Road Force Balancing to cure vibrations
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 391
Likes: 2
From: Northern Virginia
2010 ML350 GAS 4Matic
Road Force Balancing to cure vibrations
My car had a pretty bad vibration between 60-75 mph. I noticed that many of the wheel weights had fallen off so I took it to a local tire shop and had them balanced. The vibration improved but was still there.
I just took the car to the dealer for some other issues and told them about the vibration. They recommended doing a road force balancing on the tires. I was skeptical but they did it and the vibration is gone.
Apparently not all shops are equipped to do road force balancing. I hadn't heard of the term before. But from what I understand, what they essentially do is index the tires with the wheels. Tires are never perfectly round. Wheels are never perfectly round. By indexing, they mount the tire with the high point of the tire opposite of the high point of the wheel to make the combination as round as possible before proceeding with normal spin balancing.
It worked for me and from now on, I'll make sure that any time I have my wheels balanced, they can do a road force balancing.
I just took the car to the dealer for some other issues and told them about the vibration. They recommended doing a road force balancing on the tires. I was skeptical but they did it and the vibration is gone.
Apparently not all shops are equipped to do road force balancing. I hadn't heard of the term before. But from what I understand, what they essentially do is index the tires with the wheels. Tires are never perfectly round. Wheels are never perfectly round. By indexing, they mount the tire with the high point of the tire opposite of the high point of the wheel to make the combination as round as possible before proceeding with normal spin balancing.
It worked for me and from now on, I'll make sure that any time I have my wheels balanced, they can do a road force balancing.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,632
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Most if not all MB dealers have Hunter equipment, use locate link to find an independent in your area http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/ba...159T/index.htm
For the benefit of other members MBUSA covers RFB for the first 12 months or 12000 miles (whichever comes first) for all new vehicles. Furthermore, always request RFB when replacing tires.
For the benefit of other members MBUSA covers RFB for the first 12 months or 12000 miles (whichever comes first) for all new vehicles. Furthermore, always request RFB when replacing tires.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 391
Likes: 2
From: Northern Virginia
2010 ML350 GAS 4Matic
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 391
Likes: 2
From: Northern Virginia
2010 ML350 GAS 4Matic
Most if not all MB dealers have Hunter equipment, use locate link to find an independent in your area http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/ba...159T/index.htm
For the benefit of other members MBUSA covers RFB for the first 12 months or 12000 miles (whichever comes first) for all new vehicles. Furthermore, always request RFB when replacing tires.
For the benefit of other members MBUSA covers RFB for the first 12 months or 12000 miles (whichever comes first) for all new vehicles. Furthermore, always request RFB when replacing tires.
Oddly enough, the original tire shop I took my car to apparently has one of these. I guess they didn't do a road force balance by default?
Last edited by Eich; Aug 20, 2009 at 07:37 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 1
From: Murrieta, Southern California
Late Built 2005 W-211 E-320 CDI
Hunter GSP 9700
Having taken their seminar twice, once in 1996 at St. Louis and later at their training facility in Sante Fe Springs California, I feel that there is no finer system to use for balancing providing the machine operator knows what
he is doing and follows the instructions that are shown on the balancing systems' computer screen.
In particular, the "road force" which is expressed in pounds. Once had a tech not pay attention to a reading of 35 pounds! Went and got the shop owner and he took over, and after he did what the computer told him to do, the "road force" reading was down to 13 pounds. That was the one Michelin out of the four new tires and after market wheels that had not been properly and correctly mounted and balanced by Tirerack.
Tirerack payed me for the rebalancing when I complained.
Go to the URL mentioned earlier by konigstiger and read everything you can about how it works and educate yourself so as to be able to tell if the operator does in fact know what he is doing and does it properly!
I have seen a nervous slight out-of-balance condition more than once on my son-in-laws E-420 (always with Michelins from Costco) and the Coats balancing machines Costco uses do not always get the balancing done perfectly. Sometimes, the fronts have been off by only 1/4 of an ounce on each side, and that was all that it took to correct the problem. Always at about 55 mph. Drives him nuts, but always the Hunter System finds
and corrects the issue.
Maybe that's the reason that so many high end shops pay well over $10K for the Hunter system.
It does get the problems solved.
HTHs
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 612
Likes: 2
From: NY
'12 Mustang 5.0, '89 Supra Turbo, C55,
I;m disappointed. Had mine done with the Hunter, but I've still got vibration around the 60mph mark. Goes away around 70 mph. It was a non-MB tire shop, but I figured they would do a good job with the Hunter.... 
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 1
From: Murrieta, Southern California
Late Built 2005 W-211 E-320 CDI
Please, Try Again
That is why it is so important that you completely understand what this system can do and be almost a
tech yourself so as to be able to tell if the person doing the work is simply doing all the
required steps that must be taken to be sure everything is balanced properly.
See:http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/images/demo.cfm
On the right, click on 'Operation Technique'
To study this video will take some time, but to me, it is well worth that time so that
you may be able to understand what is involved in properly using this system.
Dave is the fellow who conducted both of the seminars I attended.
This video was done sometime prior to my first exposure to the Hunter GSP9700 system back
in the summer of '96 when our group toured the Hunter Engineering facility in St Louis, MO.
