Wheel balancing is an important part of maintenance

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

In today's world there are few drivers who would not have heard about wheel balancing. This procedure is considered one of the most important in terms of vehicle maintenance. The quality of its implementation has a direct impact on traffic safety, as well as on the durability of steering and front suspension parts. Imbalance can be easily noticed, as vibrations and noises appear while driving on the road. However, an accurate check must be carried out using special devices and stands. Ideally, wheel balancing should be carried out after passing two to three thousand kilometers. When a seasonal tire change is carried out, this procedure is also required.

Thus, the correct wheel balancing becomes the key to the reliable operation of the vehicle as a whole. The balance helps to determine a special machine, which is available at almost every tire changer station. The result of adjustment work largely depends on the level of adjustment of the machine itself. An indicator of serviceability can be compliance with the speed of rotation to established standards. Shouldkeep in mind that the machine must be run more than once to accurately determine the imbalance.

The role played by wheel balancing can't really be overstated. The reason for the imbalance in the first place is that during the stamping or casting of the disc, the metal is not evenly distributed, so a heavy place is formed, causing the beat. In addition, the imbalance is caused directly by the tire itself, which has a rather intricate device and considerable weight. In this regard, at the final stage, when assembling the wheels, the force that prevents normal rotation is detected and eliminated.

As a rule, static and dynamic wheel balancing is performed. The first option provides for a uniform weight distribution about its own axis of rotation. If the static balance is disturbed, then the wheel will hit the road surface quite hard, which will further lead to wear of the suspension parts. Therefore, this service is popular in car services. As for the dynamic balance, it is considered ideal when the weight is evenly distributed relative to the plane of rotation of the wheel. The negative impact of this phenomenon becomes most noticeable on wide wheels.

Of course, the imbalance of the rear wheels will be less noticeable, but they also need to be balanced. Otherwise, after a short period of time, uneven wear of the rubber can be noticed. Nowadays, the automatic method has become especially widespread, wherebalance is achieved with fine sand, special granules or some kind of powder. Here an important role is played by the centrifugal force of the wheel, which interacts directly with the suspension. From all of the above, it becomes clear why wheel balancing is needed and what consequences its absence can lead to.