Wheel weights

K

KTNC

New member
I have recently received new OEM wheels (aluminum) for my truck through a warranty issue involving damage that was caused by clip on wheel weights. This time I will be using adhesive weights, mounted on the inside.



Since the new wheels are still in the box, I want to polish and seal them with PB's wheel sealant prior to mounting them (inside and out, of course). As I suspect the sealant will not allow the weights to adhere properly, is there a substance that the technician can apply prior, to remove the sealant when he knows where the weight needs to be?



I suspect many of you Autopians use the adhesive weights, any problems with them falling off? And this is a 4X4 truck...



Also what's the safest way to remove adhesive weights without damaging the wheel?



Any other suggestions would be appreciated as I don't want these wheels to become damaged down the road.



Also how do you pronounce "Autopian"?
 
Im not exactly sure but i would guess they use some sort of adhesive promoter, somthing that would cut through all the brake dust on "non autopian rims" which should not be a problem for the sealant



autopian= aww-toe-pee-on



And Welcome!
 
I'd assume they would use something like a Prepsol or 3m General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner.



Welcome :wavey
 
I'd just wait to seal them until the weights are mounted. I wouldn't want anybody else doing what *they* thought they oughta do to make sure the weights stick. Some factory shop manuals recommend sanding through the paint, down to bare aluminum! Take them in "bare" and explain how you won't accept any damage. Stand there and watch them balance them (with one of the good Hunter balancing machines), and inspect them before you pay, etc. etc. Yeah, it's a pain, but it beats having messed up wheels.



Only time I had a problem with the weights sticking was on HRE wheels. They (Mallett Cars) tried a few different weights until they found ones that stayed put. I susupect it was the mil-spec anodizing that caused the problem. Otherwise, just make sure the wheels are clean and you shouldn't have any trouble.



The weights come off with a little heat and an adhesive remover. They can *occasionally* be a pain to get off/cleaned up perfectly, but that's just one more reason to mount them on the back where they don't show.
 
Accumulator said:
Stand there and watch them balance them (with one of the good Hunter balancing machines), and inspect them before you pay, etc. etc. Yeah, it's a pain, but it beats having messed up wheels.
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You might want to slip them a good tip for this. I'm sure the quality of the work will automatically enhance upon doing this ;)
 
Since the wheels are still in th ebox, Id wait until the tires are mounted, and balanced before I sealed up the rims. I figure after mounting the tires, some areas would need to be redone anyway.



Also I pronounce it Aww-toe-pee-in, but then again, I'm also a New Yorkahhh ;)
 
Bill D said:
I'd assume they would use something like a Prepsol or 3m General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner.
Click to expand...



I forgot the name of it, but we used something similar when I worked in a tire shop. It cut through brake dust, grease, old wheel weight adhesive, whatever was on the back of the rim. Also evaporated very quickly.



If the surface is of the rim is clean, you shouldn't have any problems with the adhesive weights. Once they are stuck on there, they're not coming off until you want them off.
 
Slackmeister said:
I forgot the name of it, but we used something similar when I worked in a tire shop. It cut through brake dust, grease, old wheel weight adhesive, whatever was on the back of the rim. Also evaporated very quickly.



If the surface is of the rim is clean, you shouldn't have any problems with the adhesive weights. Once they are stuck on there, they're not coming off until you want them off.
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brake cleaner?
 
No it wasn't brake cleaner. It was in square can that you poured the product from. Had some name like "adhesive remover." :nixweiss
 
They will more than likely spray a brake cleaner type solution on the surface before applying the weights. That will remove anything on the surface.



But I would just wait until after the work to seal the wheels!!:D
 
KTNC said:
Thanks guys... Any comments on the adhesive weights?
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when i used to mount using the hunter machine you can either do a static or dynamic balance ( one being you put weight on both side or which side needs it/// the other being that u put it one side only usually the inside because you dont the ugly weight on the outside or take the chance of chipping/scratching the wheel when the weight is hammered on...i prefer the clip on weights but that preference, just make sure you periodically check the weights to make sure there still there
 
I just put a new set or AR polished wheels on my 4x4 with the adhesive weights about a month ago. So far so good with the weights. More then likely they will use brake cleaner to clean the area where the weights will go. I waited till after I got the wheels installed to polish them.
 
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