Has anyone had their wheel balanced 'on the car'?

 

If so, were there any differences in the wheel balance from having them done off the car?

 

 

Steve,

I haven't ever had them done on the car but I have found an enormous variance in the quality of balancing. Had my fronts done twice due to wobble at 80mph and then, convinced that it was something more severe, took the car to a dealer to investigate. They had them balanced a third time and it was perfect !

Dave

I have noticed that lots of places balance the wheel using the machine, stick the weight on and then don't spin it up again to check - saves a few secs a wheel I suppose, but you have to keep an eye on them.

 

I had the same problem as you Dave but now I've found a relible local place that I trust.

Another thing to be wary of is mobile fitting companies. It would seem that the balance machines are sensitive to being moved, need to be level etc. and being rocked around in the back of a van does them no favours.

always of the car. its the most accurate way.

cause you get no interference from the hub or anything.

Just playing devils advocate here, but doing it on the car could be more accurate because the wheel should be in the the same position as when it's in use. ie. wheel nuts will also get balanced (not they they are likely to make much difference near the centre of the wheel but ...)

However, I suppose that the reality is that the equipment used to balance on the car is not as accurate as that used for off car.

Thanks for the replies..

 

Dave, I have the same problem at about 80mph.

 

I'll have them done again by a different place.

 

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

 

ELITE in ESSEX carry out on the car balancing. This ensures all rotating components of the car are balanced, but its not cheap incomparison to off wheel balancing. This is how race cars are balanced. At ELITE they also have 4 wheel tracking, however depending on the car this can take as long as 4 hours to complete. A porsche 944 takes about this long because they amount of adjustments that can be made.

I guess the Nissan will be much the same.