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Balancing beads, road test

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Rolf, Jul 25, 2011.

  1. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 24,152

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    They don't balance, they dampen. They need to roll around inside the tire to do this.

    Copper BB's are not Copper, they are Copper coated steel. Put them in a tire and the coating will get worn off, and they will rust.

    Lead shot will turn to Lead dust inside a tire.

    Ceramic beads, like Dynabeads will NOT turn to powder. I have been using them for half-a-decade (yes, the SAME BEADS). I don't work for them, or get paid by them, either.
     
  2. Weasel
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 6,698

    Weasel
    Member

    I have them on the Willys which used to throw wheel weights on a regular basis and the whole car would shake so violently that it felt as though it was breaking apart. Dynabeads have fixed the problem completely and I did not take the old wheel weights off. One small thing - the beads can clump together when the car has not been used for a month or two and it takes a couple of miles for them to loosen up. During this time the wheels will feel unbalanced again but it goes away and they run as smooth as silk after a while....
     
  3. no55mad
    Joined: Dec 15, 2006
    Posts: 1,973

    no55mad
    Member

    This topic has been addressed here in the past. Someone recommended using the hard plastic pellets used in air guns, available in the sporting section of your favorite store. I have put them in my tires and they are working fine. I am wondering if they will turn to powder - have not checked but they seem to be fine after 2000 miles.
     
  4. brady1929
    Joined: Sep 30, 2006
    Posts: 9,529

    brady1929
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Some great info here
     
  5. gas pumper
    Joined: Aug 13, 2007
    Posts: 2,959

    gas pumper
    Member

    I did this this thinking that there's a lot of weight already on the wire rims and they are close to balanced. So there would be less for the beads to have to do. Put them in all 4. I think the answer is that they dampen the tires, and not so much balance them.

    So adding beads to balanced tires did not hurt anything.

    But the ride is better. So they are worth it.
     
  6. FOURTYDLX
    Joined: Feb 22, 2006
    Posts: 712

    FOURTYDLX
    Member

    The balancing beads are soft pelets you can buy from wally world, for kids guns
     
  7. Hack Attack
    Joined: Nov 11, 2004
    Posts: 240

    Hack Attack
    Member

    Does anyone know if its possible to put too many beads into a tire?

    Reason I ask, I put some dynabeads in the front tires of my hot rod and the one still hops like a basket ball at about 55. Firestone bias plys, 450-16.....I checked the the tire for roundness. Looks good. Wheel isnt bent. Brake drum might be out of wack since they're cheap imports but I thought about just dumping in more dynabeads. Should I?
     
  8. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 24,152

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Dynabeads are hard ceramic beads. Hard enough that a hammer blow does not break them. They are by no means soft, nor will they turn to powder.
     
  9. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 24,152

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The repop Firestones are never really round, even if they look round. We have to send every single pair out to be shaved round, after mounting and balancing. If we don't, we are guaranteed to get customer complaints.

    See if you can find a local shop that still does this in your area.

    Don't go overboard on the beads.
     
  10. CutawayAl
    Joined: Aug 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,144

    CutawayAl
    Member
    from MI

    It's not a case of more is better. If you filled the tire completely(or even a fourth of the way) with beads they wouldn't work as intended. So yes, there is a point where too many is a problem.

    The correct amount of beads would vary with the tire and amount of imbalance. And its not exact, it's a compromise.
     

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