Centramatic balancer Testimonial
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 207
Likes: 171
Centramatic balancer Testimonial
I've posted about them several times, but here is the whole story..
My Dad ran them on his OTR 18 wheeler back in the 70's and 80's, also on his 3/4 on pickups for 15+ years, no issues. I run a fleet maintenance shop w/ 150+ vehicles in the Aviation industry, we have 4 rapid response Pickups (2x 1500 and 2x 2500HD's) that travel the US, each putting on 8-10K miles a month for emergency Aircraft repair. We had constant issues w/ tire cupping, premature wear, and the drivers complained all the time of roughness, shaking, etc. I installed centramatics 2 years ago on these 4 pickups, and all issues stopped. I changed a set of tires today that were wearing great, but had heat cracked badly due to the excessive milage and heat (50K miles on a "loaded to the max GVW" pickup, best we've ever had)
Oh ya, and I have them on my own Trucks
My Dad ran them on his OTR 18 wheeler back in the 70's and 80's, also on his 3/4 on pickups for 15+ years, no issues. I run a fleet maintenance shop w/ 150+ vehicles in the Aviation industry, we have 4 rapid response Pickups (2x 1500 and 2x 2500HD's) that travel the US, each putting on 8-10K miles a month for emergency Aircraft repair. We had constant issues w/ tire cupping, premature wear, and the drivers complained all the time of roughness, shaking, etc. I installed centramatics 2 years ago on these 4 pickups, and all issues stopped. I changed a set of tires today that were wearing great, but had heat cracked badly due to the excessive milage and heat (50K miles on a "loaded to the max GVW" pickup, best we've ever had)
Oh ya, and I have them on my own Trucks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 607
My first set, love them. They took the 73-75 mph vibration out on brand new tires. No wheel weights, I took them off. Largest weight loaded on one wheel was 4.75. I heard the ones I have will work on a wheel needing up to 6. Wish I knew about them sooner in life.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,477
Likes: 4,971
Just ordered a set for my F250.
Haven't been real happy with mine since installing a new set of tires, think the kid at the tire store wasn't the best at the balance machine.
But, I've been kicking around getting a set of centramatics for quite a while, so now I'll see how they work out.
Haven't been real happy with mine since installing a new set of tires, think the kid at the tire store wasn't the best at the balance machine.
But, I've been kicking around getting a set of centramatics for quite a while, so now I'll see how they work out.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 166
I think I’ve had mine on for about 8 months, including a drive from NY to California and back with my horse trailer.
Before I put them on I was starting to get hints of death wobble. I bought the PMF dual stabilizer with fox shocks… and 8 months later, the stabilizer is still on the shelf. Zero wobble issues since installing.
I’m sold.
Before I put them on I was starting to get hints of death wobble. I bought the PMF dual stabilizer with fox shocks… and 8 months later, the stabilizer is still on the shelf. Zero wobble issues since installing.
I’m sold.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,477
Likes: 4,971
My centramatics just showed up, 2 days earlier than amazon originally estimated.
I expected them to be much heavier than they turned out to be, was surprised when I picked the box up off my front porch.
Now to get them installed...
I expected them to be much heavier than they turned out to be, was surprised when I picked the box up off my front porch.
Now to get them installed...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,768
Likes: 403
From: Logan, Utah
I really like mine on my 450. This is the third truck I've had them on. I had a pretty good vibration at 72 mph and the Centramatics got rid of it.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,477
Likes: 4,971
So, color me impressed so far!
Just came from the tire shop getting the centramatics installed, and as I was driving off I thought my truck felt different, but thought it might just be wishful thinking.
Then I drove over to the interstate and ran a loop up an exit and back down two then back to the house, and the ride was MUCH smoother.
At about 70 and then at about 79-80 I had a little jiggle in the steering wheel before, all gone now!
SMOOTH AS BUTTA!!!
We'll see on my next long trip how the truck performs, but as of now I can definitely recommend them.
Just came from the tire shop getting the centramatics installed, and as I was driving off I thought my truck felt different, but thought it might just be wishful thinking.
Then I drove over to the interstate and ran a loop up an exit and back down two then back to the house, and the ride was MUCH smoother.
At about 70 and then at about 79-80 I had a little jiggle in the steering wheel before, all gone now!
SMOOTH AS BUTTA!!!
We'll see on my next long trip how the truck performs, but as of now I can definitely recommend them.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,875
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From: Uh oh, CA
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,477
Likes: 4,971
I didn't realize these were on Amazon, lol! I think they just got moved up my list though... I may put pick some up and install them the next time I rotate my wheels!
So, for a SRW F250 with 18" wheels, it looks like I would need the 300318's, correct?
So, for a SRW F250 with 18" wheels, it looks like I would need the 300318's, correct?
Comes with two different balancers, an "A" and a "B", "B" has an offset center, used them up front, "A" has a flat center, used them out back.
Kits also comes with two spacers for extra caliper bracket clearance, but they were not needed.
They were a very tight fit to the hub-centric hubs, had to push them on.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,477
Likes: 4,971
Nope, weights left on.
My tire guys told me that was best, the centramatics have a limit to how much balance they can correct.
Basically on my truck, they fine tune the balance.
My tire guys told me that was best, the centramatics have a limit to how much balance they can correct.
Basically on my truck, they fine tune the balance.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,477
Likes: 4,971
They are thin steel discs, with a tubular ring around them that contains the balance media, as the wheel spins the balance media counters any out of balance condition in the tire/wheel.
They're not cheap, was $243 with tax, but if they smooth things out long term like they seem to be doing so far, that should also make the tires last longer.
And, they should never need replacing, so $243 over the life of the truck isn't a large investment.