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09-13-2015, 05:56 AM
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#1
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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Wheel balancing-centramatics
Disclaimer, I have no connection to Centramatic Balancers.
I installed them on my 34 trailer and my previous 345 MH came with them.
Next to brand new tires freshly balanced, I know this system to be the biggest improvement for a smooth, low vibration ride. It will pay for itself by saving rebalancing cost, uneven tire wear, bearing wear, etc
I just ordered a set for the rear axle for the 310 (part # 400-417), but unfortunately they discontinued the front axle balancers due to low demand.
If you know of a compatible system for the front axle, I sure would like to know about it.
I talked to Centramatic Balancers and ask what they thought about the Dyna Bead concept. (adding beads to the inside of the tire) They told me they considered introducing a Bead product, but decided against it due to the flat road surface contact throwing the beads off.
Check out this video
How Centramatic Tire Balancers Work Video
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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09-13-2015, 06:48 AM
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#2
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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May have found front axle balancers:
19.5 & 22.5, Balance Masters
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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09-13-2015, 06:49 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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__________________
The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
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09-13-2015, 09:30 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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I have been happily using Dyna Beads for years. My question is why won't the rear Centramatics work on the front wheels? The wheels are the same and if you have rear disc brakes the brakes are the same also.
__________________
Cheers, Dan
________________________________________
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."
~ Margaret Thatcher ~
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09-13-2015, 09:37 AM
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#5
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smartstream
I have been happily using Dyna Beads for years. My question is why won't the rear Centramatics work on the front wheels? The wheels are the same and if you have rear disc brakes the brakes are the same also.
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Dan,
the rears are a disk wedged between the duallies and the fronts are like cup fitting over the brake disk and caliper.
Which makes the mounting surface opposite on rear and front.
Its good to hear that you think the dyna beads work you, because as i mentioned above, Tech support from Centramatics told me that they canned that system due to the flat road contact of the tire making the beads ineffective. I am sure they would work perfectly on a no load tire mounted on a wheel for demonstration
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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09-13-2015, 10:24 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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My bad Peter, I assumed they mounted against the hub front and back.
__________________
Cheers, Dan
________________________________________
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."
~ Margaret Thatcher ~
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09-14-2015, 12:49 AM
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#7
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2 Rivet Member
1992 35' Airstream 350
Ocala
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 31
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Hi Peter
You are the first person to give a review of the Centramatics. Thanks. I would like to order a set for my rears as well but I have a 350 with the tag axel so would they work on them as well? Also I'm not sure what I am looking at on the Balance Master site you posted, do they work like the Centramatics?
Thanks again Malcolm
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09-14-2015, 04:58 AM
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#9
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Malmills
Hi Peter
You are the first person to give a review of the Centramatics. Thanks. I would like to order a set for my rears as well but I have a 350 with the tag axel so would they work on them as well? Also I'm not sure what I am looking at on the Balance Master site you posted, do they work like the Centramatics?
Thanks again Malcolm
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Malcolm,
Being a user of the centramatics for many years, I have nothing but praise. The best way I can describe it is what you feel when you drive off the tire place with brand new tires. The big difference being that you balance the entire assembly and not just the tire.
The dually axle is the same, so the 400-417 should work.
The tag axle is just a slightly modified trailer axle, just call Centramatic and ask them. Or Andy at inlandrv may be able to help you with that.
Yes, the BalanceMasters appear to use a very similar system. I am waiting for a reply from them and will report it here.
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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09-14-2015, 05:09 AM
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#10
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Malmills
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Thanks for posting those links. I looked at both of those options and find the TRU-BALANCE to be too permanent versus static, unless I am missing something.
The bead options would be my last resort for the front axle, despite the issues I described above and other problems with certain beads:
Steel beads can hurt the rim
Glass beads can come apart
Plastic beads can clump up with moisture
So far I read that Ceramic Compound Beads seem to be the desired ones .
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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09-14-2015, 05:03 PM
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#11
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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Talked to Balance Masters rep today:
No balancers for p30 front axle in his repertoire
When I asked him about using beads, he strongly advised against using them.
He said they cause rutting in the tire and in the worse case scenario they lump up and cause all kinds of issues.
I may did a little deeper into TRU-BALANCE Malcolm posted
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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09-17-2015, 05:15 PM
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#12
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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This rear Centramatric is substantial!!
No more dishes rattling, drawers opening and rivets popping...
This is the best 175.- I spent so far ( and I spent a lot )
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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09-18-2015, 07:19 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
1992 35' Airstream 350
Ocala
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 31
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Hi Peter
I will order a set for my rears. Your picture really shows how substantial the unit is. Is it recommended to remove any existing balancing weights when this is installed?
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09-18-2015, 08:55 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Malmills
Hi Peter
I will order a set for my rears. Your picture really shows how substantial the unit is. Is it recommended to remove any existing balancing weights when this is installed?
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I wouldn't.
__________________
The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
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09-18-2015, 12:13 PM
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#15
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Malmills
Hi Peter
I will order a set for my rears. Your picture really shows how substantial the unit is. Is it recommended to remove any existing balancing weights when this is installed?
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Since my tires were balanced years ago, I will remove mine since they "expired" long ago and are probably doing more harm then good.
This is from the horses mouth:
Centramatic Wheel Balancer FAQ - HitchSource.com
Should the tires/wheels be pre-balanced?
In most cases pre-balancing is not required. If a vibration still exits after installation, a computer balance of the problem position can indicate a miss-mounted or defective tire, a bent wheel or other "out of round" condition, that balance alone cannot correct. Wheel bearings should also be checked and defective parts replaced.
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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09-18-2015, 05:07 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1974 20' Argosy 20
Richmond
, Kentucky
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,116
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer
This rear Centramatric is substantial!!
No more dishes rattling, drawers opening and rivets popping...
This is the best 175.- I spent so far ( and I spent a lot )
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Is that $175 per wheel or does that cover both sides?
__________________
Air forums # 1674
1974 20' Argosy Motor Home
1975 24' Argosy Motor Home
1974 31' Excella trailer (parting out, as of 4/1/2015 I have wheels & windows left to sell)
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09-18-2015, 06:06 PM
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#17
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bkahler
Is that $175 per wheel or does that cover both sides?
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175 per set (2)
Don't you have 16" wheel on your Argosy, if so I think that both Steer and rear axle are available.
http://www.centramatic.com/wheel-bal...us-Motor-Homes
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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10-17-2015, 04:13 PM
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#18
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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10-17-2015, 04:22 PM
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#19
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4 Rivet Member
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Holly Springs
, Mississippi
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 426
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Are these for TT or MoHo?
__________________
Bob
2016 FC 25' FB twin
2013 F-150 Lariat CrewCab 3.5 EB 4X4 3.55 axle
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10-17-2015, 04:25 PM
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#20
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob662
Are these for TT or MoHo?
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Moho, trailer ones are readily available from centramatic
Wheel Balancer 200-221_Special from Centramatic
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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