My volks have this problem of the weights used for balancing the wheels keep coming off.

I don't like blast it with high pressure jets or anything but I drive quite hard and they get hot. Every now and again if I feel some vibration, I'll look at the wheel to see a mark where some of the adhesive is still left, where the weight was placed.

The shop that does my tyres insist that the weights are new and everything and that it's just the paint being unfriendly with the adhesive. I watched them clean the wheel and everything before putting it on. Still it falls off after a few days. I've even taken it to another place but the same happens.

Now I'm choosing not to believe this since I've never seen any complaint on any forum.

Anyone has/had this problem? Is there a cure?

 

I've been to Thailand many times, how do you drive fast enough in Bangkok to get the wheels hot?!?! Too much traffic! Anyway it could be the quality of the wheel weights - the adhesive on the back of the weights is sometimes of poor quality and doesnt stick well. I had this problem on a different car several years ago. Also clean the spot where you are putting the wheel weights with a little rubbing alcohol, this will get rid of any wax or oil residue that may be left on the wheel and make the weights stick better. Also be careful what you use to clean/wash you wheels. Chock dee!

 

dude you are everywhere aren't you

 

Depends on where you go, there are places you can test the top speed of your car on. It's not really how fasrt I go that really get the brakes and wheels hot, it's how slowly other people drive!!

 

put a little bit of silicon adhesive on them around the edges next time. When you get new tires, it will come off without ruining the wheels and it's really good with heat.

either that or you could scrape off the crappy adhesive that already comes on the weights and buy some super strong 3M stuff and attach them with that from the beginning.

 

There is a very easy solution for this problem. Racer's will typically "tape" their weights. Basically use some aluminized tape and cover your adhesive weights with it. This will prevent them from flying off.

It's worth a try and the tape is very easy to find (like at Home Depot in the HVAC section). Hmm...Bangkok probably doesn't have the Depot...try an industrial supply house, they should have something. Don't forget to fold one end back on itself (about 1/4") so that you have something to grip to peel the tape back off when changing tires.

 

second the tape or silicon. I have used both methods. Try black or clear right after they put the weights on. The clear silicon will look good for a while till it gets dirty.

 

I've seen people put tape over them. Looks tacky, but whatever works.

 

Walking the pits at any track doing HPDE and your see a lot of glue on balance weights laying around. Do OEM style stay on any better on track?

 

If worse comes to worse just use the stock style balance weights that mount to the outside of the wheel. Yes I know it looks like poo on your nice Volks, but if you need something functional, those will not come off. Peace.

 

uhm, it still comes off.... if you grind it against the gutter

waaaah.... my brand new wheels atleast now I have an excuse to recolor the stock enkeis to customize my car. or not.

stoopid noob. hehe.... been driving a huge SUV that I forgot how gutters are the bane of nice wheels.

 

I mount and balance tires as a side business, and I have certainly seen wheels lose weights - pretty infrequently though. Mostly it is from wheels that have seen a day or so of high temp track use. If you are throwing weights on the streeet, something is not right. Prior to sticking on the new weight I make sure to clean the rim with brake-clean, and if there is adhesive residue, I use adhesive remover to make sure the rim is clean. You can also tape down the weights with the aluminum tape that was mentioned, I am not sure about the silicon however...

If you still have trouble, cruise up to Seattle and I will hook you up

Marek