Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 17:04:40 -0400
Reply-To: "T. Thompson" <tonyt_eye@NS.SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "T. Thompson" <tonyt_eye@NS.SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject: Re: Mercedes wheels
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Per,
I'm glad you mentioned spacers as many people have said that spacers cause premature bearing failure. You are right when you say that it is a combination of offset and spacer which should be maintained to keep the center of the wheel in the design plane of the bearing. This would keep the bearing loads the same as the original design. What I am not sure about is the effect of wider wheels though, I
think the wider wheel may need less offset in order to keep the tire away from the suspension which means the inside of the tire is in the same location but the outside of the tire moves further out. The overall loading on the bearing would increase marginally. Its interesting to note that the steel and alloy Vanagon wheels have different offsets which means that the alloy stock wheel is applying
more load to the bearings than the stock steel wheel. I expect that there is a reasonable design tolerance in the bearing to allow this. What is the width of the Audi wheel? If it clears the suspension with a 40mm offset you would be right on the design point with a 2mm spacer. I'm not certain that 2mm one way or the other will make much difference to the handling but there must be a whole pile of
these installed. I'd like to do it too as soon as I find some decent wheels.
Tony
Per Lindgren wrote:
> Michael,
>
> YOu say that your rims have an offset of 23 mms, right? If so, you are way off concerning safe offsets! I cant say I'm an engineer, cause I'm not. I do know that rims with an offset of more or less than 7,5 mms than stock are illegal to use here in Norway without TÜV approval, so that wont ever happen for me.
>
> You also say to put in spacers, but there's more to it. The spacers are made to make wheels with deeper offset fit with cars that have less offset. E.g.: the 1996-2000 Eurovan have an offset of 60 mms, the Vanagon have an offset of 38 mms. For these wheels, one must use a 20 mm spacer for them to fit, and be within clearances and specifications over stock. A rim with 23 mm offset can not be used
> with spacers, and is also not good for the bearings. And that's what it all boils down to: The bearings! The offset is set to fit the bearings on the car, too much or too little will damage the bearings, as they will put excessive pressure on one of the sides of the bearings. A Mercedes rim that is opened up 2 mms is much safer than risking loosing a wheel because of ruined bearings, IMHO!!
>
> PerL
> 87 Syncro 112i (soon with Audi rims)
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