question

NoGood · #1 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 03:55 PM

What are the reasons for marking the wheels and studs when removing a wheel?

Hotfingrs · #2 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 04:08 PM

In the good old days, they used to balance the tires on the car, so you were in fact balancing the rotating mass. If you pulled a tire off, you would want to put it back on in the same position. Don't know anyone that balances tires on the car anymore...

Adrian472 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 04:11 PM

Thats if you have had your wheel/tire balanced on the car and then remove the wheel from the hub it will affect your balance if its not put back in the correct place, as opposed to tire balanced to wheel on a floor stand wheel balancer in which case it doesnt matter where the wheel is rebolted too.
Adrian

392cobra · #4 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 04:16 PM

NoGood,
Here is one reason,I'm sure there are others too.

In the early '70's I worked in a auto repair shop in Austin,Tx.
One of the services we did was true & balance tires.

We were the only shop in Austin to do this.

We checked the tires for out of round and trued if needed.
Remount the tire on the car and balance it.This would take into account the axle,bearings,drum/rotor and wheel & tire.

So, to maintain the balance you needed to mark the wheel and stud so it could be remounted in the balanced position if you removed the wheel for some reason.

NoGood · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 07:13 AM

Thanks a lot guys.

vettehead · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-2005, 03:43 PM

On a double piston caliber setup, such as a Corvette, when the wheel assembly is "out of round" (when a rotor has been taken off and put back on differently, for example) it causes air to be pulled back into the brake lines through the calipers because the calipers are uneven on the rotor. Not instantly noticed...but after a few spirited braking manuevers..you'll definitely see the results...no brakes!