Volkswagen Polo Service & Repair Manual: Wheel, Balancing on Stationary Balancing Machine

Before beginning balancing, the following requirements must be fulfilled.

The tire pressure must be OK.

The tire profile must not be worn on one side. The tire profile must be at least 4 mm.

The tires must not have any damage such as cuts, holes, foreign bodies, etc.

The suspension and steering, including the shock absorber, must be in perfect condition. Test drive performed. Refer to → Chapter „Vibration, Road Test, Performing Before Balancing“. Note If equipped handle the glued-on wheel trim carefully. Surface slightly scratched.

Replace the damaged rim wheel trim.

Use only the Model-Specific Clamping Plate VAS6652 -VAS6652- and the Thrust Pin -VAS6652/1-.

Tension Wheel on Balancing Machine

Dirt and rust in the area of the contact surfaces and centering of the wheel distort the result.

Clean contact surfaces, centering seat and wheel disc using the Pneumatic Brush Grinder Set -VAS6446- before tensioning wheel on balancing machine! Refer to Workshop Equipment, Catalog.

Note The wheel balancing machine must use the correct system for centering and tensioning the tires when replacing them Reference the information for the Wheel Balancing Machine Centering System before beginning any work. Refer to Workshop Equipment, Catalog.

Tension the wheel with the tire on the balancing machine.

Note

Wheel, Balancing on Stationary Balancing Machine

To mount wheel on wheel balancer, use for example Wheel Centering System Adapter -VAS5271-.

This way a 100% centering of the wheel and gentle mounting is possible!

It is not possible to center it 100% on balancing machine with conical tensioners. With a deviation of 0.1 mm outside the center, there is an imbalance of 10 grams on the wheel/tire.

Wheel/Tire Balancing Procedure

Let the wheel/tire turn on the balancing machine.
Check the run of the characteristic lines on the sidewall of the tire in the area of the rim flange.
Check the tire wear pattern while the wheel/tire is turning.

Note In the event of one-sided wear, flat spots from braking or severe wear spots, smooth running cannot be achieved by balancing. In this case, the tire must be replaced.

Check the run-out on the wheel/tire. If the wheel with tire runs untrue although there are no flat spots, a radial or lateral run-out may be the cause.
Check wheel with tire for radial- and lateral run-out. Refer to → Chapter „Wheel, Balancing, Tire and Wheel Radial and Lateral Run-Out, Checking“.
If the radial and lateral run-out are within the specified tolerance, balance the wheel and tire.

Note

Do not use more than 60 grams of weight per wheel.

If more weight is necessary, a smoother running can achieved by matched mounting of the tire. Matching a tire. Refer to → Chapter „Tires and Rims, Matching“.

The display in the balancing machine should show 0 grams.

Hunter RFT33VAG Road Force Touch™ Wheel Balancer -VAS6230B4- can be inserted as an alternative to matching. Refer to → Chapter „Vibration, Vibration Control System“.

Install the wheel on the vehicle.

Caution If brake pads are ceramics, wheel must not fall on brake rotor, otherwise it will be destroyed. To remove/install wheel, install long assembly pin instead of wheel bolts in top position (12:00 position) and short assembly pin in wheel bolt mounts for support. In this way, the wheel can glide on the assembly aids when removing/installing.

Tighten the lowest wheel bolt by hand to approximately 30 N·m.
Tighten the remaining wheel bolts diagonally to approximately 30 N·m. This process centers the wheel on the wheel hub.
Lower the vehicle onto its wheels.
Use a torque wrench to tighten the wheel bolts diagonally to the specified tightening specification.
Perform a road test.

If a vibration is still detected during the road test, the cause may be due to tolerance in the wheel centering. The component tolerances of wheels and wheel hubs can be additive in unfavorable cases. Vibration can result from this. This can be eliminated using a finish balancer. Refer to → Chapter „Wheel, Balancing with Fine Balancing Machine (Finish Balancer)“.

Wheel, Balancing on Stationary Balancing Machine