Cheap and Easy Drag Tire Balancing: Tech Tip Tuesday

In this Tech Tip Tuesday, Doug explains how to balance drag radials on the go!
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[@ssswdon]

That's an interesting throwback in the '70s when I worked in co-op for auto shop. This is all we had. We didn't have spin balancers or anything like that

[@fordaez]

Flip that dude over, place the weights on the beadlock when checking for what you need. Setting the weight out on the tire makes it "heavier", the further away from the fulcrum makes more leverage. Having the back of the rim facing you takes the guess work out of it.... love that foil tape idea....

[@robertweitlauf4653]

i was going to say that, i set my weight on the edge of the rim. i have the big professional bubble balancer, if im putting weight's on the outside i balance that first then i flip the tire and recheck it. some wheels you cant put on the balancer because of how there made, his will not work upside down.

[@justme7055]

I grew up using bubble balancers. Yes, I'm old. LOL. They work.

[@cml2004]

In the 70’s and 80’s I used a big metal tub filled with water and bubble balancer the same way those before me did it.

[@Intimidator82]

I had no idea those things existed, I can see that they are worth their weight in gold for those who change tires on the road for drag week

[@PapaDoc215]

Crazy, my old man always talked about us doing this ourselves and i just thought "yea ok old timer dont you have a double pumper to rejet or something". Now have to order one and suprise him with it and a appology!

[@GrinDiesel1969]

Man I wish everyone used your Camera set up, freaking amazing picture quality!! 👍🏻🏁

[@cyberexposure]

Flo Bea 0 seconds ago I’m glad that this method works well with performance tires, thanks for confirming that. I’ve used a bubble balancer on my daily driver sedan, always with good results.

[@frankgeimer5952]

I love Tech Tip Tuesday!!

[@chefdan87]

That's how we always did it. I have also taken wheels and tires up to the votech school and had students in that program mount and balance them for free. Always with teacher supervision of coarse.

[@joecameron3406]

The old school bubble balance I use a miniature version for doing lawnmower blades when sharpening

[@HVACENGINEER94]

I have those exact tires on 86 Buick grand national, and I have been chasing down a typical vibration at 70mph for the longest time and I kept looking at the front never thought in the back

[@brandona4618]

I still use the one I Inherited 20 years ago. Worked then works now.

[@erichuff3572]

Great video brother thanks. God bless you and your family.

[@bewwwst.3380]

Damn Doug! Great nugget of information. Thanks for sharing!

[@DayRider76]

That's how our grandparents used to do it. Well probably your great grandparents!

[@wingless95]

Always a good idea to put tape on the wheel first, then weights then tape. That way, the next time you balance you don't have to fight with thee adhesive that gets stuck on the wheel. This saves a ton of time.

[@benpatsy2076]

Another top tech tip from the best. 👍

[@Robs347YSI]

I've used RTV to apply the weights. Great video

[@dloneyv8]

Great info...time and hassle savings for sure! Thank you!

[@mikeshelton7750]

Look forward to these vids. Thank you in advance.

[@twomontess]

Great vid ! Thanks now I have to pick one up.

[@gregm784]

ever thought about balancing wheel face down so it's easier to stick the weights on the inner rim? Just thinkin outloud

[@4speed3pedals]

Thanks for the aluminum tape idea.

[@Dealete420]

Before the fancy machines, that's how they did it. The M/T truck still uses a Bubble Balancer at the track.

[@joef.2908]

New segment name, just the tips with Dougie fresh.

[@wickdgt]

Doug, how about setting up the rear suspension on leaf spring cars. Like setting the shocks for drag radials.

[@bobbyborba6460]

Silly question but can you put the wheel on the balancer with the inside of the wheel facing out so your placement of the weight is easier to get aligned

[@PaulPrzyborski]

Depends on you wheel offset. You want to have the bulk of the wheel barrel below the mating surface or it will tip too hard.

[@gullreefclub]

Make sure to place your Bubble Balancer on a flat and level surface. The old Bubble Balancer I have has leveling feet and the ability to lock the head to use the "bubble" to level the balancer. When setting your weights on the tire make sure to set them on top of the rim hoop and Not way out on the sidewall of the tire. lastly skip the brake-kleen and foil tape use acetone or MEK to clean the rim and Gorilla Tape (lastly cut a swatch of tape and included that when balancing your tire/wheel because tape weights is heavier than you think) Also if there is a colored dot on the sidewall of your tire line that up with the valve stem to start and if your tire is calling for a lot of weight and you know your rim is true and clean then rotate the tire 180 degrees and try balancing the rim/tire again.

