Centramatics
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 7,793
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Centramatics
Aight fellas...broke down and bought new a set. Reason being, I've ran the cheap beads from ebay and think their clunking up over the last year. Death wobble until 59ish. Sometimes it's smooth other times, I'm driving on train tracks....anyhow, anything special to install or just skao them on..bead side facing outward or engine?
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 66
Timmyboy,
I think you’ll see a difference. I’ve had mine on the front for some time and I do not detect any shimmy/vibration at all. Because of the weather and my health, I’ve been slow installing the rears, but hope to get them on very soon. Initially I wasn’t real sure about them but read so many positive reviews. I found out that some tire shops will not install them or let you install them while they rotate your tires. They consider them to be tire spacers and claim they can’t get a completely full nut with them on........hogwash, I say.
I think you’ll see a difference. I’ve had mine on the front for some time and I do not detect any shimmy/vibration at all. Because of the weather and my health, I’ve been slow installing the rears, but hope to get them on very soon. Initially I wasn’t real sure about them but read so many positive reviews. I found out that some tire shops will not install them or let you install them while they rotate your tires. They consider them to be tire spacers and claim they can’t get a completely full nut with them on........hogwash, I say.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 72
From: Springfield
Those tire shops aren’t very bright then. It’s maybe a 16 gauge stamping so clearly not an issue with thread engagement on the lug nuts and not enough of a “spacer” to cause any issues. Ive been running mine for 5 years now and love them. Got asked several times last time I had tires put on it if i was sure I didnt want them to balance my tires before they put them on the truck.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2010
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Pm me ur address. Ya, didn't want the investment either but the more my service exploded, it wasn't a thought then. You have the OEM shims bc you'll need them for between mounts/plate...you need info on install I'll shoot my number
Aight, cool..I'll get on install Tuesday. Rolln today to get trailer in CA...I'll post pic of what I had to squeeze trailer thru.. pic l. It's a hoot haha
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2010
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These things are a game changer, fellas...grant it, I had to reset the hub nuts because tires had some play in it, when rocking it top/bottom...but, combo of resetting and balancers, made no more death wobble, fatigue in arms from steering wheel shimming back n forth...etc. worth the 2 Benjamins
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Timmy, when you say you "reset the hub nuts", are you referring to the bolts that come through the rear (inboard) side and out (outboard) and toward to where the unit bearing/hub is mounted?
I have not heard of this needing to be done in the past when mounting the centramatics.
Thanks, these are near the top of purchase list for the truck.
I have not heard of this needing to be done in the past when mounting the centramatics.
Thanks, these are near the top of purchase list for the truck.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2010
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Morning Sous...
Nah, the front hub nuts. Wheel had play, enough play that I thought, needed attention. Maybe, it added to the play from unbalanced wheels, but I wasn't taken any changes...truck feels great! Think maybe, I'll do vslk joints for piece of mind considering the stress they had with this BS wobble it had...BTW, I run the Ex wheels, stick. I had to add the spacer plates up front for balancer lip to clear...I'm running spacers with lips facing wheels
Nah, the front hub nuts. Wheel had play, enough play that I thought, needed attention. Maybe, it added to the play from unbalanced wheels, but I wasn't taken any changes...truck feels great! Think maybe, I'll do vslk joints for piece of mind considering the stress they had with this BS wobble it had...BTW, I run the Ex wheels, stick. I had to add the spacer plates up front for balancer lip to clear...I'm running spacers with lips facing wheels
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,344
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Morning Sous...
Nah, the front hub nuts. Wheel had play, enough play that I thought, needed attention. Maybe, it added to the play from unbalanced wheels, but I wasn't taken any changes...truck feels great! Think maybe, I'll do vslk joints for piece of mind considering the stress they had with this BS wobble it had...BTW, I run the Ex wheels, stick. I had to add the spacer plates up front for balancer lip to clear...I'm running spacers with lips facing wheels
Nah, the front hub nuts. Wheel had play, enough play that I thought, needed attention. Maybe, it added to the play from unbalanced wheels, but I wasn't taken any changes...truck feels great! Think maybe, I'll do vslk joints for piece of mind considering the stress they had with this BS wobble it had...BTW, I run the Ex wheels, stick. I had to add the spacer plates up front for balancer lip to clear...I'm running spacers with lips facing wheels
I am gathering a parts list to rebuild the front end steering from steering wheel to driving wheels and the Centramatics are on the list.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2018
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I’ve got them on the front of my 2wd DRW and think they are a winner. Might add them to the back positions as budget allows. Only side effect is you can hear what sounds like an air leak with windows down at low speeds which is the beads rolling around inside the ring. They don’t settle till about 20-25 mph.
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Lead Driver
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I’ve got them on the front of my 2wd DRW and think they are a winner. Might add them to the back positions as budget allows. Only side effect is you can hear what sounds like an air leak with windows down at low speeds which is the beads rolling around inside the ring. They don’t settle till about 20-25 mph.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
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From: Texas
I believe he's referring to the nut that hold the 2wd front disc and bearings in place. His sig refers to 2wd trucks. Hub and rotor are all one piece in the 2wd models.
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
In addition, below are a couple more threads related to the Centramatic balance discs and their success...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ht=centramatic
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ht=centramatic