^^^THIS^^^ is the difference between Centramatic, vs Balance Master. I had the same excellent customer service from Centramatic, from the same Jerry, over 10 years ago. Well, not exactly the same... as I didn't paint the Centramatics, and I actually received the correct parts on the first shipment. But after a while, one of the balancers on the front axle leaked. At first I thought my truck was leaking brake fluid, probably because the balancing media is suspended in hydraulic fluid that is very similar in viscosity and heat tolerance as brake fluid. Once I removed and cleaned the balancer, and set it aside on a table for a day on a white witness cloth and found the leak again, I called Centramatic.

Outstanding customer service. Jerry treats customers with dignity and respect. Jerry didn't ask me to send pictures or videos to prove it was leaking. Jerry didn't ask me to send the leaking balancer back first. What Jerry did first was apologize, then he second day air'ed a replacement balancer, and said to not worry about returning the leaking balancer... throw it a way or recycle the metal. Which I could easily do, because the Centramatic didn't contain a regulated toxic substance like the mercury found in Balance Masters.

Ironically, I had the exact opposite customer "disservice" experience with Balance Master. I won't get into that cluster muck here, but suffice it to say, I now only use Centramatics, and will only run Centramatics, and have never worn out the set of tires installed with the Centramatics... which are now 10 years old, with perfectly even wear across the entire tread width, with no tread block feathering, and no shoulder edge wear. Sadly, I have to replace these tires only do to age, not wear.

I later contacted Jerry for his opinion and approval of the following modification that I had proposed to ease tire valve access. I believe Jerry made changes in manufacturing for newer versions of Centramatics that make the following modifications unnecessary for currently sold Centramatics for 10 stud F-450 19.5" applications.

 

Well, checking back in after 1500 miles since install and the beginning of wobble I was getting every few miles is completely gone. I just became a lifelong customer.

 

Got around to snapping a pic of my wheels with centramatics painted black.

 

I think I am finally going to pull the trigger with these. Especially since I want to put 17x9 steelies on the truck and don't want the wheel weights to rust out the edges over time and multiple balances.

 

Do it, your balance is only as good as the guy doing it and then it can change over time and when it changes it makes things increasingly worse. These are ingenious in so many ways, and cheap too for what they accomplish.. Drink the Kool Aid

 

don’t threaten me with a good time!

 

Someone said these things make a "sound". Can anybody elaborate on this?

 

There's a light "swooshing" sound when traveling under 20mph. It's the beads in the sphere moving around because you're not traveling fast enough for the centrifugal force to keep the beads (mostly) stationary where they're balancing the wheel.

 

They use BBs as counterweight in the balancers so when you are rolling slow you can hear them with the window down. Once you start moving and the weight gets distributed throughout the ring there's no noise. Balancemasters use mercury instead of BBs so I don't think they make any noise.

 

Ah crap wish I knew that as I drive around town a lot.

Well we will see.

The reason I got them is because I do not want to move the weights because it will scratch up the factory rims and I am OCD about that. “Alcoas” on a 350 drw.

 

Any video of the noise out?

 

It's really not a big deal. Hardly noticeable unless you are trying to hear it.

 

I received my Centramatics this week and plan to install them when the weather warms up a bit (driveway/shadetree mechanic). My question to those that have installed these on a F250. Did you have to use the spacers that are included with the kit or was the clearance from the hub to the rotor OK and you didn't have to use them? Our company has about 15 trucks in the fleet. I saw these talked about on this forum and sent the info to our fleet manager and asked him if I could be the 'guinea pig' for the company and to track the results, ie fuel mileage, tire longevity, etc.

 

I did not use the spacers with my factory 17" steel wheels, but every wheel type is different and needs to be looked at.

 

I installed mine (22 F450) about two weeks ago front and back. The OEM Conti tires are prone to uneven wear and feathering so I figured it’s worth the investment. I can’t hear them at all at low speed with the windows up. To me they are a must have accessory given the many benefits they provide.