Wheel bearings...to remove or not remove prior to balancing?

[Ron]

Since you're taking them just the wheels, have you looked for in independent repair shop?

I think the Honda shop rate is $190 an hour around here. Last time I had a dealer R & R a tire, on the wheel, it was 1/2 hour shop rate. The independent shop guy does it for $45.

 

[TerryS]

I bought a static wheel balance stand locally for about US$65...the maths isn't terribly hard to figure out a payback on that vs paying $100 per wheel.

 

[Al st1100]

There is no reason to remove wheel bearing for a tire change or balancing. Replacing wheel bearings do not change the tire balancing. On the ST1100 one side of the bearing has to be installed first.