Quote Originally Posted by MLD View Post
Judo - some feedback on the balancing beads. This is my impression from a trip on the highway from Sydney to the Vic High Country and back over the weekend. The theory may contradict my experiment but this is what i found worked.

First off, the balancing beads are not a one stop solution and don't cure vibration all together. I found that there was no consistent speed at which the vibration set in. Sometimes in the low 90's, sometimes in the low 100's. The vibration was the same experienced by a wheel out of balance. After a half a ton of metres (300 - 500m) the beads would locate and the vibration would settle into an acceptable (by comparison to the out of balance vibration) vibration that was evident and caused a slight shimmer in your hand and arm. If you maintained that speed the beads would find their equilibrium. If you dropped more than 2 km/h or sped up more than 2 km/h the vibration would return until the beads found their equilibrium again. Thus there was a narrow band of balance. There were times when the vibration from a change in speed would be bad and other times the vibration would be minor. When it was minor i just waited for the beads to find their equilibrium. When it was bad I found dropping the speed and then accelerate up to about 2 km/h above your cruise speed then ease off to the cruise speed would settle the beads.

Maintaining a consistent cruise speed on the highway with traffic and hills is difficult. I found myself driving to the dictates of vibration rather than any other influence.

Below about 80km/h there is no vibration.

MLD
A touch up on this thread having investigated several causes of the vibration. I might have found the problem. i had the mechanic pull off the front prop shaft and check the UJ's and balance. Nothing amiss with the front prop shaft. The mechanic also pulled the CV's to check tolerances and found one CV to be a little out so he shimmed it. The violent vibration has ceased and at 100 km/h it is a minor shimmer which could just be the balancing beads, the 35" mud tyres or a residual driveline vibration. Much happier now.

There was a thread in 2013 about balancing beads and Wayne recommended longer valves. I have to agree 100% with that recommendation. The balancing beads i was sold are fine and get caught in the valve when airing down. On 2 tyres the beads have caused a slow leak. I couldn't get rid of the leak no matter how much i stuffed around with the valves. The solution was fitting long valves that protrude into the tyre and the beads don't get caught.

MLD