Wheel Balancing Problem
07-24-2011, 02:54 PM
#1
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Wheel Balancing Problem
Greetings to the U.S of A!
Car failed it's annaul MOT test this week, (the shame & embarrasment!), on front n/s tyre inside edge below legal limit + advisory on o/s front for same problem. Two new front tyres fitted yesterdayresulting in MOT pass. Annual service booked this week at Porsche Independent to include 4 wheel alignment.
However, they had problems balancing the front wheels. What should have been 1/2 hour job took most of this morning! At first they thought it was the balancing machine playing up, so they took it to another wheel place. They ended up balancing the wheels, (which are true/no buckling etc.), with 120g weights on one side and 280g on the other! Doesn't look too pretty!! Tyre dealer said he'd never come across such an excessive weighting before and couldn't say why.
Anyone else had this and if so what did they reckon is the cause?
Is the weighting excessive and do I have a problem?
Wheels are 18" standard turbo hollows fitted with Continental Sport Contact N2's and tyres are standard 225/40 front and 295/30 rear.
Car failed it's annaul MOT test this week, (the shame & embarrasment!), on front n/s tyre inside edge below legal limit + advisory on o/s front for same problem. Two new front tyres fitted yesterdayresulting in MOT pass. Annual service booked this week at Porsche Independent to include 4 wheel alignment.
However, they had problems balancing the front wheels. What should have been 1/2 hour job took most of this morning! At first they thought it was the balancing machine playing up, so they took it to another wheel place. They ended up balancing the wheels, (which are true/no buckling etc.), with 120g weights on one side and 280g on the other! Doesn't look too pretty!! Tyre dealer said he'd never come across such an excessive weighting before and couldn't say why.
Anyone else had this and if so what did they reckon is the cause?
Is the weighting excessive and do I have a problem?
Wheels are 18" standard turbo hollows fitted with Continental Sport Contact N2's and tyres are standard 225/40 front and 295/30 rear.
07-24-2011, 03:26 PM
#2
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Just a couple of random thoughts...
Did they make sure to mount the tires so that the dot painted on the tire wall matched up with the hole for the valve stem? The tires have a heavy side to compensate for the missing metal in the rim, and if they weren't careful to align them properly, it would take a lot of weight to balance the wheels. 280g is a lot of weight to have to add.
Also, if you had excessive wear on both inside and outside, you were probably driving the tires underinflated. 36psi front / 44 psi rear is spec.
Did they make sure to mount the tires so that the dot painted on the tire wall matched up with the hole for the valve stem? The tires have a heavy side to compensate for the missing metal in the rim, and if they weren't careful to align them properly, it would take a lot of weight to balance the wheels. 280g is a lot of weight to have to add.
Also, if you had excessive wear on both inside and outside, you were probably driving the tires underinflated. 36psi front / 44 psi rear is spec.
07-25-2011, 06:33 PM
#3
Race Director
Greetings to the U.S of A!
Car failed it's annaul MOT test this week, (the shame & embarrasment!), on front n/s tyre inside edge below legal limit + advisory on o/s front for same problem. Two new front tyres fitted yesterdayresulting in MOT pass. Annual service booked this week at Porsche Independent to include 4 wheel alignment.
However, they had problems balancing the front wheels. What should have been 1/2 hour job took most of this morning! At first they thought it was the balancing machine playing up, so they took it to another wheel place. They ended up balancing the wheels, (which are true/no buckling etc.), with 120g weights on one side and 280g on the other! Doesn't look too pretty!! Tyre dealer said he'd never come across such an excessive weighting before and couldn't say why.
Anyone else had this and if so what did they reckon is the cause?
Is the weighting excessive and do I have a problem?
Wheels are 18" standard turbo hollows fitted with Continental Sport Contact N2's and tyres are standard 225/40 front and 295/30 rear.
Car failed it's annaul MOT test this week, (the shame & embarrasment!), on front n/s tyre inside edge below legal limit + advisory on o/s front for same problem. Two new front tyres fitted yesterdayresulting in MOT pass. Annual service booked this week at Porsche Independent to include 4 wheel alignment.
However, they had problems balancing the front wheels. What should have been 1/2 hour job took most of this morning! At first they thought it was the balancing machine playing up, so they took it to another wheel place. They ended up balancing the wheels, (which are true/no buckling etc.), with 120g weights on one side and 280g on the other! Doesn't look too pretty!! Tyre dealer said he'd never come across such an excessive weighting before and couldn't say why.
Anyone else had this and if so what did they reckon is the cause?
Is the weighting excessive and do I have a problem?
Wheels are 18" standard turbo hollows fitted with Continental Sport Contact N2's and tyres are standard 225/40 front and 295/30 rear.
