On Wed, 14 Dec 2016 06:35:11 +0000 (UTC), Frank Baron
wrote:

On Tue, 13 Dec 2016 20:02:13 -0500, advised:

Ha Ha Ha. I've changed tires with nothing but tire irons.

So have I, but they were motorcycle tires.

And I've done it on tires that would flatten you if they dropped on
you, as well as standard sized automobile and light truck tires.

Would I waste my money on one of those tire changers to do my own?
Not as long as I lived within 10 miles of a real tire machine.

Look. I think you forget what newsgroup this is.
Look at the newsgroup.

Is this the ladies auxiliary club?
No, actually it is alt HOME REPAIR

If all you're gonna do is spout that you have to get tires changed at a
professional shop, then maybe the ladies crocheting group is more apropos
for you?

You are being a prick again.
Read the messages posted just before this one, and take to heart.

Would I use a bubble
balancer to balance the wheels on my own vehicles today? Not on your
life.

Let me ask you a fair and simple question, since we covered this topic
already so you know where I'm coming from.

What would you say if there is no vibration after a set of tires were
mounted?

Would you *still* spend the $80 bucks (minimum) to have the wheels
dynamically road-force balanced?

Dynamic yes, road force, no
Read my earlier reply tonight for the reason why.

Why?

When I change my own steering parts I line the front up to
"reasonably close" and then drive it over to a local shop and pay them
to do an accurate alignment. - and i KNOW how to do it.

I did my pitman arm, idler arm, and tie rod ends, and aligned the car
myself (long story with Sears charging for the alignment and never doing
it).

SEARS??? You gotta be JOKING. They have been outed for decades as
being one of the biggest rip-offs in the "automotive" business., and
their "alignment scams" are the most well publicised. Take your car to
AN ALIGNMENT SPECIALIST

That was years ago, before I learned that almost all tire and alignment
shops are crooks.

Not nearly all - but the "chain" shops most definitely. Find a local
independent shop with a good front end man. They are worth their
weight in gold.

Alignment is next on my list, by the way, but since I now have the
bead-braking and mounting part solved, I first am going to tackle the
balancing.

After balancing, I'll tackle alignment.

One place I worked we had a "slip guage" that told us when we drove a
car into the shop if the alignment was apppreciably out - and that
test was done free of charge to every vehicle that came in the door.

My plan for alignment is as simple (and logical) as my plan for balancing.

I'm going to align the SUV myself (since all it takes is front caster,
camber, and toe). The rear is a solid axle and can't be adjusted.

Then I'm gonna find a shop that does free checks, and if my alignment is
correct, the check is free. If not, I pay for the alignment.

What do you see as a pitfall in my simple and logical plan?

The only pitfall is most "free alignment checks" are worth exactly
what you pay for them - or less.

Replacing your own parts, as long as you are careful and thorough, is
not a bad way to save some money and have some "fun" at the same time.
Just make sure you torque everything properly and don't miss any
cotter pins etc - - - Doing a simple re-alignment of the toe is
pretty simple - at least to get it close enough you can safely drive
it to a good shop to have it verified.and corrected if possible.
Having the rear track checked is not a bad idea either - you don't say
what kind of "SUV" it is, but there have been many cases of the rear
axle being out of line, causing the vehicle to "dog-track" wearing
tires and affecting handling.. A GOOD shop can correct that. Lots of
"SUV"s with bent axle housings too, which can throw out the toe and or
camber - and also cause accelerated failure of the differential
bearings. Have it checked at least once - and again if it ever gets
ANY SERIOUS OFF-ROAD DRIVING.