Volkswagen Golf Quiz
Running gear, axles, steering

Balancing wheel, balancing wheel on stationary wheel balancer

In this manual: Running gear, axles, steering
General body repairs, exterior — 230General body repairs, interior — 279General information, paint — 133Vechile- specific paint information — 27Heating, air conditioning — 156Auxiliary heater — 58Air conditioning system with refrigerant R134a — 1297- speed dual clutch gearbox 0CW — 544- cylinder injection engine(1.4 1 direct inction. turbocharger) — 182Fuel supply system - Petrol engines — 59Running gear, axles, steering — 221Brake system — 92Wheels and Tyres guide — 12Guide for using trailers — 11Wheels and Tyres Guide - General Information — 121Brake system (hybrid) — 73Electrical system — 326Communication — 65Electrical system, general information — 111
~3min read
010203040503022N·mlb·ft
Tightening torque found on this page

Road test has been carried out → Chapter.

Clamp wheel into wheel balancing machine

Note When balancing tyres, please remember that cleanliness is absolutely essential, as is the case in any other repair work you carry out. Only then can you attain a flawless result! Dirt and rust in the area of the contact surfaces and centre of the wheel distort the result.
  • Clean contact surface, centring element and inside of wheel using e.g. pneumatic brush grinding set -VAS 6446- → Volkswagen ServiceNet; Workshop Equipment, Catalogue before clamping wheel on wheel balancing machine!
Note It is very important that the correct tools for centring and clamping the wheels are used on the wheel balancing system. Before commencing any work, find out about the respective centring system for wheel balancing machines → Volkswagen ServiceNet; Workshop Equipment, Catalogue.
  • Attach the wheel (together with tyre) to the wheel balancing machine.
Note
Balancing wheel, balancing wheel on stationary wheel balancer
To clamp the wheel in place, use centring system for wheel balancing machines -VAS 5271-, for example. This ensures that the wheel is 100% centred and that the wheel will be clamped without damage! The wheel cannot be centralised 100% with conical clamping elements on the wheel balancing machine. A deviation of 0.1 mm from the centre results in an imbalance of 10 grams at the wheel/rim.

Procedure for balancing wheels and tyres

  • Allow the wheel (together with tyre) to rotate on the wheel balancing machine.
  • Check that the indicator lines on the sidewalls of the tyre near the wheel rim flange run evenly.
  • Check tyre profile with wheel/tyre rotating.
Note If one-sided wear, flat spots from braking or severely washed out spots are apparent, balancing cannot achieve smooth running. In this case, the tyre must be renewed.
  • Check true running of wheel/tyre. If the wheel and tyre do not run true although there are no flat spots, radial or lateral run-out may be the cause.
  • Check the wheel for radial or lateral runout → Chapter.
  • If radial and lateral run-out are within the specified tolerance, balance the wheel and tyre.
Note

More than 60 grams of weight per tyre should not be used.

If more weight is required, you may be able to achieve smoother running by "matching" the tyre and rim. Matching tyres → Chapter.

The wheel balancer display should indicate 0 gram.

As an alternative to match mounting, you could use the vibration control system -VAS 6230 A- → Chapter.
  • Bolt wheel onto vehicle.
  • First, hand-tighten the lowest wheel bolt to about 30 N·m.
  • Then, tighten the remaining wheel bolts diagonally to about 30 N·m. This process centres the wheel on the hub.
  • Lower vehicle onto its wheels.
  • Now use the torque wrench to firmly tighten the wheel bolts diagonally to the prescribed torque.

Carry out road test

  • After balancing the wheel/tyre, carry out a road test.
If you detect vibration during the road test, it may be due to wheel centring tolerances. In unfavourable circumstances, the component tolerances of wheels and hubs could cumulate. This too can lead to vibration. This can be alleviated using a finish balancer. → Chapter
Balancing wheel, balancing wheel on stationary wheel balancer

Test yourself

A quick Volkswagen Golf quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.