Cetramatics or Spin Balancing?

Whatever happened to just running your tires with half a gallon of antifreeze in them?

My CDL school instructor was a 5 million miler that got started before you needed a CDL to drive a truck, and was in charge of keeping the trucks maintained. I asked why the steers didn't have weights on them, and he explained that antifreeze in the tires did the same thing that centramatics, ceramic beads, and golf balls do. I'd have to imagine its a lot quieter than the golf balls as well.

 

barroll. Probably has to do to with the mess. Its alot like taking your vehicle in to have it serviced or checked out. Your instructor is one of those that are still around that we are seeing fewer and fewer of.

ie. We have a small auto parts store here in town, then we have a crows, napa, and recently oreilys. Well the small auto parts store is husband and wife owned and operated and probably in hard times now that oreillys is in. Sure, his parts are a little more expensive...sure its not as fancy...sure he doesn't have discounts and such. But what he does have is knowledge. You go in there and tell him your problem...lets say starter...you go into the oreillys...you come out with a starter...you come out of his place...after he has come out and looked your vehicle over...or you have told him what it was doing...you come out with a relay...or a solenoid. I know that isn't always the case...but these places have made the public parts replacers...there is no diagnosis anymore...you go in...this is my problem...they give you a part. Yeah that makes more money...and as in a service environment...the centramatics are less messy...easier...a so on.

I think many things such as this go to the way side...for easier, quicker, and less thought out. Not taking anything away from them at all. They are a great product...do the job very well..we have them on nearly all our fleet. on the steers. But they do cost...someone is trying to make money...make it easier so anyone can do it...just the day an age we live in.

Your instructrutor drove during a day where his tank was filled, oil and fluids checked, lights were made sure they worked...he or she nearly pretriped it for you...then parked it and it was ready to go when you came out. Good ol' days. Wish I would've been here for them. My father in law talks of them often.

Now people we see want to sell you a product....either good or bad...centramatics are NO gimmick...but you won't see the guy anymore that says...hey look...I'll put a half gallon of antifreeze in since you centramatic busted...break the tire down put it in and send you on your way...no he is going to sell you another one or you'll spend money spin balancing.

Sorry for the length...but alot of it goes back to the type people you are talking about...you DO NOT see that in people anymore. Our country has done it to ourselves..with plenty of government help...sorry...won't go there.

 

I hope you don't burn out your finals talking on the radio like that.

Your point was that antifreeze is a messy option, right?

With the amount of lubricant that some of these shops slather into the tire and onto the wheel, I can't imagine they'd have to top it off much through the valve threads to get the same effect.

 

Yeah, its probably a bit messy for some...meaning that these days good service and a helping hand aren't seen as much as they used to be. Nothing against anyone that is in the service industry...I am myself. Just that alot of times its quantity over quality now a days. That man I was talking about with the mom and pop shop is a joy just to go in and sit and talk to...as is your CDL instructor is I'm sure. Wealth of history and knowledge that someday will be totally lost to the "box store". Didn't mean to get on a soap box or step onto anyones toes.

Yeah I'm sure you wouldn't have to go far to get to the half of a gallon when they slop it on...although I use quite a bit myself...I like the tire to go on and off without alot of fuss.

 

OK, just making clear......

1) Equal, antifreeze or anything you can put IN the tire also works good and does not harm the tires? (not golf balls though)