Prior to then, I too had never heard of this superior equipment.
Believe me when I say,
"If the tech doing the balancing does understand the system and does do everything the computer
screen instructs him to do, it works, period! I have never seen the Hunter GSP9700 used when it
has been done correctly that the problem is not correctly diagnosed and the problem corrected."
Many times, when someone has complained that the Hunter System did not solve the problem,
I have discovered that the tech doing the work was not bothering to take the time
to do the proceedure correctly.
HTHs. Questions?
Last edited by Green E-300 DT; Aug 24, 2009 at 01:31 PM.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 391
Likes: 2
From: Northern Virginia
2010 ML350 GAS 4Matic
Now after getting it properly balanced at the dealer with a Road Force balance, it's smooth at all speeds. An amazing difference. The car is much more pleasurable to drive now.
You could try complaining to the shop you took it to, saying that you still have the vibration. Or you could try the dealer and explain what you've been through and that you really need a proper and thorough RFB.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 1
From: Murrieta, Southern California
Late Built 2005 W-211 E-320 CDI
Good Thinking
All the Hunter GSP9700s have that "Road Force" feature.
In fact, that reading in pounds will appear along with the recommended balance
weights required to be applied and their recommended locations.
What's happening I think it that the tech using the system is simply too lazy to follow
the steps outlined and do whatever it outlined. That's why it is so important for you to
understand what is required and to observe the operator while he is doing the work.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 391
Likes: 2
From: Northern Virginia
2010 ML350 GAS 4Matic
All the Hunter GSP9700s have that "Road Force" feature.
In fact, that reading in pounds will appear along with the recommended balance
weights required to be applied and their recommended locations.
What's happening I think it that the tech using the system is simply too lazy to follow
the steps outlined and do whatever it outlined. That's why it is so important for you to
understand what is required and to observe the operator while he is doing the work.
I wonder if some shops have more than one balancing machine - a GSP9700 and a lesser model and don't always use the GSP9700? I originally took my car to a local tire shop which claims to have a GSP9700 (based on Hunter's website) but at the time, I didn't know anything about them and didn't look inside the shop to actually see it. Maybe they never used this machine on my car at all?
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 1
From: Murrieta, Southern California
Late Built 2005 W-211 E-320 CDI
Most Likely
Doesn't surprise me that certain tech's would be lazy or even uneducated.
I wonder if some shops have more than one balancing machine - a GSP9700 and a lesser model and don't always use the GSP9700? I originally took my car to a local tire shop which claims to have a GSP9700 (based on Hunter's website) but at the time, I didn't know anything about them and didn't look
inside the shop to actually see it. Maybe they never used this machine on my car at all?
I wonder if some shops have more than one balancing machine - a GSP9700 and a lesser model and don't always use the GSP9700? I originally took my car to a local tire shop which claims to have a GSP9700 (based on Hunter's website) but at the time, I didn't know anything about them and didn't look
inside the shop to actually see it. Maybe they never used this machine on my car at all?
As I have said repeatedly, the job is no better than the tech performing it.
Many low paid flunckies could not care less and will not do all the
steps that are required to fix any out-of-balance conditions.
Yes, some shops have more than one balancer and many shops do
charge a premium to do the job correctly using the GSP9700.
The trick is to find a shop that has a Hunter GSP9700 and charges
a fair price and does not overcharge as some shops do.
Ask the manager or owner if you are allowed to watch the tech doing the work.
If he says 'no' thank him and go elsewhere. If you are not allowed to
watch, how can you be sure the tech is doing everything as required?
That is the key. If the work is not done properly, you will most likely wind up with a slight vibration.
It seems that many MBZs and Bimmers are rather sensitive to the slightest out-of-balance conditions.
And with the larger diameter and wider wheels, the more that this can occur.
HTHs
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 0
From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
And how much are you guys paying for the road force balancing? An independent shop with the GSP9700 wants $35 per wheel to do it. They're charging a premium because I have 19" wheels and 35 series tires. I called the local dealership but the receptionist didn't seem to know what road force balancing was and as usual, the service adviser was on the phone with someone else.
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 968
Likes: 77
From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
And how much are you guys paying for the road force balancing? An independent shop with the GSP9700 wants $35 per wheel to do it. They're charging a premium because I have 19" wheels and 35 series tires. I called the local dealership but the receptionist didn't seem to know what road force balancing was and as usual, the service adviser was on the phone with someone else.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 0
From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
Yeah and they said they have to take the tire off and possibly reposition it. So basically a full mount and balance.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
2006 cl55 amg
Roadforce to the rescue
I recently bought new tires from Tire Rack and rims from another supplier. I chose an installer who had a good reputation for mounting and balancing tires. Well to make a mistake go away, the installer was not able to correctly balance the tires. 245/40/19 and 275/35/19 - these are big tires! I should have given the installer the business who had the Hunter GSP9700 Roadforce balancer. I had to after the vibration from the 1st installer tires improperly balanced. The new shop took me in to the machine and showed me what they do, also told me every weight was placed wrong for the rims and tires. Yes they felt sorry for me and charged me only $30 per tire, he said they usually charge $40. The car is as smooth as silk above 100.
Last edited by topofminehill; Mar 8, 2010 at 08:25 PM.
