A Art” of Taking the Shake Out Allen Hendrix Practices “Black and restoration of Austin-Healeys. business and helps with the service, repair Chance Hendrix has joined his father’s his successful printing company to take every one of those imperfections.” Healey with an old suspension, you’ll feel you’ll never feel the difference. But in a On a new with modern suspension, item, and they are not perfectly round. over the years, but they are still a molded round. have improved dramatically neither are the drums. place, the isn’t balanced, and I see, the or nipples are not in of that time as a hobbyist. “On most on Healeys for more than 30 years, most said Hendrix, 51, who has been working quite a bit differently than cars of today,” Hendrix Wire . blown business in Greensboro, N.C., called Triad Austin-Healey Club. Now, it’s a full- started doing it for club members in the out. After having some success, he then he was trying to get his own car sorted of taking the shake out a Healey when decided to do something about it. and he sure as heck never liked it. So

14 Story and photos Glenn Hudson October 2002 “A lot of times the tires are not even About five years ago, Hendrix sold “It is true that our old cars are made Hendrix started learning the “black art” But Allen Hendrix never believed it, the way they are made. when you drive them. That’s just ustin-Healeys shake and rattle Healey Marque Magazine That makes all the difference in the world, or drum the same as if it was on car. actual lug nuts, so he can balance the wheel to the balancer using existing bolt holes he can even attach steel and drums he have adapters for British wire wheels, ate for British wire wheels. Not only does equipment so that it was more appropri- lot of my stuff came from him.” to balance the wheels on Jaguar 150s. A ing machine that were specifically made two brand new adapters for my balanc- longer needed or wanted. “He found me old equipment that modern stores no became an enthusiastic buyer for all that leads to bent spokes,” said Hendrix, who too much pressure on the wheel, which ropean-style tire mounter that won’t put that he needed. mine for all the old “factory” parts ment. He turned out to be a gold restoring tire-balancing equip- in the business of repairing and lent him a hand. the job done. That’s where fate the biggest obstacles to getting complete these tasks was one of having the right equipment to shave tires, he discovered that drive shafts and brake drums, true wire wheels, and to balance the “old-timers” skills needed to ing its fourth year of operation. Hendrix Wire Wheel is approach- doing what he loved. Now decided to start a new business “getting the shake out,” that he cars. But then he got so busy fellow club members with their That’s when he started helping He wanted a change of pace. two years because he was so busy. he hadn’t driven his Healey in life at a slower pace. At the time, Hendrix was also able to modify his “That’s where I got my Eu- Hendrix has a friend who is While Hendrix had to learn the wheel prevents the spokes from getting greasy. be shipped to customers. Silicone on the inside of Jerry Anderson helps prepare new wire wheels to as the factory specs for wheel movement trying to balance. a flip of switch depending on what I’m back and forth on my readings with just drums” said Hendrix. “Plus, I can switch taken by current, modern balancers. cal one-quarter of an ounce that can be dredth of an ounce, rather than the typi- enables him to take readings one-hun- wiring work done to the balancer that cise than ever before, thanks to some re- the manufacturing techniques of time. located in the center of wheel due to had a center hole that wasn’t precisely British steel wheels from the 50s and 60s especially when you consider that many “The factory used 40,000 of an inch “Precision counts, especially with brake Moreover, Hendrix can be more pre- said. your car back to the original dealer,” he quick service, “just as if you were taking Healeys. Although, his emphasis is on clude service and restoration of Austin- business during the past two years to in- Wire Wheel that Allen has expanded the out of balance.” but it’s usually because everything is so is something wrong with the suspension, down the road. Most people think there you’ll feel a leaf if you run over it going a tire,” said Hendrix. “If things aren’t right, difference is amazing on the highway. whether they are used or new, and the used to take the high and spots off tires, important tools in Hendrix’s shop. It is fixed to the tire shaver is one of most wheel perfect.” so there is no reason you can’t get the You gap your points to 15,000 of an inch, Everything is adjustable. You can do it. the assembly line. We get it down to perfect. up and down in out – that’s off 2 1 Things are going so well at Hendrix “You will feel the highs and lows in The spinning razor blade that is af- that won’t bend the spokes on a wire wheel. Wheel has a European-style tire mounter getting the shake out. 4. Hendrix Wire Shaving the high points off tires is key to mimic how they will behave on the car. 3. the balancer using lug nuts to perfectly 2. Wheels or drums can be mounted to virtually any type of British wire wheel. 1. Hendrix Wire Wheel has adapters for to follow in his father’s footsteps. Chance, 25, joined the family business workload. More recently, Hendrix’s son, joined the company to help with has been working on Healeys for 40 years, ley enthusiast Jerry Anderson, 68, who get back on the road.” our customers can done in a day so pairs or service try to get minor re- appointments and to it. But we take when they can get work for you and can only do weeks or months backed up for on British cars are shops that work the road. Many get people back on done quickly to that needed to be need for repairs 3 His longtime friend and fellow Hea- “We saw the

Healey Marque Magazine British wire wheels. precision when trueing and balancing Allen Hendrix believes in absolute hendrixwirewheel.com. balance it out or shave out.” Healey shake, and our job is to true it out, we’ve found everything that makes a getting the shake out of Healeys. “We think die,” said Hendrix, of the “black art” 4 For more information, visit them at “With him coming in, I know this won’t October 2002 15