A3 Front tire balance W/ Erik's lug nut fix

[Jbrowning22]

Big thanks to wehring then !!!
I do not see any reason it would not work on the rears. No problem with my rear tires bouncing.

It works fine on the rears. I've been running it on all 6 wheels for close to a year. Nothing but good can come from properly balanced wheels.

 

[greg burns]

Wheel Weights

One wheel on my A3 came without the counterweight. Does anyone know who sells them? Erik's website says they are out of stock. I've checked the websites for Saturn Surplus, Memphis Equipment, and TNJ Murray. None of them list them. I'm guessing the weights wouldn't be a regular item at a big truck tire shop. Erik's website lists the number as NSN 3040014070644. A google search of the NSN # didn't point to any retailers.

Thanks.

 

[Hooty481]

i use golf balls are way cheaper then. just go to local golf coure and buy a bucket of range balls for 5 bucks and there are alot in there.

 

[greg burns]

Hooty481:
I was trying to avoid breaking the wheel down in order to balance it. Since the other five wheels have the counterweight, I was trying to be consistent. However, the weights seem to be in short supply.

 

[Chain-Saw]

Well,,, if you don't mind paying $22 each + $8 S/H, you can always buy off that evil California-based auction site... 11 in stock a minute ago (I'll just leave it at that).

 

[maccus]

Or you could go to Ryder Fleet and only pay $1.28 each for the Budd 37888 nuts. I have ordered enough to do all the wheels. They come in 25 nut lots. Shipping is only $7.95 for all sales under $99. Nicer price, easier on the OD truck fund. Got to love the Google search function.

Outer Nut3/4"-16 Thread1.5"HexR/H, M-124, Brake & Wheel Parts

 

[Gunnermac]

I bought them at the local heavy truck parts store for about $20.00 per bag of 25 + tax, but no shipping.

 

[greg burns]

wheel weight plus extra lug nuts

Maccus:
I tried to balance a wheel that was missing the counter weight by just using 8 lug nuts. It involved doubling the nuts where the wheel weight should have been. Without the counterweight, it just doesn't seem to be enough. The auction site was the only place that seemed to have the counterweight. They must know that they can get away with charging a premium price. I thought about having the wheel balanced at the closest big truck tire store but it is $16 dollars worth of diesel to get there and back.

 

[maccus]

Greg:
I agree that without a issue wheel weight it would be very hard to balance the wheel. I did not think that was to much for the issue wheel weight however. As specialized parts are always more then off the shelf parts.

 

[duramaxdiesel1]

i just bought the lug nuts from ryder fleet today to fix my balance issues on my m35a3. thanks maccus for the info.

 

[wb9btz]

This is an old thread but I think its still worth mentioning that the Lug Nut Fix shown in post #14 WORKS!

I placed the lug nuts as shown two weeks ago and have not had that wobble ever since! Heck... my speedometer even stopped shaking!

Now I'm thinking I may take all my wheels in and have them balanced at a truck tire shop.

Nevertheless... This is certainly worth doing for a fast, easy and effective fix!

 

[DodgerRoger]

Just a thought I had, if you have your 14.5x20 tires balanced make sure the tire shop that is doing the work knows that they are only rated for 56 mph.

 

[Tommy Frantz]

I looked on my 923a2 and my 925a2 and they only have a weight on the front wheels, opposite the ctis valve. Why are they only on the front and not on the backs? Also, does a truck tire shop balance them on the truck, or do they take them off to balance them?

Thanks!
Tommy

 

[guns1977]

What about if I take the ctis off the wheel, how much counter weight should I need? Nuts, big weight? I know with no counter weight and 1 extra lug it aint balanced

 

[steve6x6x6]

This is what i run into when i balanced my tires, 2 weights and 2 lug nut to 1 weight and 1 lug nut.

 

[wb9btz]

I looked on my 923a2 and my 925a2 and they only have a weight on the front wheels, opposite the ctis valve. Why are they only on the front and not on the backs? Also, does a truck tire shop balance them on the truck, or do they take them off to balance them?

Thanks!
Tommy

I can't speak for the 5 Tons (I think that's what 923s and 925s are), but it seems that some M35A3s did not have the weights on the rears either, while others (like mine) have them on all wheels. Maybe some motor pool guys simply did not replace them when changing tires?

I think most truck stops balance them off of the truck. I think they only need to be "static balanced". I don't know this for certain.

You can also build yourself an inexpensive static wheel balancer using the concept described in a thread on this site. Search for "wheel balancing" (or something similar).

 

[wb9btz]

What about if I take the ctis off the wheel, how much counter weight should I need? Nuts, big weight? I know with no counter weight and 1 extra lug it aint balanced

Best way to answer your question is to build an inexpensive static wheel balancer (as described in another thread on this site). Also, it looks like steve6x6x6 built himself one as the wheel and tire assembly is not mounted to a truck as seen in picture 2 of post 35 of this thread.

Basically, what you do is to mount the wheel assembly on the balancer and give it several spins. After each spin, mark the bottom with chalk or crayon when it stops. If it stops with the same mark(s) at the bottom, then you have found the heavy side. Add some weight opposite the chalk mark and repeat. If the weight you have just added now repeatedly stops at the bottom you have added too much. Try less weight. When you have properly balanced the wheel assembly, you will be able to spin it several times and it will never stop with the same spot at the bottom.

 

[gringeltaube]

Basically, what you do is to mount the wheel assembly on the balancer and give it several spins.......

An unbalanced wheel/tire acts like a pendulum and if your home-made "balancer"-hub runs on ball bearings (like this one...) you will quickly find the "heavy" spot and be able to detect and compensate an unbalance of as little as 1 ounce, @ 10 inches from center.
No need to spin the tire, except checking for flat spots and run-out.

G.

 

[Tommy Frantz]

I want to build a home-made balancer, but I need to borrow a spare 5 ton 10-bolt hub to make my rig. I'm looking for a hub locally; will a hub off a standard highway truck work? If so, I could grab one at the local truck salvage yard...

Tommy