Thinking about getting a set of Centramatic on board balancers for my 04 X. I would like to find them as cheaply as possible. Does anyone have any suggestions . Thanks

 

1st I had heard of them....they are pricey but if they work as well as they say it would be well worth it. Let us know if they work if you get a set

 

I bought a set a and put them on about 3 weeks ago. I was having a tire vibration that would not go away. I had taken the Ex in three times to have the tires balanced and the shake in the rear would not go away at speeds of 65-75mph. My tires are 325/65-18 Nitto Terra Grapplers that only have about 30-40% of tread left. It was either new tires, try balance beads for around $100 or try the centramatic balancers for around $200. I figured the $200 would be saved by just being about to get another 10k miles out of my current Nittos and would transfer to the new tires. The shake is almost completely gone. It appears they will cure the shake enough to extend use of my current tires. They do not have a size specific to 18" rims so I had to use the ones made for 16" to 17" rims. A little larger model would probably help more. Once I have them longer I may be able to give better input on them. We are normally towing a large travel trailer when on the highway though and do not notice the shake then as we are normally at 65mph or less. If your tires will not balance they may solve the problem. They may also extend tire life - I will find this out on the next set of tires.

My parents recently retired from long haul tag team trucking. They swears by them on the big rig and were putting about 300k miles a year on the big rig. They went to trade in his Volvo with nealry 1 million miles and was test driving a new Volvo. The salesman said - "Don't the new trucks ride great on the highway." My dad looked at him and said "It will probably ride as good as the old truck once I put the centramatics on it."

 

I hadn't heard that word/term, could you tell me how they work, what they look like? Thanks

 

Thanks for the input. I hope to order

 

I live in DFW not far from their home office and tried them on my 05 Ex....

While I appreciate and understand the science behind it, I was underwhelmed and didn't notice that much difference.... returned them for full credit after about a week....

YRMV....

http://centramatic.com/Home.aspx

 

What would an Excursion need?

The 300-308A/B Centramatic 300 Series Balancers????

 

I don't know much about the Centramatic product. But I was having balance problems on my BFG's that I could not get solved. Took it in 3 different times to 2 different shops. No joy. Still had a vibration. The last shop told me I had a bad tire. Then I read on this forum somewhere about a Hunter Road Force Balance Machine. It actually has a roller that goes down against the tire as they spin it and simulates the corner weight of the vehicle. I went to Hunters website and found a shop near me that had one and that straightened it right out. Smooth as glass. Less than $100.

 

Loaded the family up and did a little more driving to evaluate the centramatics as most all of our driving since installing has been with a large trailer in tow. This is the first weekend at home since installing. We did a 10mile loop. With the centramatics we are still getting a little vibration. We then went home and removed the centramatics and drove the same loop. The shake is much worse without the centramatics but the centramatics are not taking all the shake out. I may have a tire out of round. DW wants it cured. I will be returning the centramatics under the 30 day return policy and go for some new tires in the near future. I think the centramatics would work better on a closer to stock size tire. If I do have a bad tire it really is not a fare evaluation of them.