So the cheapest I've seen automotive scales for corner weighting has been about $700 for off-brand plastic models. Reputable scales (Intercomp etc) start at over $1000 for the metal ones. I'm doing suspension work on my MG Midget that involves Miata based independent front and rear with coilovers. I don't want to spend that kind of money for what will be limited usage, but I also don't need 5000lb worth of scales for a ~1700lb car.
So I found these on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/SAGA-SHIPPING-shipping-Shipping-500lbs/dp/B0090PSUW6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1NFN027793ISJ&coliid=IHUGB6POD2LEQ
It's a 500lb capacity postal scale for $55. I'm thinking four of these and I'm home free. Anyone see a problem here? Am I too close to the limit? Alternatively, anyone in DC area mind renting me your "real" scales while I build this up?
I bought used, broken Longacre scales and repaired them for about what 4 of those would cost (and about 12hrs of my time...).
If the car is less than a ton that ought to do nicely for $220. Clean and simple. (as long as the weight dist. doesn't make the fronts 550 each.... )
Google Ruggles scales for how to get around that issue. Hint: Levers are your friend!
I agree, levers can be your friend, but accuracy isn't the greatest.
Postal scales like that, if they are within the weight range, will work fine.
You only need 4 if you desperately need to weigh all four corners at the exact same time. Otherwise, use three stacks of floor tiles to the same height as the scale, and the scale makes the fourth point. Roll the car onto them and weigh the corner. Roll off, move the scale and a tile stack, repeat. Do it four times and you've got all four corners.
Since 98 I've been using Sunbeam / Poluze shipping scales with 400lbs per pad for my Dwarf car and there with in a 2 lbs range of all other scales i've used. Fact there better then the track POS scales...
foxtrapper wrote:
I agree, levers can be your friend, but accuracy isn't the greatest.
Postal scales like that, if they are within the weight range, will work fine.
You only need 4 if you desperately need to weigh all four corners at the exact same time. Otherwise, use three stacks of floor tiles to the same height as the scale, and the scale makes the fourth point. Roll the car onto them and weigh the corner. Roll off, move the scale and a tile stack, repeat. Do it four times and you've got all four corners.
This is good advice. One thing I've seen people try that will NOT work is simply placing a scale under one wheel without raising the other wheels to the same height. Your values will be off, as you are compressing the spring on that corner.
foxtrapper wrote:
I agree, levers can be your friend, but accuracy isn't the greatest.
Before I bought a set of Longacres to repair I used a homebrew setup like pictured above. They were accurate to the pound using 200lbs of York weight plates as calibration. The real problem with them is that they are annoying to store, and tedious to get set up square and level, zero'd and you need a buddy to go around and read them for you while you sit in the driver's seat. It is like the difference between an alignment rack and jack stands. You can be as accurate as you want but it takes forever. If you have to do it often enough to be pissed about it you eventually find a way to obtain a real set... but broke and in a hurry - absolutely fine.
