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Wheel balancing is a subject that comes up every now and again. I did mine today and snapped a few pics of the process.
Unless you have a high $$$ electronic balancing machine, the balancing you'll do in your garage is called "static balancing". Static=stationary...as in not moving. Static balancing does not involve spinning the wheel. It's not the best way to balance a rotating object, but it can get you pretty close and any trip to an AMA event pits will show you that it's good enough for even the biggest of race teams.
There are many different options for balance fixtures. Commercial units are available, you can build them yourself, I've even seen it done with just the axle and a pair of jack stands. I bought my arbor and bearings off Ebay. All that really matters is the wheel turns freely and your mounts are level and square. My blocks look crude, but I checked them with a level before I started, and they're good enough for my purposes.
Disclaimer: there are many ways to do this. I don't claim that my way is the only way, or the best way. It is simply the way I do it. I'm no expert on the subject, but I do have experience static balancing aircraft propellers and dynamic balancing various rotating assemblies for turbine (jet) aircraft engines.
Step 1: Mount the wheel on your balance stand.
Step 2: Find and mark the light spot
Once you have placed the wheel on the stand it will rotate itself so the heavy side is down. Place a mark on the light side of the wheel with a tire pen or similar
Step 3: Make a small ball of clay (Play-doh is what I'm using here) and stick it to the wheel at the light spot you've marked
Step 4: Turn the wheel 90 degrees and let go. If the wheel turns so the clay moves upwards, add more clay to the ball. If the clay moves downwards, remove some. Repeat this until the wheel will sit motionless with the clay at the side.
Varify that you've acheived the weight required to balance the wheel by turning it to different positions and releasing. If you've got it right, the wheel should remain motionless wherever you position it.
Step 5: Remove the clay ball and place it on your postage scale. Cut a stick-on weight to the same value (my scale is reading grams in these pics)
Step 6: After cleaning any residue off the wheel, stick the weight in the same place as you had stuck the clay ball.
Step 7: Double check the balance by positioning the wheel in a few different spots and verifying that it remains stationary.
That's all there is too it. It only takes a few minutes to balance each wheel.
BTW, you can balance your wheels with the brake disks attached. I didn't do it for this example but you may want to.
Unless you have a high $$$ electronic balancing machine, the balancing you'll do in your garage is called "static balancing". Static=stationary...as in not moving. Static balancing does not involve spinning the wheel. It's not the best way to balance a rotating object, but it can get you pretty close and any trip to an AMA event pits will show you that it's good enough for even the biggest of race teams.
There are many different options for balance fixtures. Commercial units are available, you can build them yourself, I've even seen it done with just the axle and a pair of jack stands. I bought my arbor and bearings off Ebay. All that really matters is the wheel turns freely and your mounts are level and square. My blocks look crude, but I checked them with a level before I started, and they're good enough for my purposes.
Disclaimer: there are many ways to do this. I don't claim that my way is the only way, or the best way. It is simply the way I do it. I'm no expert on the subject, but I do have experience static balancing aircraft propellers and dynamic balancing various rotating assemblies for turbine (jet) aircraft engines.
Step 1: Mount the wheel on your balance stand.
Step 2: Find and mark the light spot
Once you have placed the wheel on the stand it will rotate itself so the heavy side is down. Place a mark on the light side of the wheel with a tire pen or similar
Step 3: Make a small ball of clay (Play-doh is what I'm using here) and stick it to the wheel at the light spot you've marked
Step 4: Turn the wheel 90 degrees and let go. If the wheel turns so the clay moves upwards, add more clay to the ball. If the clay moves downwards, remove some. Repeat this until the wheel will sit motionless with the clay at the side.
Varify that you've acheived the weight required to balance the wheel by turning it to different positions and releasing. If you've got it right, the wheel should remain motionless wherever you position it.
Step 5: Remove the clay ball and place it on your postage scale. Cut a stick-on weight to the same value (my scale is reading grams in these pics)
Step 6: After cleaning any residue off the wheel, stick the weight in the same place as you had stuck the clay ball.
Step 7: Double check the balance by positioning the wheel in a few different spots and verifying that it remains stationary.
That's all there is too it. It only takes a few minutes to balance each wheel.
BTW, you can balance your wheels with the brake disks attached. I didn't do it for this example but you may want to.
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