[VAC] Re: Replacing Shocks

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Lefty,
  I don't know if a truck shop could do an on-the-trailer balance or 
not. The ideal solution is what Oliver suggested: get the drums balanced 
at a machine shop so you don't need to worry about it. Any wheel/tire 
assy. that's balanced would be balanced when mounted on the trailer.

Actually, it'd be pretty easy to balance the drums to be "good enough". 
Make a mandrel that fits the bearing races and projects from the front 
and rear of the drum a few inches. Set it on a pair of LEVEL knife edges 
to detect imbalance, then grind/drill/whatever on the drum until balance 
is achieved. That's how grinding wheels are balanced, and they're more 
critical than trailer wheels.

I'd like to see just how much practical difference is seen by balancing 
the entire assembly as opposed to just the tire & wheel. A drum could be 
somewhat out of balance and it probably wouldn't contribute much 
vibration. But, I'm guessing, only some actual testing would confirm my 
thinking one way or the other.

                           <<Jim>>