Date:         Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:15:42 -0700
Reply-To:     David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Wheel alternatives...
Comments: To: Mike <mbucchino@charter.net>
In-Reply-To:  <49064D043FBE4C50AFA034F3F2395067@mike2d93581d7f>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I have the same question too. If the grease cap is changed to
screw in inside the bore rather than from out side then there is no
need to enlarge the center hole any more. 7 - 9 mm spacers will
be needed still so that the tires will be at exactly the same
orientation as OEM. Longer lug bolts (front) and wheel studs (rear)
are still needed.

I got longer Porsche studs from eBay. I also got longer Volvo lug
bolts from a wreck yard at $0.50 each. My total cost for these studs
and bolts were less than $30. Spacers are available from eBay for less
then $10 a piece when I checked last time.

I am waiting for my current set of tires to wear out. I will look
for 15" tires then.

David

--- On Sun, 9/13/09, Mike <mbucchino@charter.net> wrote:

> From: Mike <mbucchino@charter.net>
> Subject: Re:      Re: Wheel alternatives...
> To: "David Kao" <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>, vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009, 2:08 PM

>   I have a full set
> of these waiting to see
> daylight.  They do need counterboring though; is there
> any way to modify or
> replace the rotors/ hubs/ etc. to eliminate this
> requirement?
>   I do know that the
> rears don't need boring,
> but do need the drum retaining bolts left out to allow them
> to sit
> flat.
>
> Mike B.
>
>   ----- Original Message
> -----
>   From:
>   David Kao
>
>   To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>   Sent: Sunday,
> September 13, 2009 3:31
>   PM
>   Subject: Re: Wheel
> alternatives...
>
> In the archive there was a trip report to Baja
> California
>   with
> 15" Audi 5000 rims fitted to a Vanagon. The author
> said the
> Audi
>   rims were able to survive his journey but not the OEM VW
> alloy wheels. The
>   VW OEM alloy wheels not only look thin and weak
> they will not take the
>   beating if you tend to travel into forests,
> canyon roads and mountain peaks
>   where the roads are often unpaved.
> The Audi 5000 rims apparently stood out
>   much better. Those VW
> OEM 14" alloy wheels are for city driving.
>
> By
>   grinding the center bore of the Audi rims it does make
> the bore
> larger. But
>   VW OEM rims have that large bore in the first place.
> If that makes Audi
>   rims unsafe the OEM alloy rims are unsafe
>   too.
>
> David
>
>
>
> > But, removing
> > metal from wheels
>   that were designed for a sedan in order
> > to make them
> > fit
>   ............... .  Hmmmm.  Just wondering.
> >
> > Dave
>   Mc
>
>