• Ranjan Singh
• Nov 21, 2024

Wheel Balancing Machine: The Complete Guide

If you run a workshop, time is your most precious asset. The more time you have, the more customers you can handle, which results in more revenue and growth. However, most mechanics' time goes to unproductive work, like finding the wheel imbalance, which can easily be detected through a wheel balancing machine. 

In the workshop business, each second is valuable for the owner, and investing in the right modern equipment that reduces the time drastically can improve the efficiency of the mechanic and save a lot of time and money. 

In this blog post, we will discuss all about wheel balancing machines, how they work, how to use them and what you should be looking for. If you are interested, keep reading!

What Is A Wheel Balancing Machine?

The wheel balancing machine measures and corrects the weight distribution of your vehicle’s wheels and tyres to avoid vibrations. It is an essential piece of equipment used in automotive workshops to ensure the safe and efficient operation of vehicles. 

When wheels are not correctly balanced, it can result in vibrations, uneven tyre wear, and potential safety hazards on the road. Proper wheel balancing is essential for vehicle handling, driving comfort, and safety.

Wheel balancing equals the weight distribution around the circumference of a wheel and tyre assembly. Even a minor imbalance can cause unwanted vibrations, which can be felt through the steering wheel, seat, or floorboard. These vibrations can cause premature wear on various components, including tyres, suspension, and steering.

Why Do You Need A Wheel Balancing Machine in Your Garage?

A wheel balancing machine is a must-have piece of equipment in every garage because it ensures that your customer's vehicle tyres are worn evenly and corrects any wheel imbalances. 

By investing in a good wheel balancing machine, you not only improve your customers’ driving experience but also show your workshop quality standards. 

Offering wheel balancing services sets your garage apart as a reliable and professional vehicle maintenance choice, resulting in happier customers returning to you. 

Types Of Wheel Balancing Processes

There are four most common types of wheel balancing processes. Each process has its advantages.

Static Balancing

Static balancing is a simple and manual wheel balancing practice used for years. It’s a simple and effective process that ensures your tyres are weighted evenly without any balancing issues. It removes all the heavy spots that might cause uneven wear and vibration. 

During static wheel balancing, the technicians mount your wheel onto a balancer, which is spun to see where the tyre stops. They then add weights to the tyre's rim until it is completely balanced and does not wobble.

Following this process will make your tyres evenly weighted around their circumference. This machine will align the heaviest side of the tyre with the lightest part of your wheel. 

Most tyre shops offer this cheap and quick method, the most reliable method for passenger cars and lightweight truck tyres.

Dynamic Wheel Balancing

It is an advanced technique where a spinning computer wheel balancing machine measures the tyre in all three axes. In this process, a mechanic places a fully assembled wheel and tyre on a machine and rotates it at a speed ranging from 16 to 25 km/h (10-15 mph) to 88-95 km/h (55-60 mph).

The machine's sensors detect every weight imbalance as the wheel spins. Using this data, the machine recommends the amount and placement of weight to balance the tyre.

Compared to static balancing, It gives a much more stable and smoother ride. It’s the best method for drivers facing vibrations and other tyre-related issues. However, the drawback of this process is that it is less cost-effective and more time-consuming than static balancing.

Road Force Wheel Balancing

It’s an advanced process compared to dynamic balancing. It measures both previous methods and the force generated by the tyres as they roll down the roads. A machine will apply a load to the tyre while it spins.

This mimics the weight of the vehicle on the tyre in real time. The machine also measures the tyre’s road force to recommend the best weight and placements of loads to balance the tyre.

The road force balancing minimises the vibrations from the tyres to the vehicle while driving. This is important because even a tiny amount of vibration can interfere with the driver's comfort. Such vibration can increase the wear and tear of different vehicle components.

Balancing Beads

These tiny glass beads are placed inside a tyre to help balance it. The beads spread evenly throughout the tyre and automatically adjust their position as it moves. It counterbalances weight imbalances within the tyre, resulting in a smooth ride with fewer bumps and vibrations.

One of the unique things about using balancing beads is no need to add extra weights attached to the wheel. In addition, they don’t need special equipment or specialised machines to install the weights. 

