Is it common to have your front wheels balanced? I'm having difficulty finding a tire center/garage that will do this. Are they usually bubble-balanced? Any suggestions?
Thanks, Ken

Yes, you should have your wheels balanced. I had all of the wire wheels on my '30 Chevy spin balanced and the weights were put on the inside of each wheel.

If you can't find someone to balance your wheels do it your self. Get a handful of assorted size weights (most tire stores have a bucket of used ones they will give you) and some masking tape. Spin each wheel and put tape on the spot where it stops. Spin again and note if it stops with the tape on the bottom. If so add a small weight directly opposite the tape. You fairly quickly will get a feel for the amount of back and forth rotation of the wheel at the bottom and size of weight to be installed.

Continue to spin and put tape on the low point until the taped spot does not end up on the bottom but in random locations. That means that the tire, wheel, brake drum (all rotating items) are in balance. Actually the above method is better than the spin balancing machine as it balances more than just the tire and wheel. It does require that the wheel bearings are in good condition.

Chipper: I like that explanation sound very interesting way to do that job will have to remember it. I HOPE

Just a note to inform you that chippers method only works on the front wheels. You may have to loosen the wheel bearings by one or two flats of the wheel nut to get a free rotating wheel to balance. Don't forget to reset the torque on the wheel nut when finished.

THANKS I'LL TRY THAT

Ray your are right I never thought about the rear wheels

Great way to balance the wheels, I'll do mine this weekend. Thanks for the tip.

Did they really balance these things back in the day?

Hi Ken31,
From the discussion, it appears that you would be able to balance the rear wheel/tire assemblies by mounting them on the front axle for spinning. Also the spare wheels and tires. While up on the lift or jack stands, it's a good time for an inspection and lube.

Back then tires were not generally balanced with weights unless the owner complained of bouncing wheels or instability or unusual wear. The were "balanced" by aligning the lightest spot (indicated by a colored dot or logo or ? on one side wall) at the tube valve stem.

Once speeds increased to the 50s and higher and highways became smooth enough to expect a smoother ride balancing became a general practice. I remember a particularly rough section of I-40 in Tennessee (in the 60s) that had nearly every service station (remember them?) along that highway advertising "wheel balancing". It was the highway and not the wheels but I am sure many people bought the service only to find it did not correct the bouncing.

I have had some small weights on the 31- disc wheels of Petrine for several years now. And recently my mechanic has given the steering of Solan a main overhaul and without more than some new woodruff keys and some silver extra. After doing so he suggested I also should put some weights around the wheels of Solan as well, to get a smoother ride. So I will do that as well.

Intresting.

Maybee i'll do this. Can i buy these weights new somewere?... Like at a tire house or sumthin?

I installed the Goodyears with the dots indexed to the valve stems and there is no indication that a balance is needed.

My poor 1931 is gone and I begin to miss her. But: I had never a problem to balance the wheels in a normal tire shop. The chevy wheels have a big center hole and this is not really different from modern car wheels and it was an easy job for my tire shop to balance them. and the car did run much better with balanced wheels.
stefan germany

Back in the old days we balanced the wheels (front) with a spin balancer. This method balanced all components of the wheel and hub. The wheel was put into motion by an electric motor and the wheel mass was balanced with a framework that fit on the wheel and weights could be changed while the wheel was in motion. Most mechanics placed the left hand up on the fender as they made the adjustments with the right hand.

(Boy did I ever date myself with this post).

I can put some pictures here in some few weeks to show what will be done on Solan's wheels.

As to Petrine I must get her ou of the storage first.

Man, i just wanted to say that it is definitly SO great to have someone like you still in existance, AntiqueMechanic. I learned from you guys when i started to turn wrenches and i miss most of ya'll day to day. You's guys are few and far between anymore in this modern aged computerized dont really care world. Unlike most kids, i listened and i carry to this day, the tricks and lessons i were taught.

I still cant say im a big fan of loaded condencers, though.

THANK YOU

Ray,
I had almost forgotten about the on the car wheel balancer. If I remember correctly the one at the shop was made by Hunter. Had the red unit holding the electric motor with steel wheel to turn the rubber tire on the car. The balancer used clamps to attach to the inside of the wheel. Could be adjusted for various size wheels. The three colored discs were grabbed and released to add weight and move it around the wheel. Once you got the wheel to smooth out the amount of weight and position was indicated. Reset back to no weight and spun it again to double check the balance. If I remember it normally took two to four tries to get the tire/wheel balanced.

Hello, Stefan.

If you need another Chevrolet of same type, you might find it here in Norway. I may search for you after you have given me the details of what you are looking for and approx. price.

At the moment there is a 490 Touring from 1921 for a reasonable price (10-15.000 NOK). The owner has started the building up again, but the car is mainly in pieces.

Hi Solan,

Your last posting does not seam to fit in with wheel balancing. Did you intend for it to be in another thread?