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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1991-04-24, Page 34Page 20 Times -Advocate, April 24, 1991 SPRING CAR CAKF Little lead weights can make all the difference Those little lumps of lead that cling to your car's wheels - you proba fy don't give them a second thought, but they do in fact play a large part' in the smoothness of the ride of your car. Those little weights, which are attached to perfectly balance each wheel, are sometimes overlooked by motorists who wonder why their car doesn't ride as well at certain speeds as others. Then again, some motorists will assume that a wobble or steering prob- lem is only an imbalance, not realizing the problem is a little more serious. What seems like simple job can be quite complex.. As Mike McNichol at Haugh Tire in Exeter points out, there is more than one way to balance a wheel. The traditional method of letting the wheel rotate to its heaviest spot and then adding weights to the top - the static balance - has fallen by the way- side as quicker and more accurate methods have come to the forefront. It wasn't that long ago either that the wheels were spun with the car rest- ing on a trolley with a strobe light pointing out improperly balanced On balance - Rob Bryson at Haugh Tire loads a wheel onto the elec- tronic spin balance machine - one of the best ways to achieve per- fect wheel smoothness. -' points. That method is still popular for truck tires, says McNichol, but the electronic spin balance has far and away become the favourite method for passenger tires. In this method, the car's wheels are removed and placed on a machine which, after a few quick spins of the tire, displays on a computer display the exact placement and amount of weight required to perfectly balance the wheel. Customers can even request a single plane balance, or a two -plane bal- ance. The second is the best method because it compensates for any side- to-side weight imperfections in the wheel, but requires mounting weights on both the inside and outside of the rim, something which owners of fan- cy wheels and trim may not desire. The computer can also calculate perfect balance right down to the exact gram if the customer so desires. But this is usually only necessary for sports cars and those with high -revolution small tires. A typical symptom of improper balance is a slight vibration through the car's steering or accelerator pedal at a certain speed, usually above 70 km/ h. The vibration will often disappear and reappear at specific points on the spedometer. If you experience a vibration at something slower than highway speeds then the problem can usually be traced to a tire failure, explains McNichol. Balance problems are not as common as they once were either, says McNichol. He says that the electronic spin balance method is good enough that if the wheels are correctly balanced when the tires are first in- stalled, then they can remain in balance for virtually their entire road life. Of course, nothing is perfect. Those little lead weights can disappear on contact with potholes or curbs. Tire wear can also shift balance enough so that a vibration can become nv able. Balance problems can a.,o ...anifest themselves elsewhere in the car's drivetrain. Not only are wheels balanced, but so are brake drums and drive shafts. If a weight comes of a brake drum, the effect is identical to an imbalanced wheel. In this case, doing an on -the car balance can correct the problem, so long as the wheel is returned to the same position every time it is removed. Because the South Huron area has quite a few gravel roads, McNichol says it isn't uncommon for car and truck owners to come to him with very severe balan :e problems. These aren't caused by a loss of balance weights, but he addition of mud and calcium buildups in the back of the rim. Although it might not be visible from the outside, it can cause a very noticeable problem. "Mud sits in there and it's just like two pounds of weight," laughs McNichol, who says the simple solution is to hose it out and return the ve- hicle to the road. _ More serious problems can also be interpreted incorrectly as being bal- ance related. ` "We get a lot of people coming in and saying 'it's pulling to one side - I need a balance', when what they need is an alignment," said McNichol. Wheel balance is largely a matter of smoothness and comfort, at least at less than racetrack speeds. Very seldom will a balance problem affect a • Tire care tips for improving fuel economy • Maintain proper tire inflation - between 20 and 35 pounds per square inch (psi). Underinflation of our or more psi can reduce 'fuel economy by at Least five percent and tire life as much as 40 percent. • Check the placard in the glove box or on the driver's door for the ve- hicle's recommended tire pressure. • Check tire pressure at least once every two weeks with a reliable air pressure gauge. • Valve stems should have a plastic or metal cap. Plastic caps keep out the dirt, but metal ones have a rubber gasket that seals against leakage. • Rotate tires every 10,000 miles. • Check the alignment of your vehicle once a year. Misaligned tires can cause the car to drag, lowering mileage and causing unnecessary wear on the tires. Spring cleaning on wheels: Here's how to conquer cleaning problems If your house looks like too big a spring cleaning project to tackle, don't despair - you can get instant gratification for the spring clean- ing bug... in your driveway. In less than three hours you can clean up, clean out and