Rear balance?

[jberks]

I've just had the tracking done at a reputable place I've used before as the chap that fitted my tyres couldn't handle the merc. The tracking guy pointed to the odd huge amount of weight on the wheel which confirmed my suspicion that the fitter had done the quickest balancing act I'd ever seen. One quick spin (by hand), pop a weight on and take off the wheel and shove it on the car - it always took others at least 2 spins to balance and a final one to check for 0:0. So, I had them pop off the wheels and recheck the balance. Turned out the large weight was partially to counter the fact that they hadn't removed the old ones, and even then it was way off anyway. So he removed the 2 fronts and did them properly. I suggested he do the rears at the same time, especially since I'd seen a huge strip of weight attached to one of them but the fitter reckoned it wasn't necessary and rear balance wouldn't affect the car.

It's definately improved things, but it's still not gliding along. There is more vibration that I expected. Whether it ever will, given that it's a 5 pot diesel with lowered suspension and fat 45 profile tyres I don't know.
Is the fitter right and it would make no difference, or should I insist and get the rears rebalanced too?

 

[Myros]

go on, balance the rears

If you don't you might as well go about with only one shoe lace done up.
I'm going to run mine back for a front end balance, as I've just detected a little wobble up at the naughty end of the speedo dial.
I saw that BMW on the M62 the other night as well. I'd have been happier if the driver had got between the barriers on the central reservation, instead of walking up and down using the mobile phone as though it were a high street pavement.

 

[Blobcat]

Have it balanced, although it will not make a massive difference you will notice if they are out of balance. I had a long term hire car which had a small amount of caked mud in the rear wheels, above 60 the car was shaking all over the road, so rear balance does make a difference.

 

[mioba]

I would certainly have it balanced, why did the guy not do them, was he too busy to look at them?
provided they get done, then at least you can sleep at night knowing that are spot-on.

 

[jberks]

I would certainly have it balanced, why did the guy not do them, was he too busy to look at them?
provided they get done, then at least you can sleep at night knowing that are spot-on.

I did ask a couple of times but he seemed convinced I wouldn't notice the difference. I think he was genuine enough. The car was already in the bay and jacked up so it wouldn't have been much hassle and he'd already been working on it for half an hour so another 5 mins would have made no difference.
You're all right though, it will just bug me if I don't. I'll pop in on the way home and get them done.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

If rear balancing isn't a problem why are we always asked "can you feel the vibration through the steering (fronts out of balance) or through the seat (rears out of balance)"?