My stock 2017 F-250 Platinum, diesel has been in to the Ford dealership twice for wheel/tire balancing. Both times the balance helped with highway vibrations, but after about 5,000 miles I'd notice the steering wheel starting to shake a little and a bit of seat of the pants vibration. The truck has stock 20" wheels and stock Michelin tires. I did add a Fox single piston steering damper just after I got the truck and also put on Rancho rs9000XL shocks. The truck has a total of about 27,000 miles, almost all highway. I work about 40 miles north of Las Vegas, so I get a lot of 75 mph travel on really smooth roads.

Instead of taking my truck in for another balance, I decided to try Centramatic wheel balancers. I called Centramatic (in TX). The guy I talked to was very friendly and helpful. Their web site doesn't really show what to use on a 2017 F-250 SD. He told me that I need model number 300-328 for my truck. Cost was $209 plus $15 for shipping (no tax) for all four wheels. A note: Centramatics for large trucks (18 wheelers) are around $200 for a pair of Centramatics, but for the F-250 SD $209 gets you all four. You can find Centramatics on Amazon, but there seems to be some question about the prices being charged - $200 for a pair or $200 for all four. I was comfortable with buying direct form Centramatics. Price was reasonable and shipping was pretty quick.

So, the important part - do they work? I was going to wait for the weekend to install, but decided to go out after dinner and put on (at least the front two, but did all four). Jacked the truck up, used my new(ish) mid-sized 20v Dewalt ½" impact gun to remove the lugs - wow really powered off the lugs, no problem. Zipped off all 32 lug nuts and put them all back on to 150 ft/lbs (used a torque stick). Was only using a small 2 amp battery - never slowed down. Great tool, much better than I thought it would be. Used a hand torque wrench to set final torque to 165 ft/lbs. The Centramatics fit perfect - all the holes lined-up and the center hub hole had no slop, but slid right on. I've read where some people had problems with fit, but mine were great. You can see them behind the wheel spokes, but I don't think they are that noticeable or look bad. I'll add pictures tomorrow. Might paint them black. The biggest problem that I had with the install is the wheel/tires are very heavy (at least for me). Got them back on, but I'll probably be a little sore tomorrow.

I did take the truck out for a short test drive. Only went about 8 miles, but did get a nice stretch of 75 mph along my usual road to work before turning around. I think they are going to solve my vibration problem. The steering wheel had no vibration at all. I could still feel a little vibration through the seat, but an empty F-250 at highway speeds is going to feel any road imperfections. I'll update tomorrow after a full daytime drive to work and back. With the window open, and below 15 mph, I could hear some sound from the Centramatics (kind of a sand in a hula-hoop sound). I don't think it will be noticeable or bother me at all.

More info as I get some miles on them.

Jim

 

Had them on my 2002 7.3 dually. No complaints worked perfect. Added bonus no wheel balance weights needed on custom wheels. Like Motor Metal polished aluminum, don't ever get polished aluminum anything....ever

 

I painted the Centramatics on my front wheels black so they are not so obvious through the wheels.

I'm glad that yours didn't have any slop. The ones for my F450 have quite a bit of slop (around 1/8") around the studs and hub. They do work though.

I have Balance Masters on the back, and I think I prefer them because they are silent and fit tight to the studs. Even though the risk of a leak is quite low, I don't like how Balance Masters tries to hide the fact that they are filled with mercury by calling it "quick silver." The Centramatics downside is that they make an odd swishing sound when driving slow that is audible with the windows open.

 

I tried a set of Centramatics on my 2018 F-250 with 18" wheels and they DID NOT fit. I talked with the folks at Centramatic, sent pics and described the fitment issues. FWIW (Ford replaced my factory Continentals with Michelin's and solved my vibration problem)

 

Had them on my 2010 f-450 DRW and they work great.

19.5’s are not easy to find someone to balance them so the wheel balances were the way to go.


my current 2019 450 DRW does need them even at 75+ Mph, but I’d imagine in 50k miles the truck will slop up enough where I’ll probally buy a set allaround

 

How did it end up w/ Centramatic?

 

I discussed the pics and fitment issues with them, they asked if I would consider "trying" a modified set of balancers, I never heard back from them.

 

I like Centramatics...

 

That's a bummer - sorry to hear it.

 

I find the idea of never having to rebalance a wheel/tire extremely appealing but it sounds like the reviews are a bit mixed on their quality control.

How much unsprung weight per hub do they add for the 250/2500 applications?

 

Hardly any. Maybe 3-4lbs total for all 4.

Also, I still balanced my tires, and used the Centramatics for "fine-tuning" if you will. They will automatically take care of the balancing as the tire wears, as you chunk the tread up offroad or on gravel, as gravel gets stuck in the tread, as mud/snow/ice sticks to the wheel, and if you ever lose a wheel weight.

The Dodge I posted had a slight shimmy going down the highway. I rotated the tires and it went away. When I rotated them back, the slight vibration came back. The Centramatics solved that issue and it rode smooth as glass from then on.

 

The only thing I did not like about the balancers are the noise below 20mph especially in the fronts. With windows down at low speeds you hear what sounds like a street sweep noise.

I called the company about it and ask why didn’t they use an extra ounce of lube in the chambers becuase I think the sound was friction of the pellets evident by the rears not making noise. Response was adding more lube would negatively impact how they performed.

 

Thanks Jim, following this for your updates. Did you happen to snap any pics of these?

 

Interesting - I may check them out. Thank you for the info!

 

Why do you guys think it is that so many people have problems with wheel balancing and vibrations? I've never had this issue on any of my vehicles. Is it poor quality control/defects with the tires? Maybe I'm just not as sensitive as some but it seems to be a common issue on forums...