504 wheel balancing

[rjo504cab]

just taken my 504 cab to ats for wheel balancing, but they can't do as there is no centre splin for machine, anyoen use a trye palce that can?

[504gld]

You've been to Kwik Fit..... Don't go there, in experience they are complete donkeys at all branches. Most tyre chains don't want to know as it means they have to unbolt the plate on the balancing machine and fit another. Try a independant family business who more than likey will have the time of day to perform a simple task. Old Peugeot isn't alone in this wheel design, Citroen 2CV and Renault 4 spring to mind. Peugeot rapid fit should have a machine. I have had so much bother with my own, as 504 steel rims are not very strong either can get distortions very easy - perhaps thats why models made in Argentina etc had 505 solid type wheels. Other thing, avoid cheap tyres on 504 its not worth it, justs adds to vibrations.
Mat.

[Admin]

i have the same problems with the 104, which has three stud wheels. The Kwik fit monkey just looked at them and stated "Oh those are the type of wheels that can't be balanced" !!

I took the car to the garage that services it and funnily enough tye managed just fine.

On a similar note, the tyres on the golf started going down. The KF monkey told me that the alloy wheels had "gone porous" and that the only soution was two new wheels. The same local garage whipped the tyre of, rubbed on some sealing compound and refitted the tyres, no charge, guess where the car never goes now!

[rjo504cab]

Hi, followed your advise and went to local independant, who had an ammasing machine with all sorts of spindles and adjustble hubs etc, fully balanced pair for £9!!, can now cruise through the 60 barrier without blurred vision !!!

[labrat]

Just adding my ten penniworth...

I once took my lovely 104 to an STS Holburn (I think they're a local chain, but tyres / exhaust type outfit) for an emergency brake repair. I know it was stupid but I needed a quick fix and they were the only place open on a saturday.

Anyways, long story short they got the apprentice to check my rear drums whilst they were checking the front. The only problem is that the 104 has tapered rear wheel bearings, and the apprentice muppet did them up with what I can only assume from the damage was a windy gun...

Now, the car drove fine all that afternoon on the 30mph limit roads, but as soon as I took her out to the dual carriageway the rear hubs heated up so much that the bearings melted and locked the back wheels. It was raining at the time and I don't think I am being melodramatic when I say that I almost died. STS however had the cheek to suggest that the fault was mine, but eventually coughed up the £250 it cost to get the melted bearings chiselled off the axle and replaced.

Todays lesson: Don't ever trust a tyres & exhaust place for anything more than tyres & exhausts, and even then watch them like a hawk!

[smb]

l use a place in Thornton Heath South London called "Sparkes Tyres" 020 8684 3883 for all my tyre needs. Great to deal with and know what they are doing. They will also jack the car up where l tell them to.

Another place you might want to try is your local Citroen agent. l noticed that the last of the Saxo VTS's etc all had no centre hole in their alloys.

smb
p.s. Always use small tyre places. l rebooted my ZS with new Pirelli P3000's. *nuts Fit* quoted £36 more than Sparkes and that was during their buy 3 get 1 free.