Making them a simple and cost-effective balancing method. In general, balancing beads are only recommended for large or heavy-duty tyres. They are less effective when used in smaller tyres.

Types Of Wheel Balancing Machines

Traditional Wheel Balancer

Traditional wheel balance machine uses simpler setups to do the job. They are quite simple in design, and the functions they offer make them ideal for static wheel balancing work.

Because of this straightforward design, they are affordable for most new and established auto shops. Their smaller sizes take less space and save more space for other equipment. A traditional wheel balancing machine is used in single-bay workshops. 

These types of machines have a mounted horizontal spindle. The balancing machine detects imbalances by calculating the forces acting on the tyre. By using the information, technicians add or remove counterweights to achieve the best outcome.

Premium Wheel Balancer

Premium wheel balancing machines are more modern computerised devices made for precision balancing. These machines have a compact design and intuitive interfaces to maximise their usability.

Premium models have sophisticated features like sensors to measure tyre imbalances accurately. Even some models are automated, reducing the chances of human error and requiring less training for technicians.

However, these premium machines come with a more significant upfront cost than traditional wheel balancing machines, but they are worth the investment. Premium wheel balancing machines have unmatched accuracy to enhance the services you provide.

They are designed to optimise efficiency and save time on each wheel you balance, allowing you to work on more wheels per day. Their accuracy rate is higher, which reduces the risk of a comeback you receive from the customers. Your customers will also satisfied with your work, and it improves your brand reputation.

They are made to optimise efficiency and save time on each wheel you balance, allowing you to work on more wheels per day. Their accuracy also reduces the amount of comebacks you receive.

Diagnostic Wheel Balancing Machine

It is a cutting-edge machine that exceeds what other models can offer. These wheel-balancing machines provide more than other machines by measuring weight imbalances and scanning for potential issues within the tyre and wheel assembly. 

Some modern models have integrated diagnostic systems that detect irregular wear patterns and other tyre and alignment issues. These machines provide a detailed report that gives technicians valuable insights into the overall condition of the wheel. 

Their level of detail and precision make this wheel-balancing machine an invaluable piece of equipment for any garage. Diagnostic wheel balancing machines are not cheap and require a substantial investment. 

However, it's worth the investment when working on various tyres. If you work with passenger cars, trucks or ever-performance vehicles, this tool can be a lifesaver for your business.

How Does A Wheel Balancing Machine Work?

Wheel balancing uses different ways to identify and correct imbalances in wheel assemblies. Traditional wheel balancers don't have any diagnostic ability to detect any imbalances. 

However, modern wheel balancing machines have computerised algorithms and sensors to detect wheel imbalances and suggest precise counterweights accordingly to balance the weight. 

Some wheel balancing machine uses lasers to pinpoint precisely where the wheel weight should be placed to correct the wheel’s balance.

How To Use A Wheel Balancing Machine?

Here is a step-by-step process for using a wheel balancer:

• Before using the balancing machine, remove debris and foreign objects from your tyre tread and mounting surfaces before using the balancer.
• Mount the wheel and tyre assembly on the balancer shaft.
• Choose a snug-fitting collet for the wheel size, using a hub-centric ring if necessary.
• Use the balancer lift to protect your back and centre the wheel slowly.
• Choose the pin plate according to the matching Lugs. For example, Use a 3-lug pin plate for 3 or 6 Lugs.
• Lock the wheel using a coat hub nut to secure the assembly. 
• The balancer sensors automatically detect weight imbalances once the shaft spins at high speed. 
• Enter the dimensions on the balancer and press the A&D arm against the wheel until it beeps.
• Use the laser to find where to apply tape weights.
• The balancer calculates the necessary weights and locations during the spinning process.
• Now, attach counterweights to the wheel rim strategically.
• Add weight when the green light shows on the screen.
• Centre weight as per the laser pointer and poster counterweights opposite the imbalances for even rotation.
• After applying counterweights, perform a check spin. The wheel is completely balanced if the display shows zero weight needed on both planes.
• Recheck if all imbalances are addressed and the wheel moves without any vibration.