getting ready to drive up to Rochester, NY, about 5.5 hour drive from here in Hartford. my truck shakes/ vibrates heavily when doing highway speeds 65+, would having my tires balanced help get rid off this shaking?? a 5 hour trip wouldnt be very fun w/ a shaking truck, or driving 50 the whole trip. i called up good year and they want 11 bucks a tire to balance them...worth it??

Yep, tire balancing should help unless you have a u-joint out or something like that. Best to get it done before you leave because an out of balance tire will wear unevenly. I can balance tires, and it is easy. The tire balancer does it all. It shouldn't take more than five minutes a tire (excluding removing and installing the wheels). Let's see - $11x4=$44... Sounds ridiculous, but I don't know that you'll be able to get it done any cheaper than that.

a problem locked front axle will produce shaking as well. same problem i got, around 45+ it goes crazy. hubs arent unlocking correctly

hubs?? that would make perfect sense b/c my 4x is completely ******ed! it doesnt work at all, i was hoping to take the hubs off or look at the diff.

wyliek, I sent you a PM regarding your trip... did you get it?

Yessireeee folks, all you need is a handy dandy static balancer from Northern Tool... http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=47571&R=47571. I bought one last year, and even though it's made in China, it does the job!
You can get used wheel weights from any tire store. They save them and sell 'em cheap to the scrap metal guy. Just re-crimp the pinch thing, you can even paint 'em. Or you can buy one box of all the different weights. .25, .50, .75 etc... Steel wheels take the most common, (duh!), aluminum mags take a variety of profiles. Some interchange, you'll figure it out.
Oh yeah, back to the balancer. It takes a minute to calibrate, and is dummy proof. Floor only has to be reasonably flat, no need to re-calibrate after each session. Though any breeze will upset the bubble. Need calm!
I have balanced 31" mudders, and they're rough on the back, as you have to lift the tire/rim off the pedestal to hammer on the weight then re-mount on balancer. For more than two ounces, just put your first chunk on the back, then re-check. I do all my fleet of clunkers, and 9 out of ten are fine to 90 mph. the odd one that does shake is probably a bad tire.
The repair shop next door does a dozen or so a week and says he re-does the ones from the Goodyear shop! :exactly:

I hope I am not over simplifing things or insulting you in any way, but did you make sure you don't have mud collected inside the rims? If tires go out of balance fairly suddenly this is often the case.
Also, if the tires are chopped or have shifted or broken belts, balancing won't help. Really, really bad vibrations are often more than a tossed wheel weight.

I think I helped Wylie narrow down his problem when he stopped to visit during his trip. It appears his rear axle is bent!! Like noticably!!

Somehow, I dont think balancing the tires is going to help him any :D

hahaha, i think your right mangus.
i found a heated garage to install my lift, hopefully it will still be empty when i get a new axle...

Glad to see you made it back :-)

Any junkyard should have a 10bolt rear axle for you. and Honestly, it is worth your time to find the axle before you do the lift. You will practically have the axle out anyway!

Too bad you aren't closer, I have a rear axle next to the shop.

Glad the problem was found.
Hope someone can use my advice when balancing is neccesary.
Oh yeah. To remove old wheel weights, there is a specific tool sold at real auto parts stores. Or you can make one out of a nail pulling plier (AKA end nipper) sold at any Made In China dollar store. Just file a notch 1/8" from the edge and it'll catch the little hole in the weight clamp. :)