Date:         Thu, 11 Nov 2004 18:38:11 -0800
Reply-To:     BenT <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         BenT <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Thread pitch on vanagon lug bolts???
Comments: To: Dennis Atkins <bikeputz@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY101-F15yPoHZgzDg00030ad4@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 01:44:03 +0000, Dennis Atkins <bikeputz@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Does anyone know the thread pitch  for the lugs on the vanagon? I am trying
> to come up with lugs to mount some Mercedes CLK wheels on my van without
> destroying the wheels by countersinking the lug holes. I have found 14 mm
> ball seat lugs and bolts ,but the thread pitch is 1.5mm. I don't know if
> this is the same as the vanagon or not. Also in searching the archives,I
> have found posts that seem to suggest that the lugs for the steel wheels
> are ball seat lugs. Is this true?
> Thanks in advance,
> Dennis Atkins

Dennis,

You have the correct thread pitch. You are correct in that the steel
wheels used on Vanagons use ball seat hardware. The factory Carat
alloys use a 60° conical seat. Be aware that the typical MB CLK alloys
are bored to accept 12mm bolts with ballseats. If you enlarge those
holes to fit the 14mm lugbolts/nuts, you will find that the "bowl" or
contour of the 14mm ballseat lugbolts/nuts do not match your CLK
wheels.

Solution? Recontour the lugholes to match your hardware or find
hardware to match.

I am assuming that you have a 2-wheel drive Vanagon with stock US spec
hubs. Syncros use studs all the way around vs. bolt sup front and nuts
in back for the 2wd. The SA big brake kits convert the front to studs
as well.

Another issue you need to contend with is the thickness of the
mounting pads. Steel wheels are at about ¼ inch. Many alloys are ½+
inches. That means you will need longer bolts or studs. Not only that,
if the offset is not similar to stock, you will need to use spacers
which will require even longer bolts/studs.

Merecedes used several different wheels for the CLK's. Many are
typically ET35-ET38. Those should fit most unmodified Vanagons
reasonably well. Consider wheel width as well as that affects
clearances both inboard and outboard. Best CLK alloy I've found for
use in the Vanagon is the polished forged alloys. Looks like the early
Vanagon hubcaps. Thin enough not to need longer bolts/studs. Offset &
width within clearance tolerances. You just to bore the lugholes
bigger and recontour the seats. I used them successfully with concial
seat hardware which allowed use without expensive recontouring.

Don't forget centercaps. The fronts should snap right on (MB star
logo). Rears will somewhat challenging as the axle nut will not clear
the centercaps.

Oh yeah, take the two drum retaining bolts off each side so the new
wheel will sit flat on the drums.

BenT
http://members.aol.com/bentbtstr8/myhomepage/index.html