Balance Rod Shoe

I'm afraid that we cannot. Without seeing a photo of the shoe, we are not able to identify what a potential match is.

I would also double check the diameter of the outer tube, or the color of the end bearing. No 3/8" diameter balance was ever made with a Black Tip. One of those two details is in error.

Thank you! This is a huge help. Your balance looks like it's off a non-tilt window. These don't always have shoes and sometimes just clip to a little metal bracket on the sash itself. These brackets are hidden from view, so I can't say with certainty, but I think that's a possibility we should consider in your case.

If so, the next step would be to confirm the diameter of your outer tube. Like you noted, no 3/8" balance was ever made with a black tip. Either you have a 5/8 or 9/16" balance instead, or it's possible your old tip lost its color over the years. It happens sometimes. 

Assuming you do have a 3/8" balance then you'd want our S400-29. To choose between the Red or Green color option, you'll have to find a way to weigh that sash. I recommend placing a scale (any common bathroom scale should do) on the sill and gently lowering the sash on top of it. Make sure the balances on both sides are disconnected. This won't be 100% accurate, but it'll do for our purposes.

Hopefully that makes sense. Let me know if you ahve any questions!

If the hidden clip is broken on one side, then this project just got a whole lot harder. These are not meant to be repaired or replaced in any way. The reason for this is because the original window manufacturer would rather you just buy a new window when any little piece breaks. This is obviously unfair, but it makes things difficult.

The only way to remove those clips is to remove the sash, and the only way to remove the sash is to take the frame apart. I'm afraid there's no easy way around this. That's your only option. I highly recommend contacting a local professional to come out and see what they can do to help.

As for balance strength, I also highly recommend getting the exact sash weight while the window is out. It's rare that a 3/8" diameter balance is used for heavy windows since they're so skinny. They are not made for heavy windows at all. They would simply buckle under the pressure.