Tire Balance

Balance all four tires on the vehicle to eliminate vibrations and ensure even tire wear using a professional wheel balancing machine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Wheel weights (adhesive or clip-on) × 1 — Various sizes as needed based on balancing results
• Valve stem caps × 4 — Replace if missing or damaged

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind wheels that will remain on the ground
3. If vehicle has dually rear wheels, confirm you have access to all six wheels for balancing
4. Verify tire pressure is at manufacturer specification before balancing (typically 60-65 psi front, 70-80 psi rear for this vehicle)
5. Inspect all wheels for damage, excessive runout, or bent rims that would prevent proper balancing

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove first wheel assembly
   Loosen lug nuts on the first wheel while vehicle is still on the ground (1/2 to 1 turn). Raise vehicle with floor jack at appropriate jacking point (frame rail or axle housing). Support with jack stand. Remove lug nuts completely and remove wheel assembly. Note: Ram 3500 uses 8 lug nuts per wheel in a dual pattern.
2. 2

   Inspect wheel and tire assembly
   Visually inspect tire for damage, embedded objects, uneven wear, or separation. Check wheel rim for bends, cracks, or excessive corrosion on mounting surfaces. Remove any old wheel weights. Clean the wheel mounting surface and weight application areas with wire brush if needed. Check that valve stem is secure and not leaking.
3. 3

   Mount wheel on balancing machine
   Mount the wheel assembly onto the tire balancing machine according to the machine manufacturer's instructions. For this heavy-duty wheel, ensure the centering cone or collet is properly sized and seated. Input the wheel diameter, width, and offset distance into the balancing machine. Ram 3500 wheels are commonly 17-inch diameter steel or aluminum; verify actual wheel size stamped on the wheel before input.
4. 4

   Perform spin balance
   Lower the balancing machine hood and initiate the spin cycle. The machine will rotate the tire assembly and measure imbalance in both the inner and outer planes. Wait for the machine to complete the measurement cycle and display weight placement locations and amounts needed.
5. 5

   Apply wheel weights
   Apply the recommended wheel weights at the locations indicated by the balancing machine. For steel wheels, clip-on weights are typically used on the outer flange. For aluminum wheels, adhesive weights are applied to the inner barrel. Ensure weights are firmly seated and properly positioned at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions as indicated by the machine.
6. 6

   Verify balance
   Spin the wheel assembly again on the balancing machine to verify the balance is within acceptable limits (typically less than 0.25 oz of residual imbalance for truck tires). If balance is not achieved, adjust weight placement or add/remove weights as indicated. Repeat until proper balance is achieved.
7. 7

   Reinstall wheel assembly
   Remove wheel from balancing machine. Clean the wheel hub mounting surface on the vehicle if needed. Mount the balanced wheel assembly onto the hub, ensuring it seats flush. Install all 8 lug nuts by hand, threading them on in a star pattern to ensure even seating. Snug lug nuts with lug wrench in star pattern but do not fully tighten while vehicle is on jack stand.
8. 8

   Repeat for remaining wheels
   Repeat steps 1 through 7 for each remaining wheel. For single rear wheel configuration, balance all four wheels. For dual rear wheel configuration, balance all six wheels including both inner and outer rear wheels on each side. Work systematically around the vehicle to avoid confusion.
9. 9

   Lower vehicle and torque lug nuts
   Once all wheels are reinstalled and hand-tightened, remove jack stands and lower vehicle to the ground. Torque all lug nuts to 145 ft-lbs in a star pattern using a torque wrench. For 8-lug pattern, tighten in two stages: first to approximately 75 ft-lbs, then to final specification of 145 ft-lbs, always following a star pattern to ensure even clamping force.

Reassembly

1. Verify all lug nuts are torqued to 135 ft-lbs in proper star pattern sequence
2. Reinstall center caps or hubcaps if equipped
3. Double-check that all wheel weights are securely attached and no tools were left behind
4. Verify tire pressures match manufacturer specifications after balancing

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at various speeds up to highway speed to verify vibration has been eliminated
• Check for smooth steering wheel operation with no shimmy or vibration at 55-70 mph
• Re-check lug nut torque after 50-100 miles of driving
• Verify no wheel weights have fallen off during test drive
• Confirm tire wear pattern appears even across tread surface

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