Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of ....
#1
Racer
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Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of ....
a 1200 dollar option (polished wheels) .... I have had some nice wheels in the past and every tire shop that I went to and watched over their shoulder used inside the wheel stick on weights .... so what does GM know verus the tire shops or is it $'s for GM?
PS - I've seen a number of guys post wheels for sale with marks from the tire wieghts!!!!!
PS - I've seen a number of guys post wheels for sale with marks from the tire wieghts!!!!!
#2
Burning Brakes
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Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Z28Z28)
My local Goodyear guys have always managed to get a good balance just by using inside weights. Not one wheel weight scuff on MY wheels. :nono:
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St. Jude Donor '03
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Z28Z28)
Every tire shop I've taken custom wheels to has told me they will do their best just adding weight to the inside, but they can't gurantee a perfect balance in doing so. Of course anyone with high dollar custom wheels doesn't want visible weights on the outside lip, so it becomes a sacrifice in looks vs. perfect balance.
If GM did this, they would likely have numerous complaints and warranty claims from new car buyers for out-of-balance wheels.
:cheers:
If GM did this, they would likely have numerous complaints and warranty claims from new car buyers for out-of-balance wheels.
:cheers:
#4
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Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Y2Kvert4me)
So is it really that GM gets a better balance on the outside of the wheel .... seems to cheap for the GM bean counters to be true!!!!! :grouphug:
#5
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Z28Z28)
So is it really that GM gets a better balance on the outside of the wheel .... seems to cheap for the GM bean counters to be true!!!!! :grouphug:
#6
Tech Contributor
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Hex29A)
I never noticed a difference after running the tape weights on the inside only
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Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of ....
So how is it you get a better wheel balance by putting the weights on the outside vers the inside? I would think to be perfect you would have to do both.
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Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Shylor)
So how is it you get a better wheel balance by putting the weights on the outside vers the inside? I would think to be perfect you would have to do both.
Since much of the mass of the rotating assembly is towards the outside of the wheel, especially on a C5 with very high wheel offsets, it is usually difficult to overcome an out-of balance situation by only using weights on the inside. That's not to say it's not possible, just not likely. Just because you don't notice any shimmy doesn't mean it's perfectly balanced. Balancing with weight only on the inside (behind the center of the wheel) can get you close enough, but more than likely, it will never be ideal.
Think of a see-saw here...if one side goes down (added weight causing the out of balance), you can't counteract it too well by adding weight in the middle, which is about as best you can achieve adding weights behind the wheel center. True wheel balance is more than just radial forces, a good balancing machine will show the axial imbalance as well.
:cheers:
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Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Z28Z28)
I would love to know the answer to this myself! Just got my ride out of the dealership shop for tire change and balance. They took the factory weights off and put new ones on... on the outside AGAIN!! Even after seeing what the factory weights did to the wheel. :cuss :nono:
#10
Burning Brakes
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Z28Z28)
My take on the GM factory (or any factory) putting weight on the wheel rim is simple...it's easier, faster and cheaper for them to do it that way. when the marks are seen, it's not their problem. I have been trying to get the balancing weight marks off the wheels by having a wheel refinisher polish the wheels and then clear coat them. It's expensive and I probably should have just bought a new set of wheels. But I now have so much invested in refinished wheels that I'll stick with what I have. My 2003 Blazer (with 2K miles) has the weights on the rim and I'm thinking of getting them all re-balanced with inside weights.
#11
Melting Slicks
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Shylor)
So how is it you get a better wheel balance by putting the weights on the outside vers the inside? I would think to be perfect you would have to do both.
#12
Le Mans Master
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (torch red ryder)
My take on the GM factory (or any factory) putting weight on the wheel rim is simple...it's easier, faster and cheaper for them to do it that way. when the marks are seen, it's not their problem.
#13
Safety Car
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Z28Z28)
Ok, regardless of why they did it, now that I have news tires and rebalanced wheels....
How do I clean the wheel where the old weights were without runing the clear coat or scratching the wheel?
How do I clean the wheel where the old weights were without runing the clear coat or scratching the wheel?
#14
Le Mans Master
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (kvozel)
Ok, regardless of why they did it, now that I have news tires and rebalanced wheels....
How do I clean the wheel where the old weights were without runing the clear coat or scratching the wheel?
