Get to know Spooring and Balancing and Their Differences
Many car owners are still confused about spooring and balancing. In fact, many think that they are the same, even though they are clearly different!
For those of you who don't know, spooring is the process of readjusting the position of the car's wheels so that they are back in accordance with the manufacturer's settings. You see, the more the car is used, the position of the wheels can shift from what it should be, especially if you often pass through damaged roads or hit potholes.
Meanwhile, balancing is the process of equalizing the load on each wheel of the car. Usually, adjustments are made based on the weight of the wheels-not the air in the tires-so that the wheels spin in balance and the car can drive more stably.
Function of Spooring and Balancing
Since spooring and balancing have different purposes, their functions are certainly not the same.
Spooring is responsible for returning the wheel to its proper position. This is important so that the car can drive straight and stable, without "pulling" to one side.
Balancing, on the other hand, balances the weight of each wheel. If the wheels are not balanced, the car can vibrate, especially when traveling at high speeds. With balancing, the car becomes more comfortable to drive and the foot components also last longer.
Benefits of Spooring and Balancing
These two treatments are very important if you want your car to stay comfortable and safe. One of the main benefits is that it makes the car easier to control. If spooring and balancing are done regularly, the risk of tires wearing out quickly, excessive vibration, or unstable steering can be minimized.
When to Perform Spooring and Balancing?
You might be wondering, when should you start spooring and balancing?
Spooring should be done if:
- The steering wheel feels heavy or does not return to a straight position after turning.
- The car seems to "pull" to one side when driving straight.
- The position of the four wheels feels misaligned.
- The tire surface wears unevenly.
Balancing, on the other hand, is usually done when you change the wheels, or every time the car has traveled around 20,000 kilometers. But if you travel a lot, balancing at least once a year is still recommended.
Can you do Spooring without Balancing?
The answer: you can.
Although spooring can be done without balancing, if only half of the wheel adjustment is done, the results are still not optimal. Especially if you often take your car long distances, these two treatments should be done together to keep the car stable and comfortable on the road.
The point is, spooring and balancing is not just a matter of comfort, but also involves driving safety. So, don't underestimate it!
Indonesia
Masih banyak pemilik mobil yang bingung soal spooring dan balancing. Bahkan, nggak sedikit yang mengira keduanya sama, padahal jelas beda, lho!
Oke, buat kamu yang belum tahu, spooring adalah proses menyetel ulang posisi roda mobil supaya kembali sesuai dengan setelan pabrikan. Soalnya, makin sering mobil dipakai, posisi roda bisa bergeser dari yang seharusnya, terutama kalau sering melewati jalanan rusak atau menghantam lubang.
Sementara itu, balancing adalah proses menyamakan beban di setiap roda mobil. Biasanya, penyesuaian dilakukan berdasarkan berat velg—bukan udara dalam ban—supaya roda berputar seimbang dan mobil bisa melaju lebih stabil.
Fungsi Spooring dan Balancing
Karena spooring dan balancing punya tujuan yang beda, fungsinya pun tentu nggak sama.
Spooring bertugas mengembalikan posisi roda ke tempat semestinya. Ini penting supaya mobil bisa melaju lurus dan stabil, tanpa "tarik-menarik" ke satu sisi.
Sementara balancing berfungsi menyeimbangkan bobot di tiap roda. Kalau roda nggak seimbang, mobil bisa bergetar, terutama saat melaju di kecepatan tinggi. Dengan balancing, mobil jadi lebih nyaman dikemudikan dan komponen kaki-kaki juga lebih awet.
Manfaat Spooring dan Balancing
Dua perawatan ini penting banget kalau kamu ingin mobil tetap nyaman dan aman. Salah satu manfaat utamanya adalah bikin mobil lebih gampang dikendalikan. Kalau spooring dan balancing dilakukan secara rutin, risiko ban cepat aus, getaran berlebih, atau setir nggak stabil bisa diminimalkan.
Kapan Harus Spooring dan Balancing?
Kamu mungkin bertanya-tanya, kapan sih harus mulai spooring dan balancing?
Spooring perlu dilakukan kalau:
- Setir terasa berat atau nggak balik ke posisi lurus setelah belok.
- Mobil seperti “narik” ke satu sisi saat melaju lurus.
- Posisi keempat roda terasa nggak sejajar.
- Permukaan ban ausnya nggak merata.
Sedangkan balancing, biasanya dilakukan saat kamu ganti velg, atau setiap kali mobil sudah menempuh jarak sekitar 20.000 kilometer. Tapi kalau kamu sering bepergian jauh, balancing minimal setahun sekali tetap dianjurkan.
Bisakah Melakukan Spooring Tanpa Balancing?
Jawabannya: bisa saja.
Meskipun spooring bisa dilakukan tanpa balancing, tapi kalau pengaturan roda cuma dilakukan separuh, hasilnya tetap nggak maksimal. Apalagi kalau sering bawa mobil jarak jauh, dua perawatan ini sebaiknya dilakukan bareng supaya mobil tetap stabil dan nyaman di jalan.
Intinya, spooring dan balancing bukan sekadar urusan kenyamanan, tapi juga menyangkut keselamatan mengemudi. Jadi, jangan anggap remeh, ya!