While I have never encountered this problem I have come across others who've posted that some tire stores, tire balancing shops, and possibly this comes from the tire maker through some channels, and if a tire/wheel combo requires over a certain amount of weight to 'balance' the tire or the wheel is suspect.
That both tires/wheels required that much weight to balance it is hard to believe that both tires or both tires and wheels are bad but you need to check into this possibility.
And maybe both wheel balancing machines are questionable?
Sincerely,
Macster.
07-26-2011, 10:04 AM
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Update:
Spoke to Ken at Autostasse (Porshe independent) yesterday and he said he hadn't come across this problem with Porsche wheels/tyres before.
Wheels are genuine Porsche and I'm sure if they were not fully kosher in the first place Porsche would have rejected them.
Having lost confidence in the garage that fitted the tyres, took the car in to a local tyre specialist this morning for a second opinion. Having explained the problem got them to check it out & re-balance the wheels.
They found no problems with the tyres but there is definitely some sort of problem with the wheels. Although they are not buckled, no signs of damage & no paint overspray on the hub faces they still had problems balancing, and I watched em this time! They did rotate them through 180 degrees, as suggested, but still ended up with I think it was 220g on one side & 160g on the other.
The only thing they can think it can be is when the wheels were re-furbed, if they were sprayed by hand, the paint coating is uneven depth.
However, they have assured me that even though the wheel weighting seems excessive the wheels are balanced and it's perfectly safe!
Having re-fitted the wheels had an alignment done. Gave the car a blast this morning and drives fine, no vibration at all at speeds up to ?
Anyway, seems I've probably got 3 options viz:
1) Stick with what I've got.
2) Buy two second hand ones (no guarantee I won't be buying similar problem.
3) Buy two brand new ones (ouch - probably £1k a corner!)
Think I'll stick with option 1 for time being, given that car drives perfectly!
Anybody has anything else to offer please feel free!
Spoke to Ken at Autostasse (Porshe independent) yesterday and he said he hadn't come across this problem with Porsche wheels/tyres before.
Wheels are genuine Porsche and I'm sure if they were not fully kosher in the first place Porsche would have rejected them.
Having lost confidence in the garage that fitted the tyres, took the car in to a local tyre specialist this morning for a second opinion. Having explained the problem got them to check it out & re-balance the wheels.
They found no problems with the tyres but there is definitely some sort of problem with the wheels. Although they are not buckled, no signs of damage & no paint overspray on the hub faces they still had problems balancing, and I watched em this time! They did rotate them through 180 degrees, as suggested, but still ended up with I think it was 220g on one side & 160g on the other.
The only thing they can think it can be is when the wheels were re-furbed, if they were sprayed by hand, the paint coating is uneven depth.
However, they have assured me that even though the wheel weighting seems excessive the wheels are balanced and it's perfectly safe!
Having re-fitted the wheels had an alignment done. Gave the car a blast this morning and drives fine, no vibration at all at speeds up to ?
Anyway, seems I've probably got 3 options viz:
1) Stick with what I've got.
2) Buy two second hand ones (no guarantee I won't be buying similar problem.
3) Buy two brand new ones (ouch - probably £1k a corner!)
Think I'll stick with option 1 for time being, given that car drives perfectly!
Anybody has anything else to offer please feel free!
07-26-2011, 11:15 AM
#5
he only thing they can think it can be is when the wheels were re-furbed, if they were sprayed by hand, the paint coating is uneven depth.
Here is a pic of my 315 ' on 11.5 inch wide champions. . . .
07-26-2011, 04:05 PM
#6
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You didn't mention in your first post that the wheels had been refurbished. Still, it is hard to imagine having that much difference in weight just to irregularity in the paint spray. Does make you wonder what they did in the refurb.
Jon
Jon
07-26-2011, 05:58 PM
#7
Have the very same problem going on presently with a set of original "chromies" that I picked up cheap to use for track wheels. The best I can offer you is my path forward.
After I've worn out the Toyo's that I've got on them now I'm sending them out to have them checked out by a specialist shop to insure alignment and have JUST the wheel balanced. Even if it means some grinding. After that I'm hoping that any future balancing should be relatively benign. For these wheels looks aren't particularly important as they are one of my track sets.
Good Luck
After I've worn out the Toyo's that I've got on them now I'm sending them out to have them checked out by a specialist shop to insure alignment and have JUST the wheel balanced. Even if it means some grinding. After that I'm hoping that any future balancing should be relatively benign. For these wheels looks aren't particularly important as they are one of my track sets.
Good Luck
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07-26-2011, 08:00 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Refurbed?!?!? I'm willing to bet that you've got massively patched/ground 'stuff' hiding under the paint. They may LOOK fine, but something was done to the base metal wheel that is causing this issue....