[@lgun1]

If you have a local Harbor Freight, they sell the balancer and always have the weights in stock. I use those on my street cars. I never pay a shop to do my work.

[@turtledrool1738]

That was a great video

[@JohnRoberts71]

Very informative thanks for sharing

[@mikebonge7206]

Nice information

[@garycasteel5387]

I always used those 3 screws to calibrate the bubble before I set the wheel on and then use weight to zero it you just turn them in or out to center the bubble in the ring... Try it that way and it will get you with in .25

[@glbaker5595]

Wow I use one of those things when I was a kid my first job like in the early 70s in a gas station I worked at I was like 15,

[@dnchevyguy3]

Would like to see a video about choosing front tire diameter.

[@mooosestang]

isn't it less effective with large offset/wide rims like that? maybe flipping it over would work better? I'm just thinking out loud. With all that rim so far below the level it seems like it would always act level.

[@Cheezn4urdreams]

Can that be used as a drink balancer too.. tired of my beer spillin between rounds!

[@JWP1990]

Would love a link to the balancer you purchased. 👍👍

[@Mp-jw1qg]

i road force balance every radial that comes in after bubble balancing to fix the mickey mouse job they did. for track use they work great, for a street car, pay the 40 bucks and get them road force balanced.

[@davidwilliams3504]

Great video

[@namelast8621]

Hey I'm a huge fan of James's recognized your Nova subscribe to you for those two reasons

[@lazyhoundracing9621]

Thanks.

[@Mrduneblaster09]

Very good video like the video keep up

[@dondagy9109]

Make sure you set it on a level surface when you use it. I gives a crappy reading if the floor you have the tool sitting on is un level.

[@chadgummo484]

they use golf balls in triaxle steer tires maybe something to look into

[@kurtriedmuller8223]

Awesome I have one!!

[@HeldwellLLC]

Need to place test weight at the radius they will be installed.

[@tripprogers4814]

I love hearing Doug explain things,, don't quite know why OH GOD YES I DO KNOW WHY: M A N C R U S H ! ! dammit.

[@oliverrobey6973]

How are you going to get that car ready after wrecking it

[@brandoncharley3070]

I'm still hoping for a Gen 5 port injection overview video.

[@keithjackson2462]

M3 makes a cleaner that is for stick weights that has a chemical that helps the glue stick better.

[@shanewright6958]

Great tip 👍👍🇨🇱

[@robertweitlauf4653]

and peal the tag off, its not much weight but it makes a difference.

[@zitrogarage2636]

Do beadlock wheels need a tube? I just bought some single bead lock wheels and now I’m wondering if they need a tube in them. How do you mount them also?

[@MotionRaceworksOfficial]

No tube needed for beadlocks

[@jessheffren6841]

Any hobby shop sell's those exact weights to

[@gregm784]

I've been using gorilla tape that somewhat matches the rim color.

[@gbauto7006]

Same here. I've been using it for decades on the weights on my race bikes.

[@rhino502]

The bubble balance will not work on a 32 by 14 and a half by 15 tire

[@JohnClutch1]

How tall is the tool from the ground to the "mounting" surface?

[@davids7605]

They can range between 2' and 3' depending on what ya buy.

[@JohnClutch1]

Thanks David

[@motorcityracing7319]

Huh my buddy don't balance slicks they change too much to worry about it probably different for a radial tire

[@innercityracer]

Don't expect these machines to fix the shake you have on your street car. They are not very accurate. I tried mine on a number of different vehicles and finally returned it. You can make things a little better sometimes but nowhere near the accuracy of dynamic balancing.

[@k20edef1]

I'm waiting for them to comment on this and tell us how they never had a issue..that machine is junk and the wheel will not be balanced correctly..everytime I comment with a legit comment they turn it in favor of them

[@matt3241]

That thing coulda saved ne hundreds of dollers rhruout the years

[@LegacyGarage]

I've seen a guy use the bubble then a spin balancer, it wasn't so slow

[@paulstuartwilson485]

What's old is now new again.

[@soulwagon1251]

Personally I blame John Woodworth