Tyre balancing beads

They are the ones sold by Devon 4x4 - they are an American brand and I think the idea comes from the US.

I can't remember how I came to know about them but have had them in mind for a while. In theory, the tyre will never go out of balance.

So no messing about going to get them balanced by somewhere you trust to get them right just to lose a block of tread off road and upset the balancing you just paid for.

I couldn't find anyone that had used them, so had noone to say how good they are and took a chance.

As above, early indications are it's solving steering wheel wobble. However, this is not always going to solve it. If there is s mechanical problem like worn kingpin bearings, the problem will still exist.

If I continue to be impressed and by having at least the other front wheel balanced by beads the wobble completely goes away, I will always use them. Then I know if I have a steering wheel wobble it must be a mechanical problem I need to find and rectify pronto.

I had to find a solution as I have replaced all the mechanical things that may cause it and can't deal with living with a problem like that. I have just been driving through that speed band quickly but no more! Leaving steering wobble I suppose will increase wear on kingpin and wheel bearings.

Kirkynut

Do you need a tyre fitter to install them, or can you just remove the valve and pour them in?

They come in a little plastic bag which has a perforation all the way round. You have to break the bead of the tyre and drop the bag in. Then as it goes round the perforation breaks and the beads are released.

That's the theory anyway.

However, I received two bags split open in their packets so had a little think about what to do. I did then take the valve core out a front tyre and put them in via that hole. The trouble is that there is only space for one bead at a time and there are like five thousand of the little buggers. I made a paper cone to funnel them in. If you do them too fast they clog the hole. So it takes a few tedious hours.

I won't be doing that again! That's how comes I've only got one tyre done though

So yes, you do need to get a tyre fitter to pop them in. I have seen some redneck methods of breaking the tyre's outside bead on YouTube but think I shall get my mate, a tyre fitter to do the rest and order another few bags up. They're only about a fiver per bag, so if you had new tyres fitted and had these popped in rather than normal balancing, it wouldn't cost much more.

Kirkynut

Right then..... I've had my tyre fitting mate over in his mobile fitting van and had balancing beads put in the other three tyres on the car and the spare.

What a difference! No steering wheel wobble at all now and it's nice to drive again!

I can't stress enough though that although these balancing beads have taken all the wobble away from my Jimny, I have replaced every component that could have caused it before sorting out the tyre balancing. So that's:

* All 4 track rod ends
* All wheel bearings, front and rear
* All radius/trailing ARM bushes with Superpro
* Both panhard rod bushes in both rods with Superpro
* All kingpins bearings replaced with Bigjimny shims added
* Front knuckle inner seal/bushings that the CV runs inside of in the knuckle

Now I know my truck is mechanically sound and knowing that left only the wheel balancing as a possible cause of steering wheel wobble.

Kirkynut

nice one

Sorry Kirkynut, but you've made me feel better.

At least it was only the kingpin bearings that got changed on the Little Beast before the culprit was identified as wheel balancing.

As you said, at least you now know it's mechanically sound. Enjoy.