I've just bought a second hand car and need to get the wheels balanced. As this is a task that requires a skilled and patient mechanic, I'd like to get a recommendation from someone please.
Cheers,
Steve
Wheel balancing
Chazza, I take it your post carries a touch of sarcasm? e.g. "requires a skilled and patient mechanic"
It'll take 5 minutes per wheel at Kwik Fit (193 Sydenham Road) Tel: 0208 659 5470
This is the only place i know locally that has a wheel balancer, though there may well be others.
Two points
1) Wheel balancing normally comes as part of the service when having tyres fitted. You would be advised to call them to see if they can do this as a separate service. I would think a reasonable cost for four wheels would be somewhere around the £20 mark.
2) Kwik Fit gets busy at times, so it would be best to book an appointment, and yet still be prepared to wait.
Ali B
It'll take 5 minutes per wheel at Kwik Fit (193 Sydenham Road) Tel: 0208 659 5470
This is the only place i know locally that has a wheel balancer, though there may well be others.
Two points
1) Wheel balancing normally comes as part of the service when having tyres fitted. You would be advised to call them to see if they can do this as a separate service. I would think a reasonable cost for four wheels would be somewhere around the £20 mark.
2) Kwik Fit gets busy at times, so it would be best to book an appointment, and yet still be prepared to wait.
Ali B
It is a good point raised by Wing.
If you need wheel balancing, you maybe are feeling excessive vibration through the steering wheel, or juddering/swaying at the rear. (also please remember to balance the spare wheel if this is the service you require. i.e. 5 wheels)
If it is wheel alignment you require, this may be because your current set of tyres (front especially) displays uneven wear across the surface. E.g. shallow tread on the inner rim side, and deeper tread nearer the outer rim.
I used to be sceptical of wheel alignments done by 'while you wait garages', but that was 20 years ago, and standards have increased considerably.
I'd still go for Kwit Fit in any event.
Ali B
If you need wheel balancing, you maybe are feeling excessive vibration through the steering wheel, or juddering/swaying at the rear. (also please remember to balance the spare wheel if this is the service you require. i.e. 5 wheels)
If it is wheel alignment you require, this may be because your current set of tyres (front especially) displays uneven wear across the surface. E.g. shallow tread on the inner rim side, and deeper tread nearer the outer rim.
I used to be sceptical of wheel alignments done by 'while you wait garages', but that was 20 years ago, and standards have increased considerably.
I'd still go for Kwit Fit in any event.
Ali B
I wouldn't touch Kwik Sh1t with a ten foot barge pole, just do a google search on their reputation!
If you want your wheels balanced or aligned, go to WheelPower on Brockley Road, just before the Brockley Jack; 20 grands worth of lazer four wheel alignment equipment (that nobody else I know of has in South London) and the latest in balancing machines.
Ask for Mark; top bloke who really knows his stuff.
(And no, I don't work for him and I'm not on commission; but I wouldn't trust my wheels and tyres, or my customer's, with anyone else)
If you want your wheels balanced or aligned, go to WheelPower on Brockley Road, just before the Brockley Jack; 20 grands worth of lazer four wheel alignment equipment (that nobody else I know of has in South London) and the latest in balancing machines.
Ask for Mark; top bloke who really knows his stuff.
(And no, I don't work for him and I'm not on commission; but I wouldn't trust my wheels and tyres, or my customer's, with anyone else)
Hi all - thanks for your replies. It's wheel balancing that I require - there's vibration through the steering wheel. I wasn't being sarcastic when I said that the job requires skill and patience. Fair enough, it's not a skilled job, but it definitely requires patience/care to get a good result. Too many times in the past I've had to go back to a garage and get a wheel rebalanced because the mechanic rushed the job.
Me and several other people I know have bad experiences with Kwik Fit, so ideally I'd like someone to recommend a reputable independent outfit.
Me and several other people I know have bad experiences with Kwik Fit, so ideally I'd like someone to recommend a reputable independent outfit.
Avoid Kwik Fit- we had our wheels balanced there, and were on the motorway when we started experiencing vibration through the wheel again- had to take it to another garage at our destination and they pointed out what a shoddy job kwik fit had done. Would never go back there, and it certainly wasn't cheap!
You could give Knightman's garage a call to see if they do it. They do car servicing etc so I imagine they would do wheel balancing and tracking, which it might need if someone's hit a kerb with bump previously. Knightman's are 50 yards(?) from Quickfit, going towards Somerfield, and where the carwash is. Very helpful in there. 
I think that as the wheels have to be taken off to have them balanced, you could also ask if it's worth swapping them around to help even out any one-sided wear.
I'm not a car person so also have to rely on a good garage. The one at the top end of Newlands Park I would also consider reliable, but it ain't cheap.
I think that as the wheels have to be taken off to have them balanced, you could also ask if it's worth swapping them around to help even out any one-sided wear.
I'm not a car person so also have to rely on a good garage. The one at the top end of Newlands Park I would also consider reliable, but it ain't cheap.
If you are fitting new tyres to your not so new car (people with new cars tend to go to the big chains) I would recommend you have a look at GT Tyres in Perry Rise. They are a father and son business and they sell a lot Toyo branded tyres. I have had tyres there before after being recommended by a friend from Forest Hill.
Thinking of things wearing unevenly, it might be an idea to ask them to check your brake pads whilst the wheels are off as they could then be replaced at the same time if necessary by some garages (I don't know about Quik Fit type tyre places though). If the cost is likely to start mounting up, needless to say, it'd be an idea to ask for quotes first.
Vibes
Hello
I've not posted on here in a long while. I often log in to view my PMs and have a browse. I feel compelled to join in though.
For a question about wheel balancing, Yes I'd normally go to kwik fit, ATS, etc. for a bit of balancing.
There are more specialist balancers who'd check not only dynamic but static too.
But if you're 'so' concerned of a more expert mechanic, why not take your car to a main dealer, get a no-obligation opinion, you can ask for an estimate.....You can then take your care elsewhere.
Forgive the hindsight - It is often a good idea when purchasing a motor vehicle to firstly have an RAC/AA inspection carried out.
I've not posted on here in a long while. I often log in to view my PMs and have a browse. I feel compelled to join in though.
For a question about wheel balancing, Yes I'd normally go to kwik fit, ATS, etc. for a bit of balancing.
There are more specialist balancers who'd check not only dynamic but static too.
But if you're 'so' concerned of a more expert mechanic, why not take your car to a main dealer, get a no-obligation opinion, you can ask for an estimate.....You can then take your care elsewhere.
Forgive the hindsight - It is often a good idea when purchasing a motor vehicle to firstly have an RAC/AA inspection carried out.