There is also a pride factor in that folks don't want to admit they got taken.
To answer your question each time I've read a person chasing a balance or vibration issue I've always recommended checking for bent/warped wheels, warped drive shafts, etc. The problem is there they just haven't found it yet.

 

Yawn.............................................

 

Well that does it for me. I'm going to spend my money on a cold air intake system rather than Centranatic wheel balancers. I don't want to waste my money on something that doesn't work...

 

I'm definitely not an engineer but I know balance beads/airsoft pellets work great for balancing large heavy tires. Centramatics are going to have the weight closer in to the hub but other than that the concept seems to be exactly the same.
How are they snake oil?
​​​​

 

Honest question: How are Centramatics not doing the same thing as balancing weights just more specific and dynamic?

 

I left the wheel weights on. I figured with a slight issue there was no real logic in removing weights - especially since my wheel / tire combo weighs so much to start with.

Wow. Thanks so much for imparting all of us dumb people with your profound knowledge. I especially appreciate being told I am a fool and that the vibration I have been trying to eliminate for over a year really isn't gone with my Centramatic install. I guess I was lucky and picked up a nail in the exact spot that needed it for balancing when I test drove my truck after the installation was complete. When a tire wears it can alter the balance of the wheel assembly. So how is it that something that adjusts on the fly for this continuous wear is "masking the issue" ?

Perhaps you will enlighten all of the minions here with your vast knowledge and experience by explaining how this demonstration is snake oil: https://www.centramatic.com/how-cent...ers-work.rhtml I understand the wheel is much smaller and it's not a direct size / ratio comparison but it demonstrates perfectly that the concept is sound and the physics work - and that when people report it solved their issues they aren't lying or making it up.

https://coursesity.com/free-tutorial...ger-management

 

Some of you need to spend some time with this channel....

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiE...BMpP75JbzJShqw

Snake Oil - LOL
People with issues don't complain - LOL
Do these dynamic balancers have limits on what they can compensate for? Yep, absolutely and the manufacturers are clear on their limitations.

 

I like your sense of humor!

 

i see what you did there

 

I agree. Installed a new set of 265's last night and one wheel in particular needed 16oz. of weight. I decided to balance my wheels out with weights this time and use the centramatics to fine tune any wear imbalances down the road from wear. That said, the centramatics will not be able to compensate for the 16oz.

 

I've spent my fair share of time chasing wheel balance and driveline angle issues across a number of different vehicles and in all of this messing around I have never seen a perfectly round tire. They all have a little hop or slight out of roundness which most people never notice and some tires have major problems which a road force machine should be able to single out. Centramatics will not fix a vibration caused by an out of round tire, broke belts or possibly bent rim. Whenever I get tires mounted, I watch the tire monkeys balance the tire to make sure it doesn't have an unacceptable amount of out of roundness. And if the tire takes more than 3 ounces of weight, I ask them to rotate the tire on the rim and rebalance or find me a replacement.

If someone has a tire issue that re-balancing doesn't solve, it's time to put the vehicle up on jack stands, put it in 4wd, and see how things look when the tire is rotating at speed. A dial indicator also comes in handy if you want to measure the wheel runout, determine if your mounting hub is true, measure driveline runout etc. It's a pain and takes time, but sometimes the problem is more than just a tire balance issue.

Adam

 

My Factory balanced F450 tires (drove smooth as glass) started cupping on the edge of the front tires, I promptly installed Centramatic balancers, removed the factory weights, and 10K miles later the cupping is gone (worn smooth) so Bring on the Snake Oil flavored Kool aid !!

 

My Centramatics worked great for me!

 

You can call it what you want. Your real world experience is far different from mine. Driving the same roads at the same speeds with Centramatics installed has taken vibrations and small shakes to zero. I used to have to wedge a piece of paper in the cupholder to keep water bottles and Yeti insulated cups from vibrating. I don't anymore. I used to have to worry about 5K mile tire rotations. I don't anymore. Driving those same roads at the same speeds has netted an increase in MPG from an average of 12.5mpg to now around 14.5mpg. I am not saying you are wrong. I now have a Cadillac smooth ride for just a couple of hundred bucks. Best $ ever spent on my F250.

 

I'm going to resurrect this year-old thread with an update, as the original poster. I needed new summer tires, and the tire shop talked me into Nitto Recon Grapplers. I felt like I should try the dynamic balancers again, as I'd like to prevent poor tire wear and scallops. Having sent the Centramatics back for a refund without trying them without wheel weights, my pride wouldn't allow me to re-purchase them, so I bought a couple sets of Balance Masters (MHD-206R). They are a bit smaller in diameter than the Centramatics, which may result in less balancing capability, but I wouldn't be surprised if the mercury they use in them is more effective. I really don't know. Their website just sucks, so I called and spoke with them and they confirmed this was the model number for my truck. Well, the holes in them don't quite fit our lug bolt pattern; they need to be a slightly larger diameter, so I spent some of time hogging out the holes to an egg shape until they fit on the hubs. Conversely, I spent time spray painting my previous sets of Centramatics black, and at least these came black already.

Although I haven't taken them on a long trip, I just got back from testing them for about 20 miles, up to 80 mph on concrete as well as asphalt, and I have to say, they are absolutely smooth. No steering wheel shimmy from the front, no bouncing in my butt from the rears. Very seldom have I ever had any of my trucks drive this smooth. I'm not saying that Balance Masters are better than Centramatics, because I don't know that. I do know that they are twice the price. I also know that removing the wheel weights is something you just need to do and have faith in. Once again, I wish I had tried the Centramatics without wheel weights, but regardless, I'm happy with these and am looking forward to seeing if my tire life increases as they say it should. I would recommend either one of these dynamic balancers.

Also, not to hijack this thread, but the Nitto Recon Grapplers are completely quiet, just like my tire shop told me. Previously, I had BFG's on, and they not only threw rocks worse than any tires I've had, but they also had a bit of a howl to them.