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Cal-Look.com Forum  |  Keith Seume's / Cal-Look.com's World Famous Cal-Look Forum  |  VW Drag Racing (Moderators: Michael, John P, Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW))  |  Topic: Do you guys balance your slicks? « previous next »
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Author Topic: Do you guys balance your slicks?  (Read 1746 times)
superdrag
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« on: June 20, 2009, 11:46:45 am »

The list for finishing my drag car is getting very short.  Balancing the rear tires is one of the few things left.  Question is:  should I?  I don't want to screw the slicks to the rims, and I was thinking if they happen to turn, the balance would be off. Opinions?
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orangepeel
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« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2009, 12:04:25 pm »

NO! Screw them down and be done with it. You arent going fast for very long to even get the harmonics .
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Ohio Tom (DdK)
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« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2009, 12:34:50 pm »

I have never balanced mine. Never been a problem..
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cadprovw
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« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2009, 02:45:25 pm »

All slicks should be screwed (unless running beadlocks!), and if you can, have them balanced.  A bubble-balancer (available at circle track racer supply places) are inexpensive, portable, and easy to use.

You would be amazed at how out-of-balance quality wheels like Bogart, Erco, Weld, etc can be...
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Chad Dailey
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« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2009, 07:55:25 pm »

All slicks should be screwed (unless running beadlocks!), and if you can, have them balanced.  A bubble-balancer (available at circle track racer supply places) are inexpensive, portable, and easy to use.

You would be amazed at how out-of-balance quality wheels like Bogart, Erco, Weld, etc can be...
Yes!!...Actually to the point of not being able to balance. I am NOT a big time racer, but it can't hurt.
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Timbo
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« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2009, 09:14:07 pm »

 I had mine balanced and the front runners also and it made a diffrence. Your not going fast that long but it needs to be a smooth ride.
Tim
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fast fiat
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« Reply #6 on: June 20, 2009, 09:56:15 pm »

Balance , yes.
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Bill and Steve's  DPR  SRM  BUGPACK 
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« Reply #7 on: June 20, 2009, 10:16:16 pm »

The list for finishing my drag car is getting very short.  Balancing the rear tires is one of the few things left.  Question is:  should I?  I don't want to screw the slicks to the rims, and I was thinking if they happen to turn, the balance would be off. Opinions?

  Why wouldnt, you??   Huh

Save a buck?   maybe two ounces?
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D. Paul Logan
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Mad Pineapple
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« Reply #8 on: June 20, 2009, 10:59:51 pm »

Screw the slicks to the rims and dynamic balance both the front and rears, the slightest out of balance condition is magnified radically at higher speeds, just because you don't physically feel a difference doesn't mean you not getting negative performance, the NHRA pro- racers don't do it to their cars because they have nothing better to do? The bug was designed to do at most 60+ mph, nowadays bugs at the track are doing anywhere from 100 to 170 mph, balancing makes a difference. Cheep performance and possible safely.
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Ohio Tom (DdK)
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« Reply #9 on: June 20, 2009, 11:24:40 pm »

I guess my car's a deathtrap then.

Or, M+H slicks are pretty close w/o balancing.


I use Kerosene in my shocks too...
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Mad Pineapple
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« Reply #10 on: June 20, 2009, 11:57:26 pm »

Tom I don't want to appear to be splitting hairs regarding racing. Any tire especially slicks will become quite out of round, untrue and somewhat out of balance doing wicked burn outs. They don't wear evenly, just plain physics. I want and need my super street car to go through the traps straight and smooth at 135+ mph. I touched every possible base to get the car right, why compromise. Maybe I'm a little paroniod, but in 1977 at Bug-In 17 I took my NHRA K gasser bug through the lights doing 360,s and then plowed it into the left gard rail at 122 mph doing a 11.02 et, the nose of the car was now even with the front fire wall. It's a time slip that I've got framed and I'll do every thing to keep the new car's tires firmly planged on all 4's, I'll bet anything that your running gas shocks?
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S/P4884
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« Reply #11 on: June 21, 2009, 12:26:54 am »

 I've run several different sizes and brands of slicks on my buggy and I've never balanced any of them. Never had a problem never had a vibration. I think if you had one out of balance you wouldn't feel it because the side walls are so flexible they would absorb the vibration.
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sweet67
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« Reply #12 on: June 21, 2009, 02:04:42 am »

Balance both the front and rears.
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bumsride
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« Reply #13 on: June 21, 2009, 07:16:18 am »

 i do the same.....
Balance both the front and rears.
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richiew
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« Reply #14 on: June 21, 2009, 07:34:43 am »

So do you all re balance them after each race? there is no way they wear evenly on every pass so surely they go straight out of balance again?

 i dont balance mine.


cheers richie,uk
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turbotype1
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« Reply #15 on: June 21, 2009, 07:45:31 am »

I wouldn't screw them to the rims unless I was finding that they were actually spinning. No tubes ....Balanced them once .....checked them two weeks later and they needed to be balanced again....I don't bother balancing anymore.

Before mounting tires on my Bogart wheels I spun them on the balancer to check for straightness and they balanced perfectly.

