Date:         Thu, 18 Sep 2003 01:53:44 -0400
Reply-To:     BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben T <BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Are Audi wheels unsafe on a Vanagon?
Comments: To: James Ballen <ballenjames@HOTMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

James,

Audi's position was made clear a few years back by a letter written to a fellow listee in Germany. I think that was Raimund. IIRC, they said the alloys were only rated at such and such a weight which is way below the weight of a Vanagon or a T3 Westy.

Sure they can be unsafe. That's my position on it. I have seen some poorly clearanced centerbores. They took much out of the middle. I have also seen people use screw in studs with spacers. However, as far as my experience goes, a properly installed Audi wheel appears to survive well in a Vanagon used in "normal" fashion. I know of dozens of people running them w/o incident. The only one I have ever seen broken was the one on VanmanBajaDan's (VBD sorta like the undie)  Syncro Westy when he slammed it back and forth at the logjam obstacle in Hollister a few years ago.

Also remember that not all Audi rims are created equal. They were supplied by various manufacturers. The less expensive cast alloys are obviously not as strong as the forged versions.

BenT