Breach: Evidence of an Industry Under Attack

Hackers have identified the auto industry as ripe for the picking. Attackers often share information regarding potential targets and methods.

Latest Toyota Data Breach: Evidence of an Industry Under Attack