6:12 pm
Hey Fred/others, you balance your tires with weights before you put the centramatics on right? Les Schwab is trying to convince me that I'm double balancing them which is causing problems. That's 100% opposite of everything I remember hearing or reading. Just wanted to double check your real world experience.
They also refused to align the truck because my pitman arm is loose. Yeah, I know that doesn't matter with the alignment, but they say if they touch the front end, it is a liability issue.
Parts are ordered...I'm still going to make Barrett. Good thing Marlin is in Fresno and ground shipping = overnight. 8)
6:56 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline When I first got my Centramatics I pulled all the weights off the wheels. I had quite a bit of vibration afterwards.
I took the wheels/tires in and had them all balanced. Now with the Centramatics they retain their balance even after being aired down and the tires may have slipped slightly on the wheel. This has worked for me with both 33" and 35" tires.
My opinion is the Centramatics are designed for smaller "normal" tires and just can't adjust for the larger tires on their own. With the larger tires they need to be somewhat balanced for the Centramatics to be able to fine tune the balance.
7:05 pm
February 5, 2003
Offline what do you have to align other than toe?
btw, I had Chris at Big O do a road force balance on my MTRs and they were soooo smooth afterwards.
Closed Mondays.
7:43 pm
"Dan-H" wrote: what do you have to align other than toe?
Nothing, But I wasn't happy with how I could get it doing it the old fashioned way.
"FAM" wrote: My opinion is the Centramatics are designed for smaller "normal" tires and just can't adjust for the larger tires on their own. With the larger tires they need to be somewhat balanced for the Centramatics to be able to fine tune the balance.
That was my thought as well. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing the boat.
8:39 pm
February 5, 2003
Offline "Bender" wrote: [quote="Dan-H"]what do you have to align other than toe?
Nothing, But I wasn't happy with how I could get it doing it the old fashioned way.
Here's how I'm going to align mine next time. (the pic is from a thread on another forum)
1" tubing cut to the diameter of the tire with the center marked, and lines for 33s or 31s. note the rotor is bolted snug to the unit bearing. this might not be needed depending on your front hubs.
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using two tape measures is pretty smart...
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Closed Mondays.
8:47 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline "Dan-H" wrote: Here's how I'm going to align mine next time. (the pic is from a thread on another forum)
The MrBlaine technique
9:03 pm
February 5, 2003
Offline yes.
I already have the square tubing, I just need to cut it.
I cheaped out and have steel not aluminium.
Closed Mondays.
9:12 pm
"FAM" wrote: [quote="Dan-H"]Here's how I'm going to align mine next time. (the pic is from a thread on another forum)
The MrBlaine technique
Yeah, I was trying that with 2x4s. But I couldn't convince myself that it was right. I kept thinking that the 2x4s need to be exactly parallel (in 3d) with each other unless they went through the dead center of the wheel. So I tried to set them level, which got tricky since I was working in the gravel. The truck also wasn't level, but I convinced myself that it didn't matter. I kept screwing with everything until I got frustrated and quit. I wasn't happy with the ride (vibration) and steering so I figured I'd have it done. In reality, the problems I was trying to fix are probably more related to my pitman arm being loose than the alignment. I'm convinced that I could get it good enough, but that they can get it way better.
I'm realigning it because I replaced the tie rod ends so I know that it is out. I accidently only ordered two but was planning to do the drag link but I thought I had a bit more time.
9:24 pm
"Dan-H" wrote: I already have the square tubing, I just need to cut it.
Cutting it for your sized tire isn't important. Measuring the exact same distance from the pivot point is. There's a fair amount of eye balling involved, but like I said, you could probably get it close enough.
9:42 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline "Close enough" has always worked for me.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
9:59 pm
February 5, 2003
Offline "Bender" wrote: Cutting it for your sized tire isn't important.
I have one eight foot length of square tubing.
I think I should cut it in half so I can use two pieces 😉
Having the center marked, and the radius of the tires marked will help to make accurate measurements. The two "tape measure" lines should be parallel for the measurement to be accurate.
Closed Mondays.
10:27 pm
"JohnDF" wrote: "Close enough" has always worked for me.
I'm an engineer. If it doesn't involve calipers, it isn't right. 
3:21 am
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline I'm more than happy with the $11 Harbor Freight tool I have. It works great on jeeps, but I pay for the other cars.
1:36 pm
"BKGM Jeepers" wrote: I'm more than happy with the $11 Harbor Freight tool I have. It works great on jeeps, but I pay for the other cars.
What tool do you have?
1:44 pm
hey, can we have an alignment party? maybe we can have an alignment party at freds and then all run down to hooters to celebrate!!! 8)
1:52 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline Brad's alignment tool is cool and easy to use by yourself. I've used it on my Jeep before and it works pretty slick.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
3:06 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline "Bender" wrote: [quote="BKGM Jeepers"]I'm more than happy with the $11 Harbor Freight tool I have. It works great on jeeps, but I pay for the other cars.
What tool do you have?
I'm not sure how to describe it, but it works with the tires on, and can be done with one person. It's aluminum and is stored it two pieces. It is wide enough to work on my front axle.
3:13 pm
Is this it?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=30167
3:33 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline "Bender" wrote: Is this it?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=30167
That looks like the one I have, from what I recall.
6:48 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline That looks like it.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
7:45 pm
"JohnDF" wrote: That looks like it.
Looks like it would be worth the investment if it works decently. Cheaper than buying tube or driving down to borrow Brads. 😀
9:23 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline "Bender" wrote: [quote="JohnDF"]That looks like it.
Looks like it would be worth the investment if it works decently. Cheaper than buying tube or driving down to borrow Brads. 😀
Might be close if you are using it on one of your Corola's!
Not even close on the 1-ton however.
1:29 am
February 5, 2003
Offline "Bender" wrote: [quote="JohnDF"]That looks like it.
Looks like it would be worth the investment if it works decently. Cheaper than buying tube or driving down to borrow Brads. 😀
I think I can afford the shoe leather to borrow Brads 🙂
Closed Mondays.
3:02 am
Figured I'd follow up on this. Kelly took the truck in today for the alignment. Good news...I got the toe so close using 2x4s strapped to the tires that it was within specs they didn't adjust it (and didn't charge me). Bad news...My thrust (front to rear alignment) is waaaay off. A couple of people have told me that the truck dog legs pretty bad. Hopefully the new bushings will take care of it. That's the conclusion that they came to. Fortunately it's cheap and I ordered them a while ago. I'm really hoping that cures my vibration.
Moral of the story, do your own toe alignment. Even with the most basic tools, you can come as close as they pros can. 8)
1:41 pm
"Bender" wrote: Figured I'd follow up on this. Kelly took the truck in today for the alignment. Good news...I got the toe so close using 2x4s strapped to the tires that it was within specs they didn't adjust it (and didn't charge me). Bad news...My thrust (front to rear alignment) is waaaay off. A couple of people have told me that the truck dog legs pretty bad. Hopefully the new bushings will take care of it. That's the conclusion that they came to. Fortunately it's cheap and I ordered them a while ago. I'm really hoping that cures my vibration.
Moral of the story, do your own toe alignment. Even with the most basic tools, you can come as close as they pros can. 8)
8) come over and do mine then. 
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