Pete
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Pete Paradis
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« Reply #16 on: June 21, 2009, 09:45:44 am »

To each his own I guess...

My comment regarding kerosene in my shocks was in regards to another post where I got slamed for replacing the oil in my "struts" with Kerosene.
I was told that the car might burst intoflames if I got the brakes too hot.
Thus the nickname "deathtrap".
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Ohio Tom Simpson. Home of the Killa' Bee.
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« Reply #17 on: June 21, 2009, 11:10:39 am »

if you run out of fuel at the track at least you can drain the shocks and use that, jjust adjust timing and a/f and your good for another round Smiley
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cadprovw
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« Reply #18 on: June 21, 2009, 06:15:24 pm »

To each his own I guess...

My comment regarding kerosene in my shocks was in regards to another post where I got slamed for replacing the oil in my "struts" with Kerosene.
I was told that the car might burst intoflames if I got the brakes too hot.
Thus the nickname "deathtrap".


hhhmmmm.... this has me thinking of a new place to hide some nitrous!

Shocks would be nice and stiff on the launch, and would loosen up nicely on the big end!
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Chad Dailey
John Palmer
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« Reply #19 on: June 21, 2009, 11:28:54 pm »

To each his own I guess...

My comment regarding kerosene in my shocks was in regards to another post where I got slamed for replacing the oil in my "struts" with Kerosene.
I was told that the car might burst intoflames if I got the brakes too hot.
Thus the nickname "deathtrap".




Being basically CHEAP, we have run everything from light weight automatic transmission fluid, to heavy hypoid gear oil in front shocks trying to tune the movement.

Bottom line, cheap shocks are still CHEAP shocks.  Good "tuneable" shocks are worth their expense if your car has the power.

We mount and balance over 300 "high quality" motorcycle tires "per month" where I work.  I've not seen one that did not require at least some weight to bring it into balance.  I see no reason why you would not at least check your tire balance.  Also, I'm a fan of running tubeless and marking the location of the valve on the rim to monitor if it's slipping/spining on the rim.     
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t-3racer
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« Reply #20 on: June 21, 2009, 11:48:36 pm »

I have always marked my slicks to see if they "move" after a burnout or a run. Never seen any slippage on the wheel. I do bubble balance them and I coat the inside with Palmolive dish washing liquid and run them tubeless without screws in the rims. They hold air great and I rarely have to add any.
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superdrag
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« Reply #21 on: June 22, 2009, 05:47:07 am »

Seems like everyone is about split down the middle.  So far I haven't heard anyone say anything like:  I ran them unbalanced and it was terrible, balanced them and the problem went away. 
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SlicksMH
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« Reply #22 on: June 22, 2009, 04:39:24 pm »

Balance. Wink

SlicksMH
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Nasty Fasty
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« Reply #23 on: June 22, 2009, 04:57:40 pm »

Balance. Wink

SlicksMH

Nuff said,

And I'd rather slip a tire anyday than break the driveline
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markvo
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« Reply #24 on: June 23, 2009, 12:56:22 am »

Always Balance! Why wouldn't you, it's very inexpensive. Have them hold down the button ,till they can get it as close as possible ,on spin balancer.
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madmike
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« Reply #25 on: June 23, 2009, 08:24:52 am »

The wheels i got from a guy on here are so bent !! whats the use Huh
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SlicksMH
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« Reply #26 on: June 23, 2009, 06:52:30 pm »

Balance Balance Balance the tires tires tires and you will be happy happy happy that is all.  Grin

SlicksMH
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pimppride
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« Reply #27 on: June 23, 2009, 08:05:28 pm »

back in the 80's no one had the machines to balance 17 inch wide pro stock size slicks... the car I worked on ran 8:60's all day without tubes, slicks just screwed to the centerlines...

Anthony / ISP WEST 
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Mad Pineapple
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« Reply #28 on: June 23, 2009, 08:22:24 pm »

Sorry but I'm a net-picker, if the pro's like Greg Anderson and Jason Line with their multiple million dollar "All Motor" prostock cars ballance their tires on a regular basis can you figure it might be a little important in one way or another? Sorry but that's just me. I mean to what point do you scrimp to save money? Follow the big guys example.
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Dominick Luppino
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« Reply #29 on: June 23, 2009, 08:54:42 pm »

I always have and always will...
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SlicksMH
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« Reply #30 on: June 23, 2009, 11:33:00 pm »

In the 60ty we used bubble balancers up to a 17/36-16 slicks and I still have it and it still works A-#1.

SlicksMH
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FITNESSFORYOUTOO
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« Reply #31 on: June 23, 2009, 11:48:15 pm »

Why not balance them if you are having them mounted, I have always balanced mine.
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« Reply #32 on: June 25, 2009, 01:05:54 am »

I mount my slicks myself. They take about 30seconds to put on.
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Cal-Look.com Forum  |  Keith Seume's / Cal-Look.com's World Famous Cal-Look Forum  |  VW Drag Racing (Moderators: Michael, John P, Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW))  |  Topic: Do you guys balance your slicks? « previous next »
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