clean off most com- mon car care concerns and, drive off to a "spring fling". Here are the top five cleaning problems most motorists face each spring - and how to conquer each. All it takes is a little know-how to get you on your way. • With road "hazards" such as road tar, grime, bug and bird resi- due, cold, heal, acid rain and hard water bombarding my car each day, what steps make up complete car care today? As with a good recipe, following all the steps will guarantee suc- cess. The complete home car care system should include exterior washing, drying, and waxing, as well as interior and tire cleaning and protection. • My car is deep down dirty from the winter elements - how can 1 make sure it comes clean? It may sound a little crazy, but wash your car - then wash it again! First, wash with a car wash formulated for hard water (not dish- washing soap, which is damaging to paint), with a sheeting action to remove the paint -damaging residue that builds up on your car. Then, before it dries, wash your car again to remove the five percent of dirt that the first wash left behind that does the most damage to your paint during teh drying process. • Cleaning "tools" are so expen- sive. What are the best tools to use for my car and my budget? Some of the best tools can be found around your house. For in- stance, a baby diaper is the perfect balance of cotton and flannel with which to dry your car - far surpass- ing a more abrasive chamois or ter- ry cloth towel. The fine -sprayer at- tachment for your garden hose makes an excellent car wash teat repeated use of too strong a water blast can weaken your car's paint. Other tools are inexpensive in- vestments. For example, a cellulose sponge that is specially formulated to lift direct off a car without scratching today's paints and finish- es. • !low can 1 protect my car from the elements? Waxing protects your car in two ways. First, it leaves a protective coating on the paint to guard against those elements, or hazards, mentioned above. And, second, it reduces drag or friction on the paint surface during future washings. Most cars today require a low - abrasive, long-lasting water bead- ing wax. The safest way to supply it is to place the wax on the applica- SPRING LUBE SALE Until May 10th Available at RuuoII duels Ltd. Shlpka 238.2481 or Goderich 377 Cambridge St., 524.7 2 TOIL Free tw 285.8088 tion rag (a baby diaper comes in handy here) and apply to the car in a circular motion. Then, allow the wax to dry ,to a haze and buff it away with a smooth, soft cotton/ flannel cloth (another diaper) •Do I really need to use a protec- tant on the dashboard, tires and in- terior? Absolutely. A quality silicone - based protectant guards against ozone, oxygen and ultraviolet light rays which can crack, dull, harden and fade these items. It also makes these, surfaces anti -static to repel dust and dirt. Used as directed, pro- tectant can add years to your car's dash, tires and vinyl accessories. soup cow AVMS See us GUARANTEE for contest details and a repair estimate. You could win a '65 Mustang Convertible, restored to showroom condition, approx. value, $26,000. Just drop by our collision repair and refinish centre and fill out a contest entry form. No purchase is necessary. While you're there, find out how our autobody profes- sionals return your vehicle to pre -accident condition, and make it shine like new: Ask about our nationally recognized BASF Solid Gold three year paint guarantee! England's 4,4 ea. Complete Collision & Refinishing Centre Soedtaking in • Frame a Unibody Work • Insurance Claims • Work Guaranteed • free Pickup and De- livery • 24 Hour Towing William Street Lucent Ont. Phone 227.4432 Contest dosoe midnight, Oa. a t , teat Prizes range invert* tromSIM $26,000saisamosessesreaseas tire's wear, but alignment and suspension problems do. Another method of balancing a tire that has McNichol enthused is the fluid balance. In this case, a sticky liquid known as Tire Joy is pumped di- rectly into the tire. When on the road, the fluid finds its way to the thin- ner, lighter parts of the wheel and automatically compensates for imbal- ance. It works wonders says McNichol, who adds that it is best used for targe truck and four-wheel drive tires that are very hard to balance other- wise. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •• : : • : • • • •- • : • • • : • • • • • • • • • : •• • • • • • • .o,,....3795 : . • •• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• TOYOTA TOYOTA • : •: • • • • • • •'. • •• • • • • •: • • • • • •• • • •• • • : • • • • • • • •- : • . OENut►+r Wan OUAtI'v sinv,CE Rckfi�'A ?/�--. [EXETER TOYOTA)• 242 Main Street North, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S0 (519) 235-2353 TUNE-UP SPECIAL • Check timing • Replace plugs • Check air filter • Adjust idle if • Parts and taxes $$$$ and adjust if required if required required extra $$$$ 4495 4cy .inline 6 cyt. 5195 V6/V8 AIR-CONDITIONING SPECIAL • Check all belts • Check system for Teaks • Evacuate and recharge • Add up to 2 lbs. of Freon • system (if necessary) - $$$$ _ m'irm rrrTo QUALITY-, IVa service all s Qf .cars: er Spring "Tune Up" Specials $8999 4 cyl." $99 99 6 cyl.* 124 • Excludes probe 4 cyl. • Econolines or Aerostars $25.00 extra REPLACE n Plugs Air filter Fuel Filter PCV Valve Dst. Rotor 99 V-6 or V-8 engines" FREE chauffeur Service in town ADJUST Belts Clean Battery Ign. Timing Carb. if appl. INSPECT a Dist. Cap Hoses Ign. tyres Coil Choke if Appi. By Appointment Only milef ford exeter "MILES OF SMILES" Main St., S., Exeter 235-0121