Balancing centreless alloy wheels in Glasgow?

[fotobright]

Hiya's,

I'm having real problems getting getting the centreless alloy wheels on my 2001 SX balanced. I've only found one dealer outside Glasgow who had the correct adapter plate but they just couldnt get it right.

Anyone got a lead on somene who can balance citroen centreless alloy wheels in Glasgow or the Central belt?

Thanks

[GiveMeABreak]

I know ATS have one - can't speak for Glasgow, but they always managed to do mine on previous C5s.

[xantia_v6]

If all else fails, a Citroen dealer should have the adapter and know how to use it, even if they charge 3x the going rate for balancing.

[fotobright]

Great, I'll give them a call.

[fotobright]

Just called them, alas Glasgow ATS cant do. The Citroen dealer Robin & Day dont even have the adapter any more!

[white exec]

An on-going problem. Centre-less fitted to only Citroen and Peugeot, it seems. Was XM/Xantia the last?
Adaptors get mislaid, parts lost, or not replaced when a new balance machine is installed.
Operator knowledge also lost.

When you find someone that has it, correct procedure for a good balance result is:
- Adjust the attachment for 5- 4- or 3-hole use
- Check it fits the wheel, studs properly aligning with holes
- Spin up the machine without any adaptors to check 0-0 calibration
- Attach the adaptor (preferably with all wheel nuts present) to the machine shaft and set for 0-0 again
- Only then attach the wheel and balance it.

I know it is difficult to tell an oppo what to do. Be helpful and tactful, and make ameliorative comments like "Yep, these things always give a bit of trouble. Someone told me that...". Then tip him, and let us know where the b*ggers are!

(As said, Citroen (and Peugeot) should have these adaptors available, as it's the only means of properly balancing their own cars' wheels. Ever hopeful.)

[xantia_v6]

The problem is that the quality of adapters varies widely. The Citroen dealer at Duxford had one which had fixed studs (and I think a centering ridge which mimicked a real hub, and was pretty much foolproof. A mobile fitter I once used had a general purpose adapter that had so many degrees of freedom and was so sloppy that he could not get the wheels to stay centralised for the duration of the balancing operation.

[wheeler]

Farmer autocare have the adaptor (at least they used to) , there are 3 branches in Renfrewshire, Hillington, Paisley & one behind Glasgow Airport. They have the adaptor but they share it between the branches so you need to phone ahead first to make sure they have it at the branch you need when you go in.

https://www.farmerautocare.com/

[white exec]

The problem is that the quality of adapters varies widely. The Citroen dealer at Duxford had one which had fixed studs (and I think a centering ridge which mimicked a real hub, and was pretty much foolproof. A mobile fitter I once used had a general purpose adapter that had so many degrees of freedom and was so sloppy that he could not get the wheels to stay centralised for the duration of the balancing operation.

That's right. Our Euromaster fitter here has recently expensively replaced theirs with a new (adjustable) one, even though their balancing machines haven't been replaced. Reason was wear and tear on the old unit - and an on-going demand.

[Mandrake]

Hiya's,

I'm having real problems getting getting the centreless alloy wheels on my 2001 SX balanced. I've only found one dealer outside Glasgow who had the correct adapter plate but they just couldnt get it right.

Anyone got a lead on somene who can balance citroen centreless alloy wheels in Glasgow or the Central belt?

Thanks

Who did you take yours to who couldn't get it right ? (Name and shame! )

I'm in Motherwell and I've phoned dozens of places trying to get the centreless wheels on my Xantia V6 balanced over the last couple of years. There are only two who I've found who even have the adaptor to do it.

One was National Tyres and Autocare in Motherwell - so I got them to fit 4 new Michelin Energies, however they were completely unable to get the balance right. I went back four times in the same day and it was still wrong so I had to just give up and put up with wheel imbalance at motorway speed for nearly a year until I found somewhere else willing to give it a try.

More recently I tried Cooper Brothers in Newmains. https://www.cooperbrothers.co.uk/ They didn't get it perfect - there is still a slight imbalance at about 80mph but it is acceptable, whereas all four attempts by National were ridiculously out.

