Wheel Balancing

Is wheel alignment different from wheel balancing?

Wheel alignment refers to how your wheels sit when mounted to your car. Wheel balancing is what occurs to perfectly balance the weight of a tyre and wheel assembly so your vehicle travels smoothly. Wheel alignment has little to do with your wheels and is mostly to do with your vehicle's suspension system and the direction your wheels roll along. Therefore, wheel balancing fixes the issue as tyres must be perfectly balanced or they won't roll perfectly. A wheel balancing service will use precision machinery to spin your tyres to diagnose and fix the heaviest spots on every tyre of your vehicle.

How much does wheel balancing cost?

The cost of wheel balancing in Sydney depends on the car mechanic and the diagnostic, and repair tools they use. Usually, you can expect to pay up to $50-$75 or more. Costs can be affected if you haven't taken your car to a mechanic for regular inspections. However, as special machinery is involved, you can expect the wheel balancing process to stay at a fixed price.

How long does wheel balancing take?

Wheel balancing services can take anywhere between 40 minutes to 2 hours and depends on several factors including;

• How many wheels you are looking to balance.
• The condition of your current tyres.
• Your driving habits and the environmental conditions your vehicle travels in.
• If you’re balancing new or older tyres.
• Additional assessments and the waiting period may also add up time your vehicle spends at an auto repair shop.

How often wheel balancing should be done?

Proper car maintenance ensures safe driving and reduces replacement costs. Tyre wear and damage can be accelerated on rough roads and long distances. As a general rule of thumb, you will want to have your wheels aligned every 8,000-10,000 kilometres or every 6 months. This ensures that your vehicle can continue to run smoothly while driving. When you should book your next wheel balancing service is also dependent on the type of car you have, and how often you drive. As a precaution, it is best to contact your experienced technician, or tyre specialist.

What is static and dynamic wheel balancing?

Wheel balancing in Sydney can be done in two ways: Static Imbalance and Dynamic Imbalance. When a wheel spins elliptically rather than in a circle, it bounces up and down due to a “static imbalance”. Static balancing is an older technique in which the wheel is placed on a machine with a horizontal axle comparable to the car. The wheel is then allowed to rest before being balanced, during which time the heaviest portion of the wheel rotates to the bottom, (the unbalanced part).

Meanwhile, a dynamic imbalance occurs when you have a heavy spot that is off the wheel's midline and causes it to wobble left to right. Dynamic Balancing occurs when the wheel and tire are clamped on a machine and spun at speeds of 16 - 24km/h or 88 - 96km/h. Diagnostic sensors then identify where the imbalance of the wheel as it rotates, and pick up where counterbalances should be placed. Dynamic Balancing can assess both static and dynamic imbalances.