Roadforce Balancing worth it

[LI Tahoe]

As most of you have read my threads on the wind buffering..

so far I've had torque converter and most of the transmission changed. it didn't help much

2 dealers refuse to acknowledge the TSB. and attempt the "fix" even if I pay out of pocket( which I wont)
https://gm.oemdtc.com/4011/wind-buf...-andor-water-leak-2015-cadillac-chevrolet-gmc

I've read a few posts where people with vibrating at high way speeds have gotten their tires Hunter Roadforce balanced

A local shop has the machine and charges $20 a tire to balance-

I'm looking for opinions on whether it is worth doing this as a possible remedy to the buffering?

 

[dbbd1]

How much life do you still have on the tires? I would just try new tires (and wheels?) myself.

 

[swathdiver]

A quick burnout is cheaper!

 

[LI Tahoe]

How much life do you still have on the tires? I would just try new tires (and wheels?) myself.

tires have about 4000 miles on them

 

[sickk23]

It’s definitely worth it but you might check around for better prices.

The three dealers I have been to with vibrations on past GM suvs have done it under warranty.

Have you considered opening a case with GM? It sounds like you have a lemon.

 

[LI Tahoe]

It’s definitely worth it but you might check around for better prices.

The three dealers I have been to with vibrations on past GM suvs have done it under warranty.

Have you considered opening a case with GM? It sounds like you have a lemon.

I live in NY- you're in NM = prices are way different

I have a case with GM- its been closed without resolution.

 

[ajs800]

Road forcing our 15 XL is the only way it's remained manageable to drive for us. I've gone through multiple tire/wheel setup and ended up with michelins and 20" wheels and have them road forced about every 6mos. The buffeting and vibrations are kept at a minimum and rarely noticeable.

Actually the last time I had them balanced, they were way off as the drastic buffeting returned and hwy vibrations were horrible. Had to take it back to shop after our trip to have all rebalanced. These trucks should not require this but in our experience it's been the only way to mask the buffeting issue.

My local tire shop doesn't charge me to RF since we purchased tires from them.

 

[AZCreeker]

A while back,I noticed some vibration when going above 65mph after installing some dealer take off 22" with dualer H/T
At the time, I had discount tire mount them and I paid extra to have them balanced using their road force machine.

Last time I got an oil changed at the Chevy dealership, I asked them to rate and balanced and oh to my surprise the vibration ahs been gone.
So two things, first, like said above, I will have rotation and balanced at every oil changed. Second, I think you have to go somewhere where they do a good job at balancing the wheels.


I always assume that using the dealership would be overpriced and not the best experience but so far, it has been the exact opposite, now this if for basic things and getting my A/C condenser fixed under extended warranty

 

[THE YETI]

$20/wheel is cheap for road force balancing.

We road force balance every wheel and tire we mount.

 

[Rocket Man]

$20/wheel is cheap for road force balancing.

We road force balance every wheel and tire we mount.

I was gonna say if you have to ask whether to spend $80 as a possible fix for anything you're way over thinking your spending. That's a tank of gas.

 

[LI Tahoe]

I was gonna say if you have to ask whether to spend $80 as a possible fix for anything you're way over thinking your spending. That's a tank of gas.

Yes of course you are correct. I was just curious of any one thought it was another "cure" since I've done about everything else I can.

Taking it in tomorrow for the Road Force balance

 

[ajs800]

One thing to note...with these trucks, they all must RF under 15lbs. My tire shop thought I was nuts but this is one of the things GM has shared with some. We had to swap one of our Michelin with a new one during initial install due to not getting it under 15lbs.

 

[olyelr]

One thing to note...with these trucks, they all must RF under 15lbs. My tire shop thought I was nuts but this is one of the things GM has shared with some. We had to swap one of our Michelin with a new one during initial install due to not getting it under 15lbs.

Under 15 pounds? Whats that mean?

 

[THE YETI]

One thing to note...with these trucks, they all must RF under 15lbs. My tire shop thought I was nuts but this is one of the things GM has shared with some. We had to swap one of our Michelin with a new one during initial install due to not getting it under 15lbs.

not true. that is tire specific. if you run an M/T, for example, the RF can be as high as 30-40 and still balance out and ride fine. The vehicle does not matter, its the type of tire.

obviously the lower the RF, the nicer the ride. But the Hunter machine will also tell someone if the RF is within range.

 

[Ekim]

RF is worth it only if the tire tech is good and the machine is calibrated properly. Curious why you would have to pay with only 4000 on the tires? They should be under warranty from where you had them mounted/balanced originally.

 

[ajs800]

not true. that is tire specific. if you run an M/T, for example, the RF can be as high as 30-40 and still balance out and ride fine. The vehicle does not matter, its the type of tire.

obviously the lower the RF, the nicer the ride. But the Hunter machine will also tell someone if the RF is within range.

you are correct...I guess I was under the impression they were oem or "OEM Like" tires. A GM Tech doc even specifies when dealers are dealing with buffeting issues to make the target number 15lbs or less when RF.

THe other thing to mention is 99% of vehicles might run smooth and fine at 16- 25lbs but not these trucks. When I was experimenting with our buffeting problems I wheel tire swapped with two other GM trucks and both sets created horrible buffeting but they were smooth and fine when on the donor trucks (sierra and previous gen tahoe).

 

[LI Tahoe]

Just had them RF balanced.

Here is what the numbers were

LF 16 RF 15
LR 14 RR 40

The RR was corrected to 23, the lowest they could get it to go

Weights were replaced and repostioned on each wheel

I will drive my normal route for a day or two and see if it makes any difference

 

[THE YETI]

40 is on the higher for an LT tire.

You should feel a difference.

 

[LI Tahoe]

quick update. as its been 2 days and I've driven the small roads and times I always seem to.

the ride is certainly more comfortable now. The wind buffering is certainly still there. RF balancing certainly did not "cure the issue" but it made it more livable.

its really a shame that tolerable is the new normal.

 

[cardude2000]

quick update. as its been 2 days and I've driven the small roads and times I always seem to.

the ride is certainly more comfortable now. The wind buffering is certainly still there. RF balancing certainly did not "cure the issue" but it made it more livable.

its really a shame that tolerable is the new normal.

Rfb can help a lot and is worth the price imo. Glad it helped you. I had a little vibration and a good RFB took care of it.

There is a TSB for buffetting so make sure you push your dealer to try and fix it.