So maybe give them a try. Make sure you take it for a test drive right up to 80mph on smooth roads immediately afterwards to confirm they got it right though and take it back if it's not right, as nobody seems to be able to get centreless wheels right first try! It seems to matter who does the balancing. It obviously takes a bit more skill to use the adaptor properly - some guys seem to know what they're doing with the centreless wheels and some not so much!

[white exec]

Assuming the adaptor is still serviceable, and that it is the right one for the current balancing machine , the rest is down to operator skill, commitment , and the proper procedure. It takes only a bit more than five minutes to get the widget on the machine and itself balanced; after that, as quick as any other wheel.

I'm lucky here, my local guy gets it right first time, every time, and has done for 12 years+.
Bit of a trek for everyone, I know, but we do make a good cuppa (or Sangria).

[fotobright]

Hiya's,

I'm having real problems getting getting the centreless alloy wheels on my 2001 SX balanced. I've only found one dealer outside Glasgow who had the correct adapter plate but they just couldnt get it right.

Anyone got a lead on somene who can balance citroen centreless alloy wheels in Glasgow or the Central belt?

Thanks

Who did you take yours to who couldn't get it right ? (Name and shame! )

I'm in Motherwell and I've phoned dozens of places trying to get the centreless wheels on my Xantia V6 balanced over the last couple of years. There are only two who I've found who even have the adaptor to do it.

One was National Tyres and Autocare in Motherwell - so I got them to fit 4 new Michelin Energies, however they were completely unable to get the balance right. I went back four times in the same day and it was still wrong so I had to just give up and put up with wheel imbalance at motorway speed for nearly a year until I found somewhere else willing to give it a try.

More recently I tried Cooper Brothers in Newmains. https://www.cooperbrothers.co.uk/ They didn't get it perfect - there is still a slight imbalance at about 80mph but it is acceptable, whereas all four attempts by National were ridiculously out.

So maybe give them a try. Make sure you take it for a test drive right up to 80mph on smooth roads immediately afterwards to confirm they got it right though and take it back if it's not right, as nobody seems to be able to get centreless wheels right first try! It seems to matter who does the balancing. It obviously takes a bit more skill to use the adaptor properly - some guys seem to know what they're doing with the centreless wheels and some not so much!

I went to Coooper Bros. There was an issue with my driver side hydractive return pipe and leaked in his bay spinning the guy out completely, which didnt help. I just told the guy to continue the balance he tried both front wheels in the end trying to balance them 'manually' as he described it. They never charged me in the end and just wanted me out of the premise. The whole thing was totally bemusing from start to finish. The guy was going on about there must be something in the tyres like water which kept moving the centre of gravity.
National tyres on Alexandaria Parade have the adapter but its broken from over use!!

[fotobright]

Farmer autocare have the adaptor (at least they used to) , there are 3 branches in Renfrewshire, Hillington, Paisley & one behind Glasgow Airport. They have the adaptor but they share it between the branches so you need to phone ahead first to make sure they have it at the branch you need when you go in.

https://www.farmerautocare.com/

Excellent thankyou i'll try them tomorrow!

[fotobright]

An on-going problem. Centre-less fitted to only Citroen and Peugeot, it seems. Was XM/Xantia the last?
Adaptors get mislaid, parts lost, or not replaced when a new balance machine is installed.
Operator knowledge also lost.

When you find someone that has it, correct procedure for a good balance result is:
- Adjust the attachment for 5- 4- or 3-hole use
- Check it fits the wheel, studs properly aligning with holes
- Spin up the machine without any adaptors to check 0-0 calibration
- Attach the adaptor (preferably with all wheel nuts present) to the machine shaft and set for 0-0 again
- Only then attach the wheel and balance it.

I know it is difficult to tell an oppo what to do. Be helpful and tactful, and make ameliorative comments like "Yep, these things always give a bit of trouble. Someone told me that...". Then tip him, and let us know where the b*ggers are!

(As said, Citroen (and Peugeot) should have these adaptors available, as it's the only means of properly balancing their own cars' wheels. Ever hopeful.)

Good support info to have. I totally get what you using subtle means to impart this wisdom. I feel some reverse psychology coming on

[oscar]

Tyre place in Chingford E4 balances centerless it's just up from old dog stadium