This is not 'paint thickness'..no matter what they TOLD you when they refurbed. IMO
This is not 'paint thickness'..no matter what they TOLD you when they refurbed. IMO
07-26-2011, 11:20 PM
#9
Race Director
Have the very same problem going on presently with a set of original "chromies" that I picked up cheap to use for track wheels. The best I can offer you is my path forward.
After I've worn out the Toyo's that I've got on them now I'm sending them out to have them checked out by a specialist shop to insure alignment and have JUST the wheel balanced. Even if it means some grinding. After that I'm hoping that any future balancing should be relatively benign. For these wheels looks aren't particularly important as they are one of my track sets.
Good Luck
After I've worn out the Toyo's that I've got on them now I'm sending them out to have them checked out by a specialist shop to insure alignment and have JUST the wheel balanced. Even if it means some grinding. After that I'm hoping that any future balancing should be relatively benign. For these wheels looks aren't particularly important as they are one of my track sets.
Good Luck
Sincerely,
Macster.
07-27-2011, 05:44 PM
#10
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Refurbed?!?!? I'm willing to bet that you've got massively patched/ground 'stuff' hiding under the paint. They may LOOK fine, but something was done to the base metal wheel that is causing this issue....
This is not 'paint thickness'..no matter what they TOLD you when they refurbed. IMO
This is not 'paint thickness'..no matter what they TOLD you when they refurbed. IMO
All 4 wheels were refubished by a local wheel refurber, in January, as part of the deal for me buying the car. I saw the wheels on the car before they did this. There was only cosmetic damage (i.e. scratches) as far as I could see to the outside rims but me being **** about my cars dealer agreed and had them re-furbed for me. Problem is I don't know whether they were ever re-furbed prior to this by any of the previous owners. There is no obvious signs of repair to the wheels so if they were repaired whoever did them did a bloody good cover up job!
I think that the only way I'll ever get to the bottom of this will be to get the wheels professionally inspected. Trouble is who do you trust? I could book it into an OPC for their expert(?) opinion but I would imagine all they'll suggest is that I buy 2 new wheels - costing £2k+, or perhaps am I being a little cynical?
I've built up a really good relationship with the dealer I bought the car from and his after sales has been brilliant so far. Unfortunately, he's on holiday for the next fortnight so may wait and seek his advice when he's back.
07-27-2011, 11:17 PM
#11
First thing I thought when reading the original post was that the wheels had been repaired or refurbished. I'm not sure why it took multiple posts before this information was revealed since it is clearly relevant information to anyone trying to offer help.
07-28-2011, 04:55 PM
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It was hardly multiple posts before the information was revealed, (i.e. 4th post on the thread, my 2nd post). I just hadn't associated, (apologies for my ignorance), that the wheel refurbishment had something to do with the problem until I got the second opinion from the tyre people.
But thanks very much for your constructive advice anyway!!!
08-01-2011, 04:25 AM
#14
Burning Brakes
Adam, it's looking as though that could well be the case!
All 4 wheels were refubished by a local wheel refurber, in January, as part of the deal for me buying the car. I saw the wheels on the car before they did this. There was only cosmetic damage (i.e. scratches) as far as I could see to the outside rims but me being **** about my cars dealer agreed and had them re-furbed for me. Problem is I don't know whether they were ever re-furbed prior to this by any of the previous owners. There is no obvious signs of repair to the wheels so if they were repaired whoever did them did a bloody good cover up job!
I think that the only way I'll ever get to the bottom of this will be to get the wheels professionally inspected. Trouble is who do you trust? I could book it into an OPC for their expert(?) opinion but I would imagine all they'll suggest is that I buy 2 new wheels - costing £2k+, or perhaps am I being a little cynical?
I've built up a really good relationship with the dealer I bought the car from and his after sales has been brilliant so far. Unfortunately, he's on holiday for the next fortnight so may wait and seek his advice when he's back.
All 4 wheels were refubished by a local wheel refurber, in January, as part of the deal for me buying the car. I saw the wheels on the car before they did this. There was only cosmetic damage (i.e. scratches) as far as I could see to the outside rims but me being **** about my cars dealer agreed and had them re-furbed for me. Problem is I don't know whether they were ever re-furbed prior to this by any of the previous owners. There is no obvious signs of repair to the wheels so if they were repaired whoever did them did a bloody good cover up job!
I think that the only way I'll ever get to the bottom of this will be to get the wheels professionally inspected. Trouble is who do you trust? I could book it into an OPC for their expert(?) opinion but I would imagine all they'll suggest is that I buy 2 new wheels - costing £2k+, or perhaps am I being a little cynical?
I've built up a really good relationship with the dealer I bought the car from and his after sales has been brilliant so far. Unfortunately, he's on holiday for the next fortnight so may wait and seek his advice when he's back.
Just saying. Good luck.
A