How do I clean the wheel where the old weights were without runing the clear coat or scratching the wheel?
You can try some to clay and scratch remover (if the clay doesn't work) to see if you can remove the damaged part of clear coat. It the clear coat is clouded or scratched down to the metal, perhaps you can strip the clear coat in that area and touch up with new clear coat. Good luck!
#15
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (wwashing)
Would it be possible to put a small piece of protective plastic under the weight? Like the stuff people put on their cars in the winter up north to protect the finish. I would think that would protect the wheel.
#16
Burning Brakes
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (kvozel)
Ok, regardless of why they did it, now that I have news tires and rebalanced wheels....
How do I clean the wheel where the old weights were without runing the clear coat or scratching the wheel?
How do I clean the wheel where the old weights were without runing the clear coat or scratching the wheel?
#17
Burning Brakes
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Carsnob)
Would it be possible to put a small piece of protective plastic under the weight? Like the stuff people put on their cars in the winter up north to protect the finish. I would think that would protect the wheel.
#18
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (torch red ryder)
A forum vendor Zip sells cleartastic (www.cleartastic.com). That is what I had in mind.
Yes, Pennsylvania is far north. Heck, my definition of "North" is if you get snow EVERY year :crazy:
Would it be possible to put a small piece of protective plastic under the weight? Like the stuff people put on their cars in the winter up north to protect the finish. I would think that would protect the wheel.
I'm not familiar with protective plastic (Pennsylvania is far north enough) material. However I can't imagine anything that would protect the wheel.
I'm not familiar with protective plastic (Pennsylvania is far north enough) material. However I can't imagine anything that would protect the wheel.
#19
Le Mans Master
Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Z28Z28)
Recently had new tires put on at a great shop. On the rears they were able to put the taped weights on the inside pretty much out of view. They tried to do the same on the fronts, but even though they were thin weights, (thinner than stock at least) the weights rubbed on the brake calipers. So they had to be moved to the outside to avoid problems.
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Re: Why Does GM put wheel weights on the OUTSIDE of .... (Y2Kvert4me)
[QUOTE]So how is it you get a better wheel balance by putting the weights on the outside vers the inside? I would think to be perfect you would have to do both.
No wheel/tire balances exactly the same. No one said you can always achieve better balance by only placing weights on the outside. If you need weight inside, you add to the inside, if you need weight outside, you add to the outside. It depends where and how the wheel/tire is out of balance. But it does have to do with the mass of the wheel, which generally leans towards the outside of the wheel.
Since much of the mass of the rotating assembly is towards the outside of the wheel, especially on a C5 with very high wheel offsets, it is usually difficult to overcome an out-of balance situation by only using weights on the inside. That's not to say it's not possible, just not likely. Just because you don't notice any shimmy doesn't mean it's perfectly balanced. Balancing with weight only on the inside (behind the center of the wheel) can get you close enough, but more than likely, it will never be ideal.
Think of a see-saw here...if one side goes down (added weight causing the out of balance), you can't counteract it too well by adding weight in the middle, which is about as best you can achieve adding weights behind the wheel center. True wheel balance is more than just radial forces, a good balancing machine will show the axial imbalance as well.
:iagree: :iagree: :iagree: Like it or not thats the facts
No wheel/tire balances exactly the same. No one said you can always achieve better balance by only placing weights on the outside. If you need weight inside, you add to the inside, if you need weight outside, you add to the outside. It depends where and how the wheel/tire is out of balance. But it does have to do with the mass of the wheel, which generally leans towards the outside of the wheel.
Since much of the mass of the rotating assembly is towards the outside of the wheel, especially on a C5 with very high wheel offsets, it is usually difficult to overcome an out-of balance situation by only using weights on the inside. That's not to say it's not possible, just not likely. Just because you don't notice any shimmy doesn't mean it's perfectly balanced. Balancing with weight only on the inside (behind the center of the wheel) can get you close enough, but more than likely, it will never be ideal.
Think of a see-saw here...if one side goes down (added weight causing the out of balance), you can't counteract it too well by adding weight in the middle, which is about as best you can achieve adding weights behind the wheel center. True wheel balance is more than just radial forces, a good balancing machine will show the axial imbalance as well.
:iagree: :iagree: :iagree: Like it